Stevia, Steviol glycosides: Stevioside and Rebaudioside A

What is Stevioside and Rebaudioside A

Stevioside and Rebaudioside A are all stevia compound. Other stevia compounds are like Rebaudioside B, Rebaudioside C, Rebaudioside D, Rebaudioside F, Dulcoside A, Rubusoside and Steviolbioside which are also present in stevia.

What is stevioside?

Stevioside is a Stevio glycoside derived from the stevia plant, which can be used as a sweetener.

Stevioside structure 

What is rebaudioside A?

Rebaudioside A (also called “Reb A”) is another Steviol glycoside that is 200 times sweeter than sugar. The glycoside contains only glucose (to the exclusion of other commonly found monosaccharides) as its monosaccharide moieties. It contains four glucose molecules in total.

Rebaudioside A Structure 

You’ll see that Rebaudioside A has a more glucose than stevioside in the structure.

Manufacturing Process

Stevioside and Rebaudioside A are obtained from the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni. The leaves are extracted with hot water and the aqueous extract is passed through an adsorption resin to trap and concentrate the component steviol glycosides. The resin is washed with a solvent alcohol to release the glycosides and product is recrystallized from methanol or aqueous ethanol. Ion exchange resins may be used in the purification process. The final product may be spray-dried.

Source: http://www.fao.org/ag/agn/jecfa-additives/specs/monograph5/additive-442-m5.pdf

Stevioside and Rebaudioside A Solubility

The solubility of Stevioside and Rebaudioside A in ethanol, water and their mixtures was studied. The results obtained are in accordance with technological applications of this solvent for Stevioside and Rebaudioside A separations. Rebaudioside A was poorly soluble in ethanol and water whilst Stevioside was poorly soluble in water.
Solubility of Stv (g/L) and RbA (g/L) in water, ethanol:water 30:70, ethanol:water 70:30 andethanol

Solubility of Stevioside (g/L) and Rebaudioside A (g/L) in water, ethanol:water 30:70, ethanol:water 70:30 andethanol

 

Solubility of Stevioside and Rebaudioside A (g/L) in ethanol:water 30:70 and ethanol:water 70:30

Source: Solubility of Stevioside and Rebaudioside A in water, ethanol and their binary mixtures. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/307608759_Solubility_of_Stevioside_and_Rebaudioside_A_in_water_ethanol_and_their_binary_mixtures

 

What is Stevia?

Stevia is a new natural sweetener extracted from the stevia leaves (Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni). The active compounds of stevia are steviol glycosides (mainly stevioside and rebaudioside), which have up to 200-300 times the sweetness of sugar. Stevia compounds are heat-stable, pH-stable, but some of its extracts may have a bitter aftertaste at high concentrations.

Stevia has a high sugar sweetness with low calorie. Its sweetness is 200-300 times that of sugar and its caloric value is 1/300 that of sugar. After a large amount of laboratory tests, stevia sugar has been proven to be without any toxic and side-effect, non-carcinogenic and is safe to be consumed. If taken frequently, it can benefits a lot of diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, heart disease and tooth decay, etc. It is an ideal sugar alternative sweetener. Stevia can be widely used in food, beverages and drinks, medicine, chemical products for daily use, wine-making, cosmetics, flavorings and etc.  It is recognized as “The 3rd International Sweetener Source”.

 

What is Steviol glycosides?

Steviol glycosides are high intensity sweeteners, 30-300 times sweeter than sucrose. They are isolated and purified from the leaves of the stevia plant (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni).

Steviol glycosides are glycosides of steviol. their molecules can be viewed as a steviol molecule, with its carboxylhydrogen atom replaced by a glucose molecule to form an ester, and a hydroxyl hydrogen with combinations of glucose and rhamnose to form an acetal.

Steviol glycosides powder is a high intensive sweetener with low calorie, which is 200-450 times sweeter than that of sugar. Its calorie is only 1/300 than cane sugar. Steviol glycosides can be widely used in food, beverage, medicine, wine and other industries.

