STEVIA
2025 BUYING GUIDE
In my quest to untangle the endless sugar alternatives in stores, I quickly realized just how overwhelming stevia can be—it’s definitely the most popular sweetener! If you're lost in the stevia aisle, I've got you covered. I created the most complete and sanity-saving guide you'll ever need.
WHAT IS STEVIA?
Sweeteners called 'stevia' contain extracts from the leaf of a shrub called Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni), native to South America. For centuries, South Americans have cultivated this plant to naturally sweeten drinks. Today, China is by far the top grower globally, accounting for over 90% of stevia distributed worldwide. Other growers include Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Brazil, and the United States.
From a chemical perspective, the sweetness of the stevia leaf comes from compounds called steviol glycosides. These molecules have an intensely sweet taste, ranging from 25 to 450 times sweeter than table sugar. The stevia leaf contains over forty steviol glycosides — check out the image below with the most abundant ones.
When you buy stevia sweeteners, they may have only one steviol glycoside or several. In this guide, you'll see the package image of zero-calorie stevia products and brands. Because we have so many choices, I sorted them based on their ingredients—from pure extract to blends.
BULK VS BULK-FREE SWEETENER
Before we dive in, it’s important to know that some stevia sweeteners offer bulk to your recipes, while others are bulk-free:
• BULK-FREE SWEETENERS are concentrated stevia products mainly used for sweetening purposes and no other culinary role. When it comes to replacing sugar with these sweeteners, less is more. Being super sweet, a little goes a long way, so measure carefully when you start using them. They add no volume, mass, or browning (caramelizing) to recipes.
• BULK SWEETENERS contribute not only to sweetness but also to texture, shelf life, moisture retention, and color—important in baking. Pure stevia extract is bulk-free, so manufacturers blend it with bulk sweeteners that are mildly sweet, such as erythritol, allulose or sweet fibers. You can also choose brown sugar alternatives and powdered sugar replacements.
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PICK YOUR STEVIA
Brands and Products
There is A LOT to explore here. Scroll down to see it all, or if you're short on time, jump straight to what you need by clicking a category below:
Click the TRY IT button of each sweetener to be linked to Amazon
where you can read reviews, labels, Q&As, and prices.
Affiliate links help keep this content free (Full disclosure)
BULK-FREE SWEETENERS
PURE STEVIA LEAF EXTRACT
Is There a Stevia Without Any Additives or Fillers?
Yes. The first sweeteners I list contain just stevia extract. Only one ingredient. If you want the purest form of sweetener, this is it — 100% pure extract. No erythritol, bulking agents, fillers, or additives.
How do I use pure stevia leaf extract?
These extracts are incredibly sweet, so a little goes a long way. It’s important to measure precisely when you start using pure stevia. A quick tip: Avoid tasting the powder by sticking your finger in and licking it—it’s way too concentrated.
Most products come with their own little measuring spoons. Start with the amount recommended by the seller and adjust to taste.
Pure extract works perfectly whenever sweetness is all you need, such as drinks (hot and cold), smoothies, cocktails, yogurt, or to sprinkle over oatmeal. It's also great for sweetening on the go.
Can I bake with pure stevia?
Yes, but keep in mind that stevia extracts don't offer bulk (volume and weight). They don't contribute to texture, shelf life, moisture retention, color, and aroma. For those needs, keep scrolling down to see blends of extracts with a bulk sweetener.
How do I find the best stevia with no erythritol or other fillers?
As I explain in detail on my decoding sweetener costs page, don’t choose pure stevia extract based on price alone.
Instead, pay attention to the type of extract or steviol glycosides (the compounds responsible for sweetness). While all products in my first infographic claim to be "100% pure extract", it's crucial to know exactly what you're buying.
To help you find the best extracts, I compare some organic pure extracts below to show you that some have isolated fractions (i.e., just reb A), while others have the full spectrum of steviol glycosides (reb A, D, M, etc). If both taste and cost matter to you, here's what you need to know:
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Stevioside – Cheap extracts sold in stores are typically made up of pure stevioside. It has the strongest aftertaste — a characteristic bitter, licorice-like note. For instance, as I write this, Purisure costs $4.50 per ounce on Amazon. It's about 60x sweeter than sugar, which means 140mg of this stevioside is as sweet as 2 tsp sugar (8 grams). So, it's much less sweet than the other extracts below, and you'll need to use more.
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Rebaudioside A (reb A or rebiana) – A step up from stevioside with a better taste but still a noticeable bitter and licorice-like aftertaste. It's the most commonly used, being 250 to 450 times sweeter than table sugar. As an example, Pyure costs $11 per ounce. This is 320x sweeter than sugar, which means that just 25mg sweetens like 2 tsp of sugar (8g).
