Using stevia and how I handle the cost
Dec 22, 2022 6:24:00 GMT -6
roseofsharon and mountainma like this
Post by eyeofthestorm on Dec 22, 2022 6:24:00 GMT -6
For me the FIRST thing to address with stevia is the taste. We have used stevia in our family for well over a decade, and I find that people who don't like it usually don't like the fact it doesn't taste like sugar. Every sweetener brings something to the flavor. We are so used to sugar pervading our diets, we don't notice it. It's like air or like water to fish. But think about how honey carries its own flavor. So does maple syrup, and agave nectar and others (although I find agave milder).
So, step one: Acknowledge that it's not sugar, it's not gonna taste like sugar, and find types (or brands) of stevia that you like and WAYS you like it.
When I first started using stevia, I found I could NOT take it with certain other flavors. Smoothies? Teas? Fruit? Fine! Chocolate - BLECH. it was absolutely disgusting.
I now find that the many refined stevia products have gotten better at getting down to just being sweet (minimizing or even eliminating after or other taste).
If you aren't growing it, it's expensive, period. Here is what we do:
- powdered stevia (the super concentrated stuff). I buy this from Trader Joe's and use it in hot tea and coffee. This is pretty much JUST sweet.
- liquid. DH likes the liquid stevia, especially in drinks. It also does a fair job at being JUST sweet, but the brand we use also produces maple (very good), cocoa (which is AMAZING), chocolate mint, vanilla, and other flavors. It is too expensive from the store. We order(ed) it directly from the company. That is ALSO a bit too expensive if you order one bottle at a time. What we have done is set up a subscription (discount) and then put multiple bottles in each order (save a LOT of shipping). The end result is that we buy it faster than we use it up, so we then stop or pause the subscription until we use up what's in the pantry
- Granulated for baking. A few important notes: Pyure is my PREFERENCE. There are others out there; I feel this is the best for taste and baking results. You have to tinker with the measurements. The stevia is mixed with erythritol. It is NOT just sweet. There's some other flavor or aftertaste present. It does best when used with other strong flavors. Pyure granulated is (to me) EXPENSIVE. I have a subscription on Amazon (discount). I also watch the prices, because the product is listed by third party sellers. If someone raises the price, I will switch to another buyer. Here's the thing: It comes in failry small packages. That's why I have the subscription. I buy one small package every month or two months (I forget) and then I have a very nice stash for the holidays. (That includes using it here or there during the year to treat myself). If it cost less, I would experiment more and probably get better results, but 🤷🏻♀️
- powdered. I only buy this when I need it. I have never made frosting with it. I love (but do not need to eat) frosting. It's probably something I would totally reject if the flavor was "off" to me.
So, step one: Acknowledge that it's not sugar, it's not gonna taste like sugar, and find types (or brands) of stevia that you like and WAYS you like it.
When I first started using stevia, I found I could NOT take it with certain other flavors. Smoothies? Teas? Fruit? Fine! Chocolate - BLECH. it was absolutely disgusting.
I now find that the many refined stevia products have gotten better at getting down to just being sweet (minimizing or even eliminating after or other taste).
If you aren't growing it, it's expensive, period. Here is what we do:
- powdered stevia (the super concentrated stuff). I buy this from Trader Joe's and use it in hot tea and coffee. This is pretty much JUST sweet.
- liquid. DH likes the liquid stevia, especially in drinks. It also does a fair job at being JUST sweet, but the brand we use also produces maple (very good), cocoa (which is AMAZING), chocolate mint, vanilla, and other flavors. It is too expensive from the store. We order(ed) it directly from the company. That is ALSO a bit too expensive if you order one bottle at a time. What we have done is set up a subscription (discount) and then put multiple bottles in each order (save a LOT of shipping). The end result is that we buy it faster than we use it up, so we then stop or pause the subscription until we use up what's in the pantry
- Granulated for baking. A few important notes: Pyure is my PREFERENCE. There are others out there; I feel this is the best for taste and baking results. You have to tinker with the measurements. The stevia is mixed with erythritol. It is NOT just sweet. There's some other flavor or aftertaste present. It does best when used with other strong flavors. Pyure granulated is (to me) EXPENSIVE. I have a subscription on Amazon (discount). I also watch the prices, because the product is listed by third party sellers. If someone raises the price, I will switch to another buyer. Here's the thing: It comes in failry small packages. That's why I have the subscription. I buy one small package every month or two months (I forget) and then I have a very nice stash for the holidays. (That includes using it here or there during the year to treat myself). If it cost less, I would experiment more and probably get better results, but 🤷🏻♀️
- powdered. I only buy this when I need it. I have never made frosting with it. I love (but do not need to eat) frosting. It's probably something I would totally reject if the flavor was "off" to me.