How is stevia powder manufactured?

Stevia powder is manufactured from the leaves of the stevia plant, a small shrub native to South America. Here is a general overview of the manufacturing process of stevia powder:

1. Cultivation and Harvesting:

- Stevia plants are grown in tropical and subtropical regions.

- Leaves are harvested multiple times during the growing season, usually by hand, to ensure optimal quality and sweetness.

2. Drying:

- Harvested leaves are carefully dried to remove moisture. This can be done through natural air drying or using controlled drying methods like hot air ovens. Proper drying helps preserve the stevia leaves' natural sweetness.

3. Extraction:

- Dried stevia leaves undergo an extraction process to separate the sweet compounds, mainly stevioside and rebaudioside A, from the plant material.

- Various extraction methods can be used, such as water extraction, ethanol extraction, or supercritical fluid extraction. These methods aim to dissolve and extract the sweet compounds while minimizing impurities.

4. Purification and Filtration:

- The extracted solution goes through a purification process to remove unwanted compounds, such as plant pigments, bitter substances, and other impurities.

- Filtration techniques, including membrane filtration and activated carbon treatment, are commonly employed to achieve purification.

5. Crystallization:

- The purified extract undergoes a controlled crystallization process. This involves cooling the extract to induce the formation of stevia crystals.

- The crystallized stevia is then separated from the liquid through centrifugation or filtration.

6. Drying and Milling:

- The stevia crystals are dried to further reduce moisture content and prevent clumping.

- The dried crystals are then ground into a fine powder through milling processes.

7. Standardization:

- The stevia powder's sweetness level and consistency are standardized to meet specific quality requirements.

- Some manufacturers may blend stevia powder with other natural sweeteners or additives to achieve desired sweetness profiles.

8. Packaging:

- The final stevia powder is packaged in airtight containers to preserve its quality and prevent spoilage.

It's important to note that stevia powder manufacturing processes may vary among different manufacturers, and some variations can occur in terms of extraction methods, purification techniques, and additives used.