| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| Ian33568 |
Stevia - Sugar SubstituteThought this might be worth revisiting after reading Hardworkinghippy's blog and comments on another thread by Stacey and Bagpuss:Has anyone grown Stevia for use as a sugar substitute? I understand it has been used by the Japanese for three decades without problems but as Bagpuss rightfully states it is banned from use across the EU. Thinking of trying to grow some and may experiment with use as a sweetener but need more information.
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| Stacey |
I didn't grow it in the end. | ||
| gil |
I find that adding cinnamon to stewed fruit such as plums and rhubarb reduces the need to add sugar.
Didn't know angelica worked like that too. Must grow some more. Any other common plants / herbs with a similar effect ? |
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| cab |
Sweet cicely, to an extent. |
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| cab |
Oh, and meadowsweet blossom is surprisingly good at imparting a sweeter touch to things. Just a shame that its rank. | ||
| Ian33568 |
No idea but would interested in your findings... | ||
| rhyddid |
Re: Stevia - Sugar Substitute
I grew some for about two years around 2003. It's very tender. I bought a plant from eBay and propagated it with some perlite. I lost the plants, and I haven't seen any sellers on eBay for a long while, please let us know if you know of a suppliers. The leaf, when dried, is very sweet but has a bit of tang. |
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| Tristan |
Chiltern seeds had it in the last catalogue I think.
The FDA has banned its use due to the carcinogens it contains, and yet a subsidiary of Coca cola has been granted a licence to use a 'super refined' version as a replacement for aspartame based on safety studies published privately by employees and paid consultants. 
See the Ecologist magazine for full details |
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| Bugs |
Neither did I..but according to Ian's quote, I did once   - PFAF confirms this though, and has a list of 80 other plants which are used in some way or another as sweeteners.
I believe apple juice or puree can replace of some/all sugar and I suppose grape juice would be good too. More for cakes than tea though! We tried our sweet cicely in rhubarb crumble this year - it did help sweeten it or at least disguise the sourness but was distinctly sweet-cicelyish (aniseedy) too. Funny that. Wouldn't rule out trying it again though. Do you want to sweeten drinks, baking, or something else, Ian? |
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| KrisWW |
I'm sure I've seen a number of American homesteader mention it on their blogs. It's much more common over there, at least, amongst the self-sufficient bunch. It's cropped up in Countryside mag too.
Shall dig through the last edition and see if there's anyone selling seed in the classifieds. |
...there's always angelica and such like to sweeten your fruit dishes and honey for cakes and jam 