In the past, sweet products were scarce and hard to find. However, nowadays they are everywhere around us. Consumption of sugar and other products that are high in calories has led to an increase in diabetes cases and other health problems. That’s why sugar alternatives have become very popular in past decades. These items are used by businesses in the restaurant industry, manufacturers of sweets, producers of soft drinks, and various other companies. Stevia is one of the most popular zero-calorie sweeteners on the market. It’s a natural product that is derived from a plant. This is yet another reason why both retail and wholesale sales of stevia have increased in recent years. In this post, we’ll share more about what stevia is and the pros and cons of this sugar substitute. If you’re interested in the sweetener industry, make sure to check our posts on how to sell sugar and where to buy wholesale sugar.
Key takeaway: Stevia is a plant-based sugar alternative that has zero calories and is suitable for people with diabetes or other dietary restrictions. Stevia can be used in various recipes and is one of the most common sugar substitutes.
What Is Stevia
Stevia is a plant-based sweetener that is commonly used as a sugar substitute. It’s about 300 times sweeter than regular sugar. That’s why pure and crude stevia extracts are not approved for use in food. This means that stevia sweeteners sold on the market are often processed to be less concentrated. Stevia is extracted from the leaves of a plant called Stevia rebaudiana. It’s commonly called sugarleaf or candyleaf. The plant is native to South America but its cultivation has spread to other parts of the world, including the US.
Applications of Stevia
As a natural product that has zero calories, stevia has become one of the most popular sugar substitutes. It’s used by cooking enthusiasts, food service businesses, and various manufacturers. Let’s examine the main applications of stevia sweeteners.
Food and Beverage Industry
Producers of soft beverages, energy drinks, and other beverages often use stevia as a sugar substitute in their sugar-free products. Although its price is higher than some alternatives (such as aspartame), stevia is a natural product. This helps with the marketing and sales of sugar-free products among health-conscious consumers. In addition to the production of beverages, manufacturers of sweets and confectionery also purchase large quantities of stevia at wholesale prices. It’s also used by producers of condiments and flavored dairy products. Retail and commercial bakeries also aim to answer the demand for sugar-free and keto pastries by offering baked goods with stevia and alternative flours.
Cooking
Stevia is primarily used by individuals who follow a certain diet such as keto or paleo. Stevia is also a suitable sweetener for people with diabetes. Restaurants, cafes, and other businesses rarely use stevia due to its high concentration and higher price compared to other sugar alternatives. Nevertheless, stevia can be used as a sugar substitute in most recipes. From pastries and breakfast meals to smoothies and homemade syrups.
Health and Pharmaceutical Sector
The popularity of stevia and the fact that it is a natural product means it can be used as an ingredient in medicines as well. The most common application of stevia in the pharmaceutical sector is in cough syrups. It’s also used in various dietary supplements such as vitamins, protein shakes, and weight loss products. Despite its sweet flavor, stevia is also tooth-friendly. That’s why it’s used by manufacturers of chewing gums, toothpaste, and oral care products.
Pros and Cons of Stevia
Although stevia has dozens of advantages compared to regular sugar or other substitutes, it also has some downsides. In the following paragraphs, we’ll share the main pros and cons of stevia.
Advantages of Stevia
- It’s a natural and plant-derived sweetener. That makes marketing products with stevia easier compared to items with aspartame or other sugar substitutes.
- Stevia sweeteners have zero calories and they don’t cause a spike in blood sugar.
- Stevia doesn’t cause tooth decay and cavities.
Cons of Stevia
- The slightly bitter flavor and the distinct aftertaste of stevia are considered to be one of its main downsides. This can discourage some chefs from using stevia in their desserts or other dishes.
- Frequent consumption of stevia can cause some digestive problems such as bloating.
- Most commercially sold stevia sweeteners are blended with sugar alcohols and other ingredients. That’s why there are differences in flavor and sweetness among different stevia sweetener brands.
- Stevia doesn’t caramelize like sugar. This makes it unsuitable for certain recipes.
- Stevia is more expensive than most sugar alternatives. That’s why business owners might choose aspartame or other sweeteners in order to reduce the cost of goods sold.
Frequently Asked Questions about Stevia
From tips on the best sugar shipping to guides about wholesale food products, there are plenty of useful resources on BlueCart’s website. Below you will find the answers to a few of the common questions regarding stevia sweeteners.
What Businesses Buy Stevia in Bulk?
As stevia has become one of the most popular sugar substitutes, various businesses can use it. Sales of wholesale stevia are common for manufacturers of sweets and beverages. Since stevia is hundreds of times sweeter than sugar, it should be used in very small quantities in recipes. That’s why, although some restaurant businesses buy wholesale stevia, most food service establishments either buy it in smaller quantities or use other alternatives. Beverage manufacturers also buy wholesale stevia. It’s used as an ingredient in zero-calorie soft drinks. Since stevia is a plant-derived natural product, it’s a better choice for many customers compared to sugar-free drinks with aspartame.
What Are the Alternatives to Stevia?
Monk fruit sweetener is a common alternative to stevia sweeteners. It’s also a plant-derived product. Other stevia alternatives include sugar alcohols. These products are also low in carbohydrates and are popular among bakery businesses and cooking enthusiasts. Xylitol and erythritol artificial sweeteners are the most popular types of sugar alcohols. Aspartame and sucralose sweeteners are frequently used by manufacturers but they are not considered as healthy as stevia or monk fruit sweeteners.
Honey, brown sugar, maple syrup, and coconut sugar can also be considered alternatives to stevia. However, these products are high in calories and not suitable for people with diabetes or other dietary restrictions.
Is Stevia Healthy?
Stevia is generally considered the healthiest sweetener in this niche market. That’s why its popularity has increased in recent years. However, if consumed in large quantities, stevia can cause some digestive problems. It’s important to keep in mind that there are different stevia sweetener varieties on the market. Some of them might also include other ingredients and fillers. Nevertheless, stevia is the best option for baking a delicious pastry at home or using it as a sugar-free alternative in your business.
BlueCart: The All-in-One Wholesale eCommerce Platform for All Sweeteners
Whether you want to find suppliers of wholesale stevia or other sweeteners, BlueCart is the right place. Our platform is used by thousands of suppliers across the US. Both wholesale distribution companies and their customers can benefit greatly from BlueCart’s features. Our solutions allow suppliers and bulk buyers to automate various aspects of the ordering process. Schedule a free demo and see how our software helps distributors increase B2B sales.