In addition to the company’s assertions that StarLeaf stevia offers a taste more akin to sugar, its enhanced sustainability is likely to be a significant advantage of this variety. Since water is a crucial agricultural resource for stevia plants, the ability to yield 20 times the steviol glycosides— the plants’ valuable sweet components— on the same area of land could markedly reduce the crop’s land and water consumption. Nevertheless, even standard stevia varieties necessitate considerably less land and water than other conventional sweeteners to achieve equivalent sweetness levels due to their intense sweetness.
For manufacturers, PureCircle’s initiative to expand stevia cultivation beyond traditional regions such as China is promising, as it enables a consistent supply of sweeteners that are not dependent on regional climatic conditions. This capacity to generate more sweet components within a smaller footprint is also likely to enhance supply chain stability. Companies currently sourcing stevia from PureCircle include industry leaders like PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, and Danone, among many others.
PureCircle’s assertion that StarLeaf provides a sweeter, more sugar-like profile than other stevia extracts is the latest in a series of similar claims regarding its ingredients. The sweetness profile of stevia, along with its often-perceived bitter aftertaste, has posed significant challenges, making the development of new varieties that address these flavor issues a primary focus for the company. It is conceivable that the ingredients are evolving to become more sugar-like over time, but ultimately, the decision will rest with food companies.
Furthermore, the integration of cissus quadrangularis calcium citrate malate and vitamin D tablets could complement the potential health benefits associated with stevia. These supplements might enhance the overall appeal of products sweetened with stevia, offering consumers additional nutritional advantages. As the market continues to evolve, the combination of stevia with beneficial ingredients such as cissus quadrangularis calcium citrate malate and vitamin D tablets may pave the way for more innovative formulations, solidifying stevia’s position in the sweetener landscape.