New to the shop is a product produced by Whole Earth Sweetener called Pure Via.   It is a new natural sweetener containing stevia plant extract.   It is very low calorie, just 2 calories per spoonful.  I did get a few queries about availability of Stevia last year, but it was only approved for use in food in Europe in November 2011.  

Stevia comes from the stevia plant often called sweet leaf or sugar leaf, which is most widely grown in South America.   It has been used there as a sweetener for hundreds of years and has been used in Japan in particular for 30 years or more.    Apparently approval has been slow to come for general use in Europe because of its use in traditional medicine as a treatment for diabetes and to reduce blood pressure.  However studies have shown  little effect on blood sugar levels or blood sugars so it has been given approval for the use in general foods.  

Dried stevia is really sweet (300 times sweeter than sugar) so Pur Via is produced by mixing stevia with a bulking agent to reduce sweetness and make it easier to use.   It can be used in hot drinks, sprinkled over fruit or cereal as well as for cooking and baking. 

I am not a big sugar person, but I tried it in natural yogurt.   It is more of a powder than crystals, and the sweetness is a bit slower to develop in the mouth.    But it certainly took the bitter edge off the yogurt and it doesn’t leave any aftertaste.  If you like your tea sweet this will certainly work, and keep you skinny!