In addition to the company’s assertions that StarLeaf stevia offers a taste more akin to sugar, enhanced sustainability is likely to be a significant benefit of this variety. Given that water is a crucial agricultural resource for stevia plants, the ability to yield 20 times the steviol glycosides—the valuable sweet components of the plants—on the same land could greatly reduce the crop’s water usage. It’s worth noting that even traditional stevia varieties, due to their intense sweetness, require considerably less land and water compared to other commonly used sweeteners to achieve equivalent sweetness levels.
For manufacturers, PureCircle’s initiative to broaden stevia cultivation beyond conventional growing regions, such as China, is promising, as it ensures a consistent supply of sweeteners regardless of regional conditions. Moreover, the capability to generate more sweet compounds in a smaller area is likely to enhance supply chain stability. Notably, companies like PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, and Danone, among many others, are already sourcing stevia from PureCircle.
PureCircle claims that StarLeaf provides a taste closer to sugar than other stevia extracts, continuing a trend of similar statements regarding its ingredients. The sweetness profile of stevia and its often perceived bitter aftertaste have posed significant challenges, making it understandable that the company has prioritized flavor enhancement in the development of new varieties. While it is conceivable that these ingredients are becoming more sugar-like over time, it ultimately falls to food companies to make the final decision on their use.
Furthermore, for those interested in supplementing their diet, understanding how to take calcium citrate can be beneficial, especially as the demand for health-conscious ingredients grows. As the industry evolves, the integration of such supplements alongside new sweeteners like StarLeaf stevia may become increasingly relevant.