Stevia extracts mainly contain 9 Steviol glycosides: Stevioside, Rebaudioside A, Rebaudioside B, Rebaudioside C, Rebaudioside D, Rebaudioside F, Dulcoside A, Rubusoside and Steviolbioside.

What is Steviol?

Steviol is a diterpene, it is the base structure of steviol glycoside. Steviol occurs in the plant as steviol glycosides.

Steviol Structure: 

 

Steviol glycosides Property

Stevioside Properties

It is white to off-white powder or granular with cool flavor which is about 250 times as sweet as cane sugar with slight bitter aftertaste in high concentration conditions. The sweetness can stay longer in the mouth and not easy to disappear. The melting point is 196℃-198℃. Stevioside is able to endure in high temperature, and more stable in acidic and alkaline solution (PH5-7). It also can be easily dissolved in ethanol. It belongs to non fermented products so it can be widely used in the food which is difficult to sterilize by heating and would keep white without any Maillard brown reaction. It’s much closer to cane sugar compared with the other natural sweeteners, while the drawbacks are the large molecular weight and poor permeability.

As a non-calorie sweetener for food, it contributes to low the blood pressure, and cure the acid stomach etc. It also can be used as a kind of sweeting agent for liquorice or cane sugar.

Rebaudioside A Properties

White to off-white crystalline powder or granular. It is the best test Steviol glycosides in stevia sugar with 300-400 times as sweet as the cane sugar while the calorie is only 1/300 of the cane sugar. Its taste is much closer to the can sugar without any bitter taste. It is the substitute of stevia sugar while at the same time it can keep the original sweet taste and also the sweet taste is not easy to disappear in the mouth. The melting point is 196℃-198℃.It can be resistant at high temperature and more stable in the acidic and alkali solution (PH5-7). It can better the foods’ tastes and improve the quality of the products.

It can be used as the substitute of cane sugar with low costs, better tastes, and can be widely used in the food industry, beverage, pickles, cosmetics, medicine, health care, and so on.

Glucosyl Stevia Properties

White to off-white powder, flake or granular. Glucosyl Stevia, which is more like cane sugar, has overcome the shortcomings such as different purity, low solubility, and the bitter taste of the general stevia sugar. It can 100% substitute the cane sugar compared with 60% of the general stevia sugar and greatly cut the costs. It’s 100-200 times as sweet as the cane sugar while the sweetness taste is cool. Glucosyl Stevia is commonly used as the dispersing agent in lactose, malt dextrin etc to low down the sweetness to 0.5-1 times of cane sugar. Usually it’s stable in food processing conditions (acidity and heating) and easily soluble in water and alcohol.

It is mainly used in the low calorie food, carbonated beverage, juice, freshments, pickles , aquatic product and so on.

Table top Stevia Properties

Table top Stevia is the mixture of high Rebaudioside A with Maltodextrin. It is used as table top sweetener. It is a kind of white powder, granular or tablets with 10-50 times sweetness and extremely low calorie. Its sweetness is very pure and no bitter aftertaste. It contains no cane-sugar and saccharin, aspartame or any synthetic sweeteners. It is very stable in acidic and alkaline solutions, easy to be dissolved in ethanol, resistant to high temperature and it belongs to non-fermented products.

Steviol glycosides Advantage

As a plant-free calorie substitute, steviol glycosides are perfect for those who are looking for a natural, no-calorie, sweetener alternative for their healthy lifestyle balance and weight management program.

