Product name: stevia leaf extract Specification: >90% steviosides Test method: UV Packing: 25kgs/drum Stevia is a safe, all-natural alternative to artificial sweeteners and refined sugar in the diet. It has been used for centuries by native Indians in Paraguay, and consumed safely in massive quantities for the past 20 years. The Japanese use it in sugar-free chewing gums and diet sodas. It has undergone dozens of tests world-wide and was found to be free of toxins. Stevia has many uses besides its traditional use as a sweetener. It has also been used as a medicine, a cosmetic ingredient, as a pickling agent, and as a dentifrice. As a "flavor enhancer," Stevia helps to bring out the true flavors in cereals, breads, juices, berries, sherbets, candies, yogurt, ice cream, chewing gum, pickles, toothpaste and mouthwash. Stevia has also been used for alleviating bleeding gums, sore throats and cold sores due to its mild anti-bacterial functions. It has also been shown to inhibit the development of plaque and aid in the prevention of cavities. There have also been some claims that Stevia functions as an anti-diabetic agent. Since Stevia does not break down when it is heated, it can be used in foods that are baked or cooked. Stevia does not caramelize, brown, or crystallize like sugar does, so meringues and caramel may be difficult to make. The refined Stevia extracts are considered to be calorie free and does not raise blood sugar levels. Whereas the raw herbal form of Stevia contains nearly 100 identified phytonutrients and volatile oils, Stevia extracts contain negligible nutritive benefits. Stevia is a naturally sweet plant native to Paraguay that is 30 times sweeter than sugar in its unprocessed form. With more than 1,000 studies and patents on Stevia, it is known to be all-natural, contain zero calories and have a zero glycemic index. Through a patented process the pure glycosides can be extracted from the Stevia leaves and turned into an intensely sweet powder that is 300 times sweeter than sugar.