How to Refine Stevia

Stevia is an herb with a sweet flavor that makes an ideal substitute for sugar in drinks or mixed into foods. Stevia can be grown outdoors in warm climates or as a houseplant in cooler climates. Stevia can be refined for use in the kitchen. The method is simple enough to do yourself.

Things You'll Need

• 1/2 cup or more fresh stevia leaves
• Clean screen or dehydrator
• Coffee grinder, food processor or mortar and pestle
• Measuring cup
• 1 cup warm water (for water-based extract)
• 1 cup pure grain alcohol, brandy or vodka (for alcohol-based extract)
• Coffee filter
• Jar with fitted lid

Instructions

Stevia Powder

1. Collect fresh stevia leaves. To make ground stevia powder, you can harvest as much or as little as you like.

2. Spread clean stevia leaves over a clean screen and allow to dry in the sun for no more than 12 hours but preferably 8 hours or less. If you cannot do this, put the leaves in a dehydrator and allow them to dry until they are crumbly. The faster the leaves dry, the sweeter they will be.

3. Using a coffee grinder, food processor or mortar and pestle, grind dried leaves into a fine powder.

4. Store the green powder in a jar with fitted lid and add as needed to your favorite beverages or foods. Properly stored, it will last for many months.

Water-Based Extract

1. Harvest 1/2 cup fresh stevia leaves if you opt to make a liquid extract. Dry using the method above.

2. Add 1/4 cup of fresh, dried stevia leaves to 1 cup of warm water.

3. Allow to steep for 24 hours.

4. Strain through a coffee filter and store a jar with fitted lid in the refrigerator to use as needed.

Alcohol-Based Extract

1. A stronger extract can be made by adding 3/4 cup fresh, macerated stevia leaves to 1 cup pure USP grain alcohol, brandy or vodka.

2. Keep mixture in a tightly lidded jar for two weeks, shaking daily.

3. Strain alcohol-based extract through a coffee filter and store the liquid in the jar in the refrigerator to use as needed.

Tips & Warnings

• The alcohol-based extract can be heated slowly after steeping to reduce alcohol content and to thicken the extract.

• Water-based extract can be slowly cooked down into a syrup if desired.

• A little bit of stevia goes a long way, so start with less than you think you will need and add more as needed. If you add too much, it will either be too sweet or have a licorice-like flavor.

References

• Growing Stevia
• Stevia.net
• Blossom Farm