What is stevia?

Stevia is a small, leafy plant that was first discovered more than 200 years ago by the native people in South America. The leaves of the stevia plant are uniquely, naturally sweet and the indigenous people used to chew them for the sweet taste and to sweeten beverages. Today, the sweetness of stevia is extracted and purified into high purity stevia leaf extract and used in foods and beverages around the world.