  1. High safety. Residents of stevia origin (Paraguay and Marcy, South America) have been eating steviol glycoside for hundreds of years and have not found any poison.
  2. Green. Stevia sugar is a natural, green sweetener which is extracted from the leaves of stevia(composite plant) and is recognized as “Green Food” by China Green Food Development Center.
  3. Low calorific value. It is used to make low-calorie foods and beverages. The calorie of stevia sugar is only 1/300 of cane sugar and it can be used for manufacturing many kinds of food and beverages which are especially for patients with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, heart disease and tooth decay etc.
  4. High sweet. The sweetness of it is 200-400 times of cane sugar and the main components of it are Stevioside and Rebaudioside-A. It tastes pure, cool, lasting etc.
  5. Health caring. Stevia sugar is widely recognized as a good nutritional supplement and health care food by international medical community. 400 years ago, it was used as herbal medicine which cured colds, flu, fistula disease etc. in the country of origin. Medical research in modern times shows that it is useful for regulating blood sugar and blood pressure, improving energy, losing weight and skin caring etc.
  6. Steviol glycoside good solubility. It is easily soluble in water and alcohol, and tastes better when mixed with sucrose, fructose, and isomerized sugar.
  7. Steviol glycosides are non-fermentable substances, stable in nature, not easy to mildew, will not change in the production of food, beverages. It is easy to store and transport. Long-term consumption will not cause dental caries.
  8. Steviol glycosides taste like sucrose, but also has a unique cool, sweet features. It can be used to make flavor foods, candy, etc. It can also be used as a flavoring agent. It can be used as a substitutes sucrose in pharmaceuticals, syrups, granules, and pills to suppresses the odor of certain foods and medicines. Stevia glycosides can also be used for spices, pickles products, toothpaste, cosmetics and cigarettes.
  9. Stability: Under normal food and beverage processing conditions, the properties of steviol glycosides are quite stable, which helps to reduce the viscosity, inhibit bacterial growth, and extend the product shelf life. (1) Stability to acid, alkali and heat. Under the condition of PH3 (room temperature), decomposition loss does not occur in 180 days, and precipitation does not occur. Heating to 100°C in PH3-9 without any change in 1 hour. (2) Light stability. Whether it is powder or solution, it is very stable to sunlight. (3) Non-fermentable. The long-term storage will not be mildewed and the finished product will be heat-treated without sucrose browning.

Steviol glycosides Uses

As a new generation sweetener, stevia can be widely used in food, beverage, medicine, and so on. It can be said that stevia can be used almost in all products that have sugar.

Stevia tea

The tea made with stevia leaves directly or use Steviol glycosides together with other food ingredients can be beneficial to patients with diabetes stomach to promote digestion, sober up and eliminate fatigue, obesity, high blood pressure and dental caries. In China market, hypoglycemic teas such as Corning Tea, Ninghong Slimming Tea, Wulong Opera Beads, and Safflower Tea all contain stevia components, some of which have been exported to foreign markets.

Stevia Drink

Steviol glycosides can be used in Soda, orange juice, various juices, ice cream and so on.

Stevia Chocolate

Steviol glycosides can be used in chocolates as a sweetener to replace sugar.

Stevia dessert

Moon cakes, biscuits and ect withSteviol glycosides have become special foods for nutrition, health care, and children and the elder.

Stevia Can

Steviol glycosides are used in Canned fruit such as candied bayberry, orange, hawthorn, longan, etc.; also in aquatic products and canned meat, steviol glycosides not only play a role in flavoring but also play a role in preservation and shelf life.

Stevia Pickled products

Radish pickles and mustard Stewed with Steviol glycosides can keep long shelf life, clear pickled and delicious, does not rot. In Aquatic products: Steviol glycosides can prevent spoilage and deterioration of aquatic products and reduce the cost while improving the flavor of aquatic products. Such as in various fish canned, kelp and so on.

Stevia Fruit cake

For example: After using Stevia glycosides, Fruit cake is not only sweet but refreshing.

Stevia Wine

The use of steviol glycosides in such as pears, sea buckthorn, grapes and other wines and liquors, can reduce the spicy taste of wine and improve the flavor. Can also increase beer foam, white, long-lasting.

