If you have access to a fresh stevia plant (or if you have grown your own), you can use fresh stevia leaves as a sweetener. This helps you to eliminate the presence of additives and save money. To sweeten a cup of hot tea, simply remove 1-4 small leaves from your plant and place them in hot water with your tea bag. Remove the leaves after several minutes.Although it has been used around the world for thousands of years, unrefined stevia leaf has not been approved as a food additive by the FDA. Before using stevia leaf in your food or drink, it is best to consult your doctor.
 You have two options for drying your stevia leaves. You can either pluck 8 or more leaves from your plant and place them between 2 paper towels, or simply remove an entire stevia stalk and hang it upside down. In either case, leave your stevia leaves in a cool, dry place for a few days. Then grind the dry leaves using a mortar and pestle.Use this green powder to sweeten drinks, breakfast cereal, or curries.
1 teaspoon of this stevia powder is equal to approximately 10 teaspoons of sugar.
This pure form of stevia will have a licorice-y or slightly bitter aftertaste.
 Once you have stevia dry leaf powder, you can use this to make a stevia syrup. Boil 2 cups of distilled water and add 1 teaspoon of dry leaf powder. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until the water is the consistency of syrup. Use a cheesecloth to strain out the powder.Store your stevia syrup in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.
Use this syrup in cold drinks, fruit salads, or sauces.
Remember that this sweetener will be more potent.
Use stevia leaves to sweeten tea.
Create dry leaf powder.
Make stevia syrup.
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