Stevia
Stevia is a plant-derived sweetener extracted from the Stevia rebaudiana leaf. The two main sweetening compounds are stevioside and rebaudioside A (Reb A). Stevia is 200 to 400 times sweeter than sugar, has zero calories, and is the default sweetener for natural-positioned proteins.
Why It Matters
Stevia is the most common alternative for brands that want to skip artificial sweeteners. The trade-off is a slight licorice or bitter aftertaste, especially at higher doses. Many formulas blend stevia with monk fruit or erythritol to round out the flavor and reduce the aftertaste.
How to Spot It on a Label
Look for stevia leaf extract, Reb A, or 'Truvia' on the ingredient list. Most natural-positioned protein products list stevia within the first half of the ingredient panel. Higher-quality stevia uses purified Reb A rather than crude stevia extract.
Examples from real products
Related Terms
Keep learning with these closely-linked entries: