How to Make Stevia Extract From Dry Leaves
You can grown stevia just about anywhere as an annual. This simple relative of the chrysanthemum has leaves that contain stevioside, a noncaloric sweetener. You can use the whole leaves fresh in tea, dried and ground as a powdered sweetener or made into a liquid extract, even more sweet than using the fresh leaves. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- 1 qt. glass jar with lid
- 3 to 4 c. stevia leaves
- 1 liter vodka
- Cheesecloth or strainer
- Glass bowl or pitcher
Instructions
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1
Harvest the leaves from your plants, after they have blossomed but before the first frost. Pull the leaves off the stems by rubbing your fingers up the stem. Place all the leaves into the glass jar.
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2
Pour the liter of vodka over the leaves until they are covered. They will probably float to the top, but they will eventually sink. Close the container and give it a good shaking.
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3
Place the mixture into a cool, dark place, like your wine cabinet. Every day, shake the jar a few times so the leaves are well soaked and not just sitting on the surface. By the end of the week, all the leaves should be sitting at the bottom of the jar.
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4
Strain the liquid through a cheesecloth or a fine-meshed strainer into a glass bowl or pitcher. Throw away the leaves. Pour the liquid stevia extract back into the glass jar or other container that you can close tightly.
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5
Dilute this extract with water or use straight. If you are concerned about the alcohol content, warm the extract to about 175 degrees for a few minutes and the alcohol will evaporate. This extract will be very sweet, so use it sparingly.
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