Stevia

[lottie lou]

Has anyone grown stevia as a culinary herb and actually used it?  Also does anyone know the difference between stevia rebaudiana and the one called stevia candy?

[lottie lou]

[grannyjanny]

I think Manics has, Ray is diabetic.

[ber77tie]

Hi, I haven't grown it ,but I have tasted the leaves.it was  just like Canderel or other sweeteners.i will be interested to see if others have used it.

[gwynleg]

Have tried to grow it this year - so far (3 weeks I think) - no germination so not holding out much hope!

[goodlife]

Yes, I have grown it, used it and eaten it..both in fresh and dried form. Bit fiddly to grow and needs warm envinronment to grow..like in GH. I've used it just in hot drinks..few leaves stewed with other herbs or with tea bag. It does tend to give slight flavour on its own....sort of 'green' flavour, not strong but as I don't really care with green tea neither, using stevia did spoil my perfect cuppa.
Oh does like it...he likes green tea too..and he likes to chew some dry leaves in his mouth instead of sucking sweets.
I tried to make stevia brew..very strong one in a attempt to achieve my own liquid sweetener..and yes..it did work..but again..I could taste the 'green' flavour.

[realfood]

I am growing it at the moment as an experiment. I always like to try something completely new each year!! Slow to germinate even in a propagator, needs light, so do not cover the seed. Now growth rate is picking up. Will plant it out in my greenhouse at the end of the month.
I have tried the commercial product and it tastes good, very few calories.
I think that "candy" is a more productive selected version of the original.

[ed dibbles]

I've got a plant on the go at the moment. It's the first year growing it so still early days but seems to be doing well potted and sheltering in the GH. Need to find out how to split it or take cuttings in due course.

The half leaf I tried had the sweet/green flavour described above but have read that it is sweetest in late summer just before flowering.

Flavouring drinks and other liquids is probably it's best use. For baking/spreading/drizzling yacon syrup is a better option IMO.