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Full-spectrum extracts – These retain the complete range of steviosides and rebaudiosides inherent within the leaf (including reb M and reb D). They taste better but still have some aftertaste. They cost about the same as pure reb A. Examples include BetterStevia, which at the moment costs $9.32 per ounce, SweetLeaf $11, and NuNaturals $14. Those are 160x to 115x sweeter than sugar, which means that just 50 to 70mg sweetens like 2 tsp of sugar (8g).
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Pure reb M and pure reb D – These are the best-tasting extracts and 250 to 450x sweeter than sugar. If you're looking for 100% pure (one ingredient only) reb D or reb M, we've got excited news — our very own WhatSugar brand launches in spring 2025. Email us at info@whatsugar.com to stay updated on launch dates.
The bottom line?
When shopping for 100% pure stevia extract, don’t just compare prices – check the type of extract to guarantee better taste, best value, and happiness!
STEVIA DROPS
Does Stevia Come In Liquid Form?
Yes, stevia is sold in liquid form—syrups or drops—and you'll find them with a variety of ingredients. For the most part, they consist of blends of stevia extract and water. To improve taste and maintain freshness, some products may have flavors, preservatives, or both. Some even include glycerin, erythritol, maltodextrin, or gums to make them viscous or mask off-flavors.
Liquid stevia containers allow you to measure the product by the number of drops, squeezes, or teaspoons, depending on the design of the bottle. They are mainly recommended for sweetening purposes as they provide no bulk (volume and mass) to recipes. They offer a convenient way to sweeten coffee, tea, and foods on the go.
STEVIA TABLETS
Does Stevia Come in Tablets?
Stevia is available in tablet form, where extracts are combined with binders—typically cellulose—that act like a glue to hold them together. These tablets are a great option for on-the-go sweetness, making them perfect to keep in your purse, travel bag, or office desk.
Keep in mind that, just like liquid stevia and pure extracts listed above, tablets offer concentrated sweetness without adding volume or texture — that's why they are referred to as bulk-free. If you’re looking for a portable, mess-free way to sweeten with no guesswork (1 tablet sweeten like 1 teaspoon of sugar), stevia tablets are a convenient choice!
DRIED STEVIA LEAF
What Can You Do With Dried Stevia Leaf?
In the United States, the FDA does not approve whole-leaf stevia or crude stevia extracts as food ingredients or as a sweetener, as outlined in this FDA guidance. However, it's legal to sell dried stevia leaves, which are also available ground into a green powder.
Dried stevia leaf can be used to naturally sweeten hot beverages. To replace one teaspoon of sugar, steep 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of the green powder or 6 to 7 leaves per cup of tea or coffee. Keep in mind that stevia leaves have a distinct bitter, licorice-like aftertaste.
BULK SWEETENERS
STEVIA BLENDS EXPLAINED
Misleading Label or Practical Solution?
Most stevia products in stores aren’t pure extracts—they’re blends with bulk sweeteners. These blends commonly contain erythritol or allulose as main ingredient, though some may include glucose, maltodextrin, or inulin.
Here's something you might not expect — 99% of the product's weight typically comes from the bulk sweetener, meaning there's only a hint of stevia extract.
This raises common questions:
• Why is stevia mixed with bulk sweeteners?
• Isn't that misleading to call the product "stevia" when almost all of its weight comes from something else?
These are fair concerns, and while it can feel like false advertising, there’s more to the story — I explain in detail HERE.
Worried about digestive issues?
While pure stevia extract does not cause digestive discomfort, the bulk sweetener in blends may cause issues for some individuals. Bloating, stomach rumble, flatulence, and diarrhea are commonly associated with excessive intake. The uncomfortable digestive effects you might feel are similar to those experienced when having too many high-fiber foods (like beans). One exception is THIS bulk sweetener.
2:1 versus 1:1 Sugar Replacement
When swapping sugar for stevia, the most common questions are: How do I substitute stevia for sugar? How much stevia equals one teaspoon (cup or tablespoon) of sugar? The answer depends on the product you're using.
Some stevia blends are 1:1 sugar replacements, i.e., spoon for spoon, they are as sweet as table sugar. Others are 2:1 (2 teaspoons of sugar is as sweet as 1 teaspoon of monk fruit) up to 10:1.
To find out how sweet a product is, you need to pay attention not only to the brand but also the type of product.
So, if you ask me, "What is the ratio of Truvía to sugar?" Here's what you need to know:
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The Truvía brand has a whole line of different stevia sweeteners, which don’t always have the same sweetness level. Check these out: Organic Liquid, Packet, Spoonable, Brown Spoonable, Sticks, Sweet Complete, Confectioners, Cane Sugar Blend, and Brown Sugar Blend. And Truvía also has a line of monk fruit and allulose products, without stevia.
