|
|
Creative Homesteading
Herbal Info Sheet - Stevia
|
General Uses:
|
Dried &
powdered the leaves are used as a substitute for
sugar. In theory one tablespoon of stevia or less is
equivalent to about 1 cup sugar. Some people notice a
slight after-taste, while others do not.
A liquid sweetener is made by pouring 1
quart of boiling water over 1 tablespoon dried leaves
and leaving to infuse. Refrigerate and use within a few
days or freeze for later.
To make a syrup,
place 4 teaspoons dried powdered leaves in a saucepan
with 2 cups water, simmer slowly for 10-15 minutes. Cool
and refrigerate. A teaspoon of Vitamin C powder may be
added to act as a preservative.
An extract can be
made by combining 1 cup vodka with 3/4 cup fresh stevia leaves in
a jar. Shake every day for 2 weeks, then filter through a coffee filter. Add a
drop to beverages.
An infusion of
fresh or dried leaves can be drunk as a beverage, hot or
cold, or added to other herbs as a sweetener.
If
using fresh leaves to replace dried quantities listed above, multiply the amount
5 times.
|
|
Cooking Uses: |
Approximately 6 large leaves chopped finely is a substitute for 1/2 cup
of sugar for baking or in cooked recipes. 1 teaspoon of ground stevia is equal
to 1 cup of sugar; 2 drops of liquid essence is equal to
1 teaspoon sugar.
Stevia is NOT a direct substitute for sugar. Use it as a flavoring, much the
same way as you use vanilla.
Stevia is not suitable for making
candy - it does not turn into a syrup, like sugar and water. It does not
dissolve, so isn't good for things like meringue.
CAUTIONS:
The level of sweetness varies considerably according to a number of factors: the
soil they're grown in, the climate, the time of harvest etc. You need to
experiment with stevia to find out how much to use. The quantities mentioned on
this page are only estimates Sweetness can vary between
10 and 600 times the sweetness of sugar.
RECIPES:
The results
of a google search for Stevia Recipes
|
|
Medicinal Uses: |
Stevia is
not sugar and therefore can be safely used by diabetics
and does not cause any of the common problems associated
with sugar such as tooth decay and weight gain.
A tea from the leaves is an effective external treatment for cuts and
abrasions due to it's anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.
Useful by those on
modified diets because of
its ability to reduce craving for sweet and fatty foods.
Used to
treat high blood pressure, hypoglycaemia and candidiasis.
Medicinal Actions: Anti-hypertensive, hypoglycaemic, antifungal, vasodilator.
Usual Dosage: A standard infusion is sometimes used as a natural aid for
diabetes and hypertension. 1 cup of the infusion or tea taken 2-3 times daily.
|
|
Harvest
and Preservation: |
Pick leave
from the plant and wash. Use immediately in any of the
ways mentioned above or dry for use later. When dried
Stevia leaves should remain green.
To dry Stevia for later
use, you can dry them in a conventional electric
dehydrator or in the oven till crisp. To dry them
outdoors lay flat on any screen or vented surface in the
shade.
Once dried you can
pulverize them into a powder by any method you see fit.
Some people use a food processor, some a mortar and
pedestal, me I use a zipper bag and my rolling pen.
|
|
|
