Stevia is a species of herbs found in the sunflower family. Its origins trace back to tropical and subtropical regions from South America and parts of Asia. Stevia Rebaudiana, the sweetest stevia species, has been harvested for centuries for its sugar-like taste. In the early 1970′s, Japan began cultivating stevia in an effort to reduce consumption of cyclamate and saccharin. Stevia received approval by the FDA as a food additive in the United States in 2008 and has received GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) designation. At maturity, the shrub grows to about three feet tall. 

Stevia leaf extract has a sweet taste that is around 300x sweeter than sugar, so only a small amount is needed to sweeten. Stevia is a sugar-free alternative to sweetening your favorite foods and beverages as it does not increase blood sugar levels and is zero calories, making it a great keto and diabetic-friendly sweetener. Pyure is the first USDA Organic Certified stevia brand. 

Monk fruit, also known as Luo Han Go, is a small, round fruit native to Southeast Asia that comes from the melon family and is used as a sugar substitute. It’s named for the Buddhist monks that have used it since the 7th century and is 150-250 times sweeter than sugar. Pyure Monk fruit is an organic, granulated sweetener that is keto friendly, sugar-free, and has a zero glycemic index. Some prefer the taste of monk fruit over stevia sweetener. Pyure’s Monk Fruit Sweetener is GFSI food safety and quality certified. For more information, check out our blog post on Monk Fruit vs. Stevia.

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