Main Ingredient: Erythritol
Do all stevia sweeteners have erythritol? No, but most do.
I've uncovered a surprising variety of stevia-erythritol blends and have them listed here. Despite a highly publicized study in 2023, erythritol remains one of the most popular sweeteners in America.
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Top 5 pros of pure erythritol: "natural," zero-calories, zero effect on blood sugar levels, sugar like-texture, widely available.
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Top 5 cons of pure erythritol: Less sweet than sugar, associated with digestive issues, recrystallizes when refrigerated, does not brown or caramelize, creates a cooling (cold) sensation when dissolved in the mouth.
When blended with stevia, erythritol's taste is improved. Its sweetness is bumped up.
Learn all about it on my Erythritol Buying Guide. I also wrote extensively about it in two blog posts:
• This is a long one — Sweetener Review: Erythritol | Is it Really "Natural" and The Perfect Sweetener?
• This is a short one — Erythritol | Powdered vs. Granulated.
As I mentioned above, it's important to note that most stevia sweeteners are primarily erythritol, with only a small amount of stevia extract. That means choosing and using these sweeteners effectively requires understanding the do's and don'ts of erythritol. To make it easy, I created the SUGAR SWAP STARTER KIT to guide you through it.
Main Ingredient: Allulose
If you have never heard of allulose, you're not alone. Allulose is a relatively new sweetener getting lots of buzz for its culinary benefits and natural origin. I cover all the detail in my Allulose Buying Guide, but here's a quick summary:
• Top 5 pros of pure allulose: natural, zero-calories, zero effect on blood sugar levels, no aftertaste (really!), sugar like-texture.
• Top 5 cons of pure allulose: Less sweet than sugar, associated with digestive issues, expensive, does not crisp up baked goods, browns fast.
Like erythritol, allulose is less sweet than table sugar, and when blended with stevia, its sweetness increases and it becomes a 1:1 sugar replacement.
Most stevia sweeteners I list here contain 99% allulose and 1% fruit extract. Since using these blends properly depends on knowing the do's and don'ts of allulose, I created the SUGAR SWAP STARTER KIT to help you make informed choices.
Main Ingredient: Glucose or Malodextrin
The bulking sweeteners used in the stevia products below are carbohydrates like glucose and maltodextrin, which often raise common questions:
Why replace regular sugar with glucose or maltodextrin?
Don’t they have the same number of calories as sugar?
Don’t they raise blood sugar even more than regular sugar?
These concerns are valid — glucose and maltodextrin function very similarly to sugar in the body. While maltodextrin isn’t technically a sugar like glucose, it's quickly broken down into maltose and glucose during digestion, meaning it is absorbed as pure glucose.
Both provide a rapid source of energy (4 calories per gram) and have a high glycemic impact, causing a quick rise in blood sugar levels. So why are they used in sugar substitutes?
Let’s break it down.
Despite their high glycemic index (GI), the key reason they are used in “zero-calorie” sweeteners comes down to quantity (or volume). The amounts of glucose or maltodextrin PER SERVING are so small that they contribute minimal calories and carbohydrates. Maltodextrin, in particular, adds bulk and can occupy 2–3 times more volume than table sugar and glucose.
As defined by law, a product can be labeled as a “zero-calorie sweetener” if one serving provides less than 5 calories. For example, Stevia In The Raw is mainly maltodextrin, which offers 4 cal/g. However, since one serving has only 0.5g of maltodextrin, it provides 1.98 cal and is rounded to zero on the Nutrition Facts label.
While this may seem like misleading labeling, it aligns with current regulations and highlights the importance of learning how to choose and use sugar alternatives.
A NOTE ON THE GLYCEMIC INDEX (GI) OF THESE BLENDS: Glucose has a GI of 100, and maltodextrin is even higher. However, blends with stevia have an "adjusted GI" because they don't replace table sugar on a weight-to-weight basis. For example, Stevia In The Raw is a 1:1 sugar replacement by volume — spoon for spoon, it's as sweet as sugar. But 1 teaspoon of sugar weighs 4g, while 1 teaspoon of this stevia blend weighs only 0.5g. To calculate the GI, the sweetness level compared to sugar in weight is used, resulting in a lower GI of 14 (with glucose) to 20 (maltodextrin), as shown in the infographic below.
POWDERED SUGAR REPLACEMENT
What's Powdered Stevia?
Granulated vs. Powdered Stevia
Stevia sweeteners come in two crystal sizes—granulated and powdered. Granulated stevia has sugar-like crystals, making it an ideal replacement for table sugar.