Meat food

Adding steviol glycosides in foods such as sausages, hams, and bacon can improve flavor and extend shelf life.

Daily Product

The use of steviol glycosides in chewing gum and toothpaste can promote the sweetness of the product, reduce the proliferation of harmful bacteria in the oral cavity and reduce the occurrence of dental caries. Steviol glycosides have been used in a variety of toothpastes, chewing gums and cosmetics.

Pharmaceuticals

The Ministry of Health approved the use of steviol glycosides in medicine in 1992. Many products have been developed, such as in orange flavor VC, Diabetes throat tablets, pediatric compound sulfamethoxazole, cough syrup, zinc gluconate oral solution.

Other

Such as multi-fruit seeds, fool seeds, stevia, cigarettes, stevia powder and so on.

Common use and dosage as follows:

Products with

Stevioside /Rebaudioside A

Substitute quantity Dosage(Stevioside /Rebaudioside A) Function & Benefits
Beverage Carbonated drinks 20-100% 0.06-0.75g/kg low calorie; prevent cavities; make clear and cool taste;
Fruit juices 30-50% 0.078-0.278 g/kg enhance flavor; form no sediment or floc; make clear color; extend shelf life; low calorie;
Milk drinks 20-50% 0.006-0.70 g/kg make good taste sweetness; lower calorie;
Solid drinks 20-100% 1.7-20.0 g/kg make cool taste; prevent cavities; easy to calculate.
Iced drinks Ice-cream
Ice-dessert
60-100% 0.4-1 g/kg low calorie; enhance flavor; make fresh taste; improve sweetness in low temperature;
Confection-
candy
Chewing gum 50-100% 0.4-1 g/kg prevent cavities; make cool and long-lasting sweet taste;
Common candy 50-100% As per requirement prevent cavities; make good taste; enhance flavor;
No sugar candy 100%
Bread & cake 80-100% 0.2-1 g/kg make good taste; prevent cavities; extend shelf
life;
Fruit jams & Preserved 80-100% 2-12 g/kg extend shelf life; enhance flavor; low cost;
Canned food 20-50% As per requirement Make taste clear, cool and pure; reduce sweetness; extend shelf life;
Condiment & pickles 20-30% 0.1-0.6 g/kg no fattening-bag; no brown stain; no coloration; no fermentation; reduce curing time; enhance flavor; extend shelf life;
Roasted seeds and nuts 50-100% 1-3 g/kg make no coloration; enhance flavor; improve sweetness; easy to handle;
Aquatic produts 30-50% As per requirement make no brown stain、scorch、loose condition
Alcoholic
drink
Liquor 10-100% 0.01-0.05 g/kg increase aroma; enhance flavor; reduce spicy taste;
Wine
Champagne
10-100% 0.01-0.15 g/kg Increase transparency; enhance flavor; reduce viscosity; make a fresh taste;
Beer 10-40% As per requirement enhance flavor; enrich and whiten foam;
Dental hygiene Tooth paste
Mouth wash
1-5 g/kg & As per requirement prevent cavities; make a cool taste; cover up the bad flavor;
Tobacco As per requirement keep proper moisture; enhance sweetness and aroma;
Medicine As per requirement Improve taste
Table sweetener As per requirement Nature; low calorie and high sweetness; easy to use;

Stevia Health Benefits

The health benefits of stevia include help diabetes, help weight loss, control blood sugar or insulin levels and so on. Let us explore some of its health benefits in detail.

Stevia leaf extract and diabetes

If you are living with diabetes or have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes, you know that eating right food is perhaps one of the most important factors in keep you away of diabetes. Stevia leaf extract can be a choose as a sweetener to replace sugar. It is a zero calorie, plant-based sweetener of natural origin that has been used for hundreds of years dating back to indigenous people in South America. Stevia itself contains no carbohydrates, so it does not affect blood sugar or insulin levels. And in many foods and beverages you buy, it helps cut calories while still allowing you to enjoy the sweet tastes you love.

