Do you ever dream about harvesting your personal supply of sugar from your garden? You can enter your backyard to harvest leaves which will provide enough sweetness to sweeten your morning coffee while eliminating both the caloric and blood sugar impact.
It’s not a fantasy. Stevia stands as one of the most valuable plants that you more than likely do not cultivate.
This hidden plant possesses transformational power.
What Makes Stevia So Special?
Most people don’t realize that stevia is actually 200-300 times sweeter than regular sugar. That means a tiny amount goes an incredibly long way.
But here’s what makes it truly amazing:
- Zero calories – Unlike honey, maple syrup, or coconut sugar, stevia has absolutely no calories
- Zero carbs – Your body doesn’t process it as a carbohydrate, so no blood sugar spikes
- All natural – It’s just a leaf, not a lab-created chemical like most sugar substitutes
- Incredibly cheap – A single plant can produce enough sweetener for months
The science backs this up. A 2019 study found that people who switched from sugar to stevia reduced their daily calorie intake by an average of 368 calories—without feeling any more hungry than before.
Three Simple Secrets to Growing Perfect Stevia at Home
Secret #1: Start with the right variety
The level of sweetness in stevia plants differs widely between different plant varieties.
Garden centers buy and sell generic stevia products based on price rather than quality. Most of these yield leaves with unpleasant bitterness that leads to dissatisfied consumers.
Stevia rebaudiana represents the exclusive plant variety which produces sweet leaves. This cultivar of stevia plants generates leaves containing substantially increased levels of steviol glycoside sweet compounds responsible for stevia’s taste.
It is best to acquire organic stevia plants from a supplier focused on medicinal herbs rather than purchasing from big box stores. The difference is night and day.
Secret #2: The “Sweet Spot” Growing Method
Stevia originated in Paraguay, where it grows in very specific conditions. To get the sweetest leaves, you must to recreate those conditions:
- Morning sun, afternoon shade – Stevia loves bright morning light but will produce bitter leaves if it gets too hot in the afternoon
- Well-draining soil is essential – Mix 40% perlite or small gravel into your potting soil. Stevia roots rot easily if water sits around them
- Keep it on the dry side – Water only when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Overwatering is the #1 killer of stevia plants
- Monthly pruning triggers sweetness – Here’s something few people know: pinching back the growing tips every 3-4 weeks forces the plant to produce more of the sweet compounds as a stress response
Keeping stevia in self-watering containers on a patio where they get bright eastern exposure will give the best results with minimal effort.
Secret #3: Harvest at the perfect moment
The moment you harvest your stevia leaves determines the sweetness level that will develop in them.
The most concentrated sweet compounds develop in the plants right before they start flowering. The leaves develop bitterness following the start of flowering.
My harvesting schedule:
Watch for the initial stages of flower bud development before performing the harvest.
Harvest your stevia leaves during the first hours of the day before 9 am because essential oils reach their peak concentration at that time.
Trimming your stevia plant by 6 inches from the base point will promote dense growth.
I place my harvested leaves inside a food dehydrator which operates at its minimal setting to dry them. The use of a dehydrator helps maintain sweet compounds while air-drying in a dark ventilated space works as an alternative method.
A single mature stevia plant produces between half a cup to one cup of dried crushed leaves throughout its monthly growth period. That’s enough to replace approximately 24 cups of sugar!
Three Easy Ways to Use Stevia That Actually Taste Amazing
The biggest complaint about stevia is that some people notice a slightly bitter aftertaste. Here’s the truth: when used correctly, stevia tastes incredible. The problem is most people use it wrong.
Method #1: The Water Infusion Technique
This is a method for making liquid stevia that tastes just like sugar:
- Add 1/4 cup dried stevia leaves to 1 cup of filtered water
- Heat (don’t boil) to about 160°F (hot but not simmering)
- Remove from heat and let steep for 30 minutes
- Strain through a coffee filter
- Store in a glass dropper bottle in the refrigerator
Just 2-3 drops of this infusion equals 1 teaspoon of sugar. I add it to, tea, lemonade, or anywhere I’d normally use liquid sweetener.