On the other hand, powdered stevia, as the name suggests, refers to finely ground crystals, similar to confectioners’ or powdered sugar. It's a one-to-one substitute for regular powdered sugar. It’s perfect for recipes that require a smooth texture or that final decorative touch. The powdered stevia below contains finely ground erythritol or allulose combined with leaf extract. Want to learn more about powdered sugar replacements? Check out my detailed guide HERE.
It’s important to note that on labels, “powderED” means finely ground, while “powder” simply refers to a solid form (as opposed to liquid).
BROWN SUGAR REPLACEMENT
Brown sugar replacements are designed to replicate the aroma, sweetness, and texture of regular brown sugar—but with fewer calories and zero sugar. They work as one-to-one substitutes for light brown sugar in recipes.
Those blends contain erythritol or allulose combined with monk fruit, stevia, or sweet fibers (oligosaccharides or inulin). They also have a pinch of glycerin, molasses, or malt extract to help give the overall resemblance to regular brown sugars, providing moisture and allowing them to pack. Want to dive deeper? Visit my Brown Sugar Replacement page.
PACKETS & STICKS
Packets and sticks are a convenient way to sweeten on the go, eliminating the guesswork of how much powder to add. They’re perfectly portioned, making them ideal for sweetening coffee, tea, and other beverages when you’re out and about.
However, their small size and pre-measured portions make them less practical for baking or cooking, where larger quantities of sweetener are typically needed. Additionally, packets and sticks tend to be more expensive per serving compared to bulk options. Despite this, their portability makes them a favorite for travel, work, or simply keeping in your bag for quick access to a sugar-free sweetener. To see all the stevia sweeteners in single individual packets click HERE.
STEVIA WITH BENEFITS
Some sellers claim that stevia extracts offer health benefits such as anti-hyperglycemic, anti-hypertensive, antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory effects, as well as support for cardiovascular and digestive health, and even treatment of skin problems. However, the small amounts used in sweeteners—given that stevia is up to 400 times sweeter than sugar—make these claims insignificant. Therefore, stevia itself doesn't provide meaningful health benefits in the small amounts used as a sweetener.
On the other hand, the products below blend stevia with additional ingredients to enhance their appeal as “better-for-you” options.
Ready to Skip the Sweetener Guesswork?
You don't have to go through trial and error with different sweeteners, wasting time, pricey ingredients, and not to mention ruined recipes.
That's why I created the Sugar Swap Starter Kit — your shortcut to choosing and using sugar alternatives with confidence. It is designed for home cooks who want to understand how different options stack up, find the best ones, and get practical tips to use them. This kit offers a quick way to get all your questions answered — all in one easy-to-follow resource!
SAFETY
IS STEVIA SAFE?
Yes, stevia leaf extracts (steviol glycosides) have been approved as a GRAS (generally recognized as safe) ingredients. They're not a food additive. Only highly refined steviol glycosides with 95% minimum purity are allowed as sweeteners in the U.S.
For centuries, indigenous people used stevia leaves to sweeten drinks. In the 1930s, scientists first isolated stevioside, the main compound responsible for its sweetness. Stevia extracts have been widely used in Brazil, Paragray, and Japan for nearly 40 years and in the U.S. for 16 years. Today, stevia extract isn’t just one ingredient—it may contain all steviol glycosides from the leaf or only isolated fractions like reb A or stevioside.
Wondering if all steviol glycosides are natural?
Yes, all steviol glycosides are natural sweeteners. However, reb M and reb D — which are the best-tasting and present is super small amounts in the leaf — may be synthetic or "natural-like". In other words, they might not come directly from the leaf.
Synthetic extracts of reb M and reb D can be obtained through fermentation from cane sugar. They are referred to as "bio-converted" reb M or D and sold at a much lower price.
One example is Purecane Sweeteners, which was unexpectedly pulled from the market. It contained synthetic reb M derived from Brazilian sugarcane. Here's a manufacturer answering questions about natural vesus synthetic stevia.
Note that the resulting synthetic reb D and M molecules are identical to the one found in stevia leaves. Because less than 1% of the steviol glycosides in the stevia leaf are reb M and reb D, manufacturers promote this method as a more sustainable way to produce them, claiming it requires only 1/10th of the acreage needed to obtain the same amount from stevia plants. Here's a video about it.
If you're looking for 100% pure (one ingredient only) reb D or reb M that is extracted from the stevia leaf and not synthetic, stay tuned! Our very own WhatSugar brand is launching in spring 2025. Email us at info@whatsugar.com to get updates on the launch.
Curious about stevia production process? Get specific details of how stevia is made by reading each GRAS notice submitted by manufacturers for FDA review.
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