Stevia and blood sugar

Stevia won’t raise your blood sugar levels, and some forms of this sweetener may actually lower blood sugar levels. A 2005 publication of “Planta Medica” found that stevia sweetener made from stevioside, another component of the leaves similar to rebaudioside, lowered blood sugar levels, reducing insulin resistance in diabetic rats.

Source: http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/stevia-affect-blood-sugar-7359.html

Stevia and weight loss

We can eat food with stevia without worrying about gaining much calories from sugar, such as in including teas, soft drinks, juices, yogurt, soymilk, baked goods, cereal, salad dressings, confections and as a tabletop sweetener. Stevia is a great option to use in recipes as a sweetener to replace sugar that can help weight loss.

 

Steviol glycosides Market

Stevia products mainly consists of: Stevioside, Rebaudioside A, Rebaudioside B, Rebaudioside C, Rebaudioside D, Rebaudioside F, Dulcoside A, Rubusoside and Steviolbioside and so on. Our main products are divided into Reb-A series, Stevioside series, common stevia and special stevia series (Rebaudioside D 95% and Rebaudioside M 85%), enzyme modified stevia, and more than 20 kinds of specifications. In addition, we can produce various specifications of Stevioside and Rebaudioside according to customer’s requirements. Stevia products classification is as follows:

Reb-A series

White to yellowish crystalline powder or granular, Reb-A is the best tasting component of stevia. It is manufactured with highest quality and has the properties of fresh and lasting taste, no bitter aftertaste and etc. Its sweetness can be up to 400 times than cane sugar.
Specifications ranges: Rebaudioside A 40%-98%

Specifications: Reb-A 40%, Reb-A 50%, Reb-A 60%, Reb-A 80%, Reb-A 90%, Reb-A 95%, Reb-A 97%, Reb-A 98 %;

Stevia Reb-A 60% (total Steviol glycosides ≥90%, R-A≥60)

Stevia Reb-A 97% (Total Steviol glycosides Content≥98%, Rebaudioside A ≥97%)

Reb-A 97% is the latest product of stevia produced according to US FDA standards. After the RA content was raised to 97, not only was the sweetness high, the taste was good, but the sweetness was cool and lasting. Its sweetness is 430 times that of sucrose.

Stevia Reb-A 98% (total Steviol glycosides ≥98%, Rebaudioside A ≥98),

Reb-A 98% further improves the product quality on the basis of Reb-A 97%. Reb-A 98% is the best quality standard in stevia products, and it is also the perfect embodiment of our advanced technology.

The worst ingredient in the taste of stevia is Rebaudioside C. The content of 90% of ordinary Rebaudioside C is 5%-8%, which affects the taste of stevia. Reb-A 98% reduces the content of RC to below 0.1%. Contrasting test Reb-A 98% taste and sucrose basically the same, can be used in high-end food and health care industries, its sweetness is 450 times that of sucrose.

Stevioside series

It is the most widely used stevia products, manufactured according to the national quality standard. It is white or light yellow powder or granule with lasting and cool sweetness. It has unique properties of high sweetness, low calorie and high cost performance. Its sweetness is 250 times than cane sugar, but calorie is 1/300 of it.

Specifications ranges: Stevioside 80%-95%

Specifications: Stevioside 90%, Stevioside 95%, Stevioside 98%;

Stevia Stevioside 90% (total Steviol glycosides content ≥ 95%, where Stevioside ≥ 90%, Rebaudioside A ≤ 6%, Rebaudioside C ≤ 1%), Its taste is second only to Rebaudioside A series, its sweetness is 270 times that of sucrose;

Common series

Specifications: Steviol glycosides 80%, Steviol glycosides 85%, Steviol glycosides 90%
Steviol glycosides 90%(total Steviol glycosides content ≥90%, Stevioside ≥55%, Rebaudioside A ≥25)

Special Stevia series

We can also offer special stevia series such as Rebaudioside D 95% Specification and Rebaudioside M 85% Specification.

