question:

How do Stevia, Stevioside, and Rebaudioside differ from one another?

answer:

Stevia is a common name for stevia sweeteners. It may also mean a plant of stevia. Stevioside is the active ingredient of a stevia sweetener. It has a strong sweet taste but is also bitter and astringent. Rebaudioside A is Stevioside to which glucose is bound. Rebaudioside A also has strong sweet and an excellent taste, free of bitterness and astringency. Conventional stevia sweeteners also contain Rebaudioside A in minute traces. The content of Rebaudioside A in DIC LIFETEC's stevia sweeteners (Chrysanta® series) has been substantially increased by Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, Inc (current name: DIC Corporation)'s original biological technology.

question:

What is the calorific value for stevia?

answer:

The calorific value of stevia sweeteners is about 4 kcal per gram, as is the calorific value of sugar. However, since Chrysanta stevia is 300 times as sweet as sugar, it is virtually non-calorific and has little calorific effect.

question:

Are stevia sweeteners are artificial?

answer:

No, stevia sweeteners are neither artificial nor synthetic. They are made from a pure sweet substance extracted from the leaves of stevia. Stevia has been used to sweeten made for more than 400 years in South America. Stevia sweeteners came to be used as natural high-quality sweeteners about 40 years ago in Japan.

question:

Is stevia used elsewhere than Japan?

answer:

Yes, stevia sweeteners have been widely used as food additives in China, South Korea, Taiwan, Israel, and South America. In recent years, stevia as a supplement has been coming into wider use in Europe and the U.S.A. After the decision made by JECFA meeting in 2004, it is also a great concern to get the registration of Stevia sweetener as a food additive especially in Western and Oceanian countries.

We recommend confirming the regulation which is set up by your country.