3 Stevia rebaudiana AB plants

Grow your own natural sugar with these organic Stevia rebaudiana plants. Easy to grow, in the garden or in a pot, stevia is at home in any space and produces plants 30 to 50 cm tall with generous, soft-green foliage.

The leaves, with their intense sweetening power - 110 to 320 times greater than sucrose - and numerous medicinal properties, are eaten fresh, dried or in powder form to sweeten hot drinks, desserts, sauces and other culinary preparations.

How to grow stevia

Stevia needs sunny exposure and relatively well-drained soil to thrive.

It is planted in spring, from April to May, in the ground at 30 cm in all directions, after the last frosts, or in a large pot. Water generously immediately after transplanting, and throughout the growing season.

Mulch the plants to prevent overgrowth and preserve soil moisture and microbiology.

Cut off the end of the central stem, just above a node bearing axillary buds, to stimulate branching and give the plants a bushy appearance.

Prune in autumn, 5 to 10 cm above the base, to encourage better growth the following season. During the winter, be sure to water your Stevia plants as soon as the substrate begins to dry out.

Re-pot pot-grown plants annually in early spring.

How to harvest Stevia?

Stevia leaves can be harvested as and when required, as soon as the plant reaches a height of at least 20 cm.

However, harvest only once, at the end of summer, when the flower buds appear, as this is when the stevioside concentration is at its highest. In this case, dry the leaves to intensify their sweetness and reduce their bitterness.

Cut the stems 10 cm from the base.

Gather them into a bouquet before hanging, head down, in a well-ventilated place away from light.

Remove the dried leaves and store in an airtight jar.

Stevia uses

In Paraguay, Brazil and Bolivia, in addition to its use as a sweetener, stevia is traditionally used to treat heartburn, indigestion, infections, gastrointestinal pathologies and as a tonic in depressive states.

A multitude of pharmacological investigations have highlighted its properties: antidiabetic, antihypertensive, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antitumoral, anticarcinogenic, antimicrobial, anticariogenic, antioxidant, hepatoprotective and immunomodulating.

The leaves can be used fresh or dried to sweeten a wide range of beverages such as tea, herbal tea or lemonade. Start with 3 or 4 leaves per cup, then adjust the quantity according to taste.

Dry leaf powder can be added to cakes, breads and cookies.

Stevia is calorie-free, has no effect on blood sugar and, unlike sugar, is not addictive. It can easily be incorporated into the diet of diabetics, people prone to hypoglycemia or simply anyone concerned with reducing their sugar intake.

Shipping and delivery of Stevia plants

• Orders are dispatched Monday to Thursday.
• Shipment to mainland France only.
• Shipping cartons designed for optimal plant protection.
• Free shipping does not apply to plants.