What is the key difference from store-bought versions? This homemade infusion contains all the beneficial compounds that are often removed during commercial processing. Many of my friends who “hate stevia” have completely changed their minds after trying a homemade infusion.
You can store this liquid in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or add a tablespoon of vodka to extend shelf life to 3 months.
Method #2: The “Green Sugar” Technique
This is the easiest method and works great for baking:
- Completely dry stevia leaves in a dehydrator
- Grind them into a fine powder (a coffee grinder works great)
Use one teaspoon in replacement for 1 cup of sugar in recipes.
I keep a jar of this “green sugar” on my counter and use it for everything in baking. One batch lasts me about 3 months.
A high-quality coffee grinder dedicated to herbs works best for creating the finest powder. The finer the powder, the better it will dissolve and blend in recipes.
Method #3: Stevia-Infused Honey for the Best of Both Worlds
Sometimes I want the unique flavor of honey but with fewer calories. This hybrid approach gives you the best of both worlds:
- Gently warm 1 cup of raw honey until it’s easily pourable (don’t overheat)
- Add 2 tablespoons of crushed dried stevia leaves
- Let infuse for 2 weeks in a sealed jar, shaking occasionally
- Strain through cheesecloth
- Store as you would regular honey
This infused honey has approximately 40% fewer calories than regular honey but retains all the beneficial enzymes and antioxidants. It’s perfect for those times when only honey will do.
Raw, unfiltered honey works best for this method because its natural enzymes help extract more flavor from the stevia leaves.
Two Delicious Recipes That Will Make You Forget About Sugar
1. Five-Minute Stevia Lemonade (That Kids Actually Love)
Ingredients:
- 4 cups cold filtered water
- 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (about 4 lemons)
- 2 teaspoons stevia green sugar (or 20 drops liquid stevia extract)
- A few slices of lemon and cucumber for garnish
- Ice cubes
Instructions:
- Mix water and lemon juice in a pitcher
- Add stevia and stir until dissolved
- Add garnishes
- Serve immediately or refrigerate up to 3 days
This lemonade has all the sweetness of traditional lemonade with zero sugar and only 13 calories per serving!
3. Stevia-Sweetened Strawberry Freezer Jam (No Canning Required!)
Ingredients:
- 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and crushed
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon liquid stevia extract (or to taste)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions:
- Mix crushed strawberries with chia seeds, lemon juice, stevia, and vanilla
- Let sit for 10 minutes until slightly thickened
- Transfer to freezer-safe containers
- Freeze up to 3 months or refrigerate up to 2 weeks
This jam is incredible on toast or stirred into yogurt. Each tablespoon has just 8 calories compared to 52 calories in regular jam!
How Your Support Helps Us Continue Sharing These Discoveries
Before I share my final tips for stevia success, I want to take a quick moment to thank you for supporting our blog. When you purchase quality stevia plants or dried stevia leaf powder through our links, we earn a small credit at no additional cost to you.
These credits help cover the costs of running this blog. I never recommend products I don’t personally use and love.
Every purchase helps us continue providing free information to help people like you take control of their health naturally. Thank you for your support!
Ready to Grow Your Own Endless Supply of Natural Sweetener?
If you’re excited to eliminate sugar while still enjoying sweet treats, here’s my recommendation for getting started:
- Order 2-3 stevia plants to ensure you have enough leaves for regular harvesting
- Pick up a small soil moisture meter to avoid the most common killing mistake
- Get a simple food dehydrator if you don’t already have one
I’ve found these three items make all the difference between stevia success and frustration.
- Weight loss without feeling deprived
- Improved energy throughout the day
- Stable blood sugar readings
- Significant savings on grocery bills
Imagine never buying sugar or artificial sweeteners again. Not only will your body thank you, but you’ll experience the joy of growing your own natural sweetener steps from your kitchen door.
Are you ready to try the sweetest secret in your garden? Your future self will thank you!
[Click here to get started with the exact stevia plants I recommend]
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