KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, April 1, 2014 (ANTARA/PRