Stevia
Stevia sweeteners are steviol glycosides, sweet compounds found in the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana, a shrub native to South America. Dried leaves are steeped in water, and the extract is purified (for example by adsorption resins and crystallization) to high-purity glycosides such as Reb A, or blends. Minor glycosides like Reb M and Reb D are also made by enzymatic bioconversion of leaf-derived glycosides or by fermentation.
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Rebaudioside A at a stated purity (for example 95% or higher), the most common commodity grade.
Minor glycosides with a profile closer to sugar, produced by leaf extraction, bioconversion or fermentation depending on the supplier.
Mixtures specified by total steviol glycosides (for example 95% total SG) with varying Reb A content; often used to manage cost.
Dried leaf powder or unpurified extract; these are not the high-purity glycosides covered by FDA GRAS notices.
Leaf extracts from certified organic leaf or verified non-GMO supply chains; fermentation-derived grades are labeled differently by market.
Proprietary blends of several glycosides, sometimes with flavors or other sweeteners, tailored to a target sugar-equivalence.
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
High-purity steviol glycosides are stable powders that keep well in sealed containers at ambient temperature away from moisture and strong odors. Some grades are slightly hygroscopic, so re-seal opened packs. Suppliers typically assign a long shelf life from the manufacture date, with retest for purity on older stock.
Glycoside profile and total purity can vary between lots within a spec, which can change sweetness intensity in a finished product, so compare each COA to the grade ordered. Record the production route and supplier grade on the lot, since a Reb M from fermentation and one from leaf extraction may not be interchangeable for every market. Use first-expiring lots first (FEFO).
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
FDA has evaluated GRAS notices for high-purity steviol glycosides and has not questioned the notifiers' GRAS conclusions for their intended uses.
Source: fda.gov (opens in a new tab)The steviol glycosides covered by those notices are high purity, at a 95% minimum.
Source: fda.gov (opens in a new tab)FDA does not consider stevia leaf or crude stevia extracts GRAS, and these forms are subject to an import alert.
Source: fda.gov (opens in a new tab)This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
Manufacturer · Changsha, China
Hunan Nutramax is a plant extract producer in Changsha, China, best known for monk fruit (luo han guo), stevia and sweet tea extracts, that also offers a range of herbal extracts.
Manufacturer
Sells it as PureCircle
Global ingredient manufacturer whose range includes VITESSENCE pea protein isolates, PureCircle stevia sweeteners and ASTRAEA allulose.
Manufacturer · Guilin, China
Sells it as SteviUp™
Botanical extract maker that manufactures stevia and monk fruit extracts, including single steviol glycosides (Reb A, Reb D, Reb M and others) and the SteviUp blend platform.
Manufacturer · Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Sells it as Signature Stevia
California sweetener company that produces Reb M, Reb D, Reb E and other steviol glycosides by bioconversion under the Signature Stevia name.
London, United Kingdom
Sells it as TASTEVA®
Global food ingredients company whose sweetener range includes TASTEVA stevia, PUREFRUIT monk fruit extract and DOLCIA PRIMA allulose.
Suppliers are in alphabetical order and none pays to appear. Each claim is checked against the supplier’s own website on the date shown. Ask for the specification sheet and a recent COA before you order, and confirm details with the supplier.
Common forms include high-purity Reb A, reb M and Reb D, steviol glycoside blends, whole leaf and crude extracts, organic and non-GMO grades and stevia-based systems. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
Expect steviol glycoside assay, loss on drying and ash, residual solvents, heavy metals, microbiology, physical properties and production route, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
High-purity steviol glycosides are stable powders that keep well in sealed containers at ambient temperature away from moisture and strong odors. Some grades are slightly hygroscopic, so re-seal opened packs. Suppliers typically assign a long shelf life from the manufacture date, with retest for purity on older stock.
FDA has evaluated GRAS notices for high-purity steviol glycosides and has not questioned the notifiers' GRAS conclusions for their intended uses. The steviol glycosides covered by those notices are high purity, at a 95% minimum. FDA does not consider stevia leaf or crude stevia extracts GRAS, and these forms are subject to an import alert.
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