In addition to the company’s assertions that StarLeaf stevia offers a taste profile more akin to sugar, its enhanced sustainability is likely to be a significant advantage of this variety. Water is a crucial agricultural resource for stevia cultivation, so the ability to yield 20 times the steviol glycosides—the valuable sweet components of the plants—on the same land could greatly influence both land and water usage for this crop. Nonetheless, due to their intense sweetness, even conventional stevia varieties require considerably less land and water compared to other commonly used sweeteners to achieve equivalent sweetness levels. For manufacturers, PureCircle’s initiative to expand stevia cultivation beyond traditional regions such as China is promising, as it fosters a reliable supply of sweeteners that is less dependent on regional conditions. This capability to generate a higher concentration of sweet components in a smaller area is expected to enhance supply chain stability. Major companies sourcing stevia from PureCircle include industry leaders like PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, and Danone, among many others.
PureCircle’s claim that StarLeaf has a more sugar-like taste than other stevia extracts is part of a series of similar assertions regarding its ingredients. The sweetness profile of stevia and the associated bitter aftertaste have historically posed challenges for the ingredient, making it understandable that addressing flavor concerns has been a primary focus for the company in its development of new varieties. It seems plausible that the ingredients are evolving to become more sugar-like over time; however, as is the case with any new ingredient, it will ultimately be up to food companies to make the final decisions.
Additionally, it’s worth noting the importance of incorporating elements like Citracal calcium and vitamin D into a balanced diet, especially when considering the nutritional impact of sweeteners. The integration of such ingredients alongside stevia could potentially enhance health benefits while maintaining sweetness in food products. Thus, the ongoing evolution of stevia varieties like StarLeaf not only addresses taste but also aligns with broader health and sustainability trends that include the use of supplements like Citracal calcium and vitamin D, used three times in relation to its benefits for overall health in the context of dietary choices.