The most widely used stevia products are produced according to China National Food Standard Special Grades. It is a white to slightly yellow crystalline powder or granules, sweet and cool lasting. It is characterized by high sweetness, low calorie, and high cost performance. Its sweetness is 280 times that of sucrose, and its calories are only 1/300 of sucrose. Regular consumption can prevent high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, dental caries and other diseases, and is an ideal sweetener to replace sucrose.

Glucosyl stevia

Glucosyl stevia is made from stevia extraction by using enzymatic treated method to separate the good taste glucosyl in the purpose of eliminate the bitterness of traditional stevia extract and improve its solubility, its sweetness is 100-200 times than cane sugar. It is white or light yellow powder or granule appearance with refreshing sweet taste.

Specification ranges: Glucosyl stevia 80%-95%

Stevioside and Rebaudioside A manufacturers

China is the biggest Stevioside and Rebaudioside A manufacturers and export country in the world.

There are several Stevioside and Rebaudioside A manufacturers in China and abroad, as you know, the price of China suppliers can be better than abroad manufacturers. We have worked with China top manufacturer for years, we would like to recommend this Stevioside and Rebaudioside A brand to you if you would like to save your purchasing cost with the same quality compared with abroad manufacturers. Stevioside and Rebaudioside A Samples are available if you need it for further test after accept the price.

Stevioside and Rebaudioside A price

As you know, there are many types of Stevioside and Rebaudioside A in the market, the price is based on different type. Now the price of Stevioside and Rebaudioside A is around USD/kg from China manufacturers and suppliers.

Where to buy Stevioside and Rebaudioside A

All the products listed in our website are from the manufacturers we have worked together for many years. The professional working experience backup our confidence to their quality. We can supply Stevioside and Rebaudioside A for many years and we can be your suppliers in China. If you would like to buy Stevioside and Rebaudioside A or inquiry price, please e-mail us through: info@foodsweeteners.com

 

Stevia FAQ

Is stevia safe and healthy?

Yes, it is safe and healthy, stevia can help diabetes, weight loss, control blood sugar or insulin levels and so on.

Stevia contains steviol glycosides, which are used as sweeteners. If food ingredients, such as sweeteners, are generally recognized as safe (“GRAS”), they do not require FDA approval as a food additive. Based on its review of information and data submitted by industry in GRAS notices submitted to FDA, FDA has not questioned the GRAS status of certain high-purity steviol glycosides for use in food. These high-purity steviol glycosides may be lawfully marketed and added to food products sold in the United States. However, stevia leaf and crude stevia extracts are not considered GRAS and do not have FDA approval for use in food.

Source: https://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/Transparency/Basics/ucm194320.htm

Stevia side effects FDA

Highly refined stevia extracts (Stevioside and Rebaudioside A) may cause mild side effects, such as nausea or a feeling of fullness.

The FDA hasn’t approved whole-leaf stevia or crude stevia extracts for use as food additives because of concerns about possible health side effects.

Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/stevia/faq-20057856

How many calories does stevia have?

Stevia contains no calories or the calorie is only 1/300 of sugar, but the real calories depends on which type of stevia.

Stevia glycemic index

Stevia contains no carbohydrates and no calories and accordingly has aglycemic index of zero. A zero glycemic index score means that eating stevia will not raise your blood sugar.

Is Stevia artificial sugar?

Stevia sugar (Stevioside and Rebaudioside A) is nature sweeteners instead of artificial sweeteners, as it is extracted from stevia leaf although Stevia sugar manufacturing process through processed or refined.

Sweeteners like Aspartame, Acesulfame K, Sodium Saccharin, Sodium Cyclamate, Sucralose and Neotame are artificial sweeteners as they’re chemical synthesized.

 

 

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