Stevia in the Raw, Sugar Substitute, Zero Calories, 9.7oz Bag, 2 Pack

One of the concerns of anyone wanting to buy Stevia, is do you buy pure stevia or do you buy it in a more convenient form that can be used as a 1 to 1 replacement for sugar. The later means that stevia must be blended with something other than sugar that 1) isn't a nutritive sugar and 2) doesn't have any side affects. Another concern is that if you have any gray matter between your ears, you don't want the stevia grown in China nor processed in China! In fact, you don't want to buy anything you consume from China because of severe pollution of their soil and water and often non-existent quality control. Yes, I know.....some of this is repetitive for some of you, but there are others who for whatever reason(s) are ignorant of this issue.My wife is a diabetic and we've been using Sooooo Sweet stevia for awhile, which is not a blended product. However, we decided to use a blended stevia because of it being a lot easier to use in our favorite recipes. One the first, if not the first, products to come to market....that is grocery stores is Truvia, which we did buy just to try it, which is out of character for me as I tend to thoroughly check out a product before buying it.When I did check it out I found out that it was developed by Cargill & Coke. I imagine that Monsanto wasn't very happy about that as it had to chew into their sales of aspartame big time! If you don't know it, Monsanto is the worlds leader in GMO modified plants and foods. I also found what is blended with Truvia, which didn't give me a warm and fuzzy feeling either. Note the web sites below.Gastrointestinal Side EffectsThe most common side effects of Truvia are gastrointestinal in nature.[citation needed] This is more so due to the sugar alcohol erythritol than the rebiana extract, Marissa Lippert says in her book "The Cheater's Diet." These compounds tend to have a laxative effect as they are not completely metabolized or absorbed by the digestive system. Common side effects include diarrhea, bloating, gas, constipation and hard stools, Lippert notes.[10]Truvia's own website claims[...]Truvia sweetener a powerful pesticide; scientists shocked as fruit flies die in less than a week from eating GMO-derived erythritol[...]I had a recommendation from a very nice young lady in tech. support at a non-stevia company for Stevia In The Raw, as she has some diabetics in her family. Of course, I checked pricing from Amazon since I'm a Prime member and was intrigued that there is a baking stevia with a 1 to 1 ratio. I ordered it, even though I had questions as to where the plants are grown and processed.I now know, and can assure all that Stevia In The Raw is grown in S. America and the Caribbean and processed same! NONE of it is grown in China nor processed there. It also doesn't contain erythritol.Now good is the product? So far we've found that it's JUST LIKE SUGAR...volume to volume. My coffee tastes like I'd used sugar, which is what I wanted. We'll being testing it in our favorite recipes in the near future.

Stevia has a slightly bitter aftertaste and in my opinion, therefore, isn't quite as close to a good sugary taste as say Splenda. However, I pick Stevia because Splenda has a lot of chemically/covalently bound chlorine. This isn't the same a chlorine in salt (sodium chloride), in which the chloride is a normal ion circulating in our blood stream and within our cells. This is bound chlorine, within a substance which must get broken down in the liver. Chemically bound halogens (chlorine, fluorine) tend to have some liver toxicity. Carbon tetrachloride and chloroform are examples. It's entirely possible that small quantities of Splenda are OK. But since I don't know the long term effects of Splenda, I mostly avoid consuming it. Stevia safety also has no definitive scientific backing--e.g. controlled studies of long term effects, but at least it is derived from a natural plant which has been ingested by people for thousands of years. So, to me, it is likelier to be safe in modest quantities.Other reports suggest that artificial sweeteners may change our intestinal microbial flora. This may be important, but as far as I can tell, this seems to be dose dependent, so modest consumption appears reasonable to me.

It helps me keep my carbs/calories under control. Tastes good without a bad aftertaste.

For several years now, STEVIA IN THE RAW has been my sweetener of choice. It has no off-taste to it, which other sweeteners have. Primarily I use it for tea, lemonade, and my strong dark roast coffee (with lots of half & half).As a diabetic, I have eliminated any use of granulated or powdered sugar, and sought something more natural than other substitutes. Until I give up entirely any sweet taste, this is my GO-TO product. Local groceries carry it, but Amazon makes it so easy to have in two days, I can avoid the grocers for two weeks.

in walmart i can touch the package and see the actual size. my amavon the package is smaller than i expected.

I use this in my smoothies and my baking. I am a vegan, and I strive to keep my fat and sugar intake down as well. This product tastes good and helps me keep sugars and calories down. I use it every day.

I love Stevia in the Raw. I did a lot of research to make sure I bought Stevia without any fillers. This is more expensive than the packages per ounce but more convenient. I can't figure out why it would cost more since there is less packaging.

There isn't much to review about a product that I use every day, and is consistently just what I need for my "sugar" bowl. Stevia in the Raw is much easier to use than those little packets of other brands....it dissolves better and you can use it just like sugar, in baking, coffee, tea, on your cereal, etc. It can be conveniently measured cup for cup in baking. It may seem expensive, but when you realize the ease of use and how far a bag of it goes, you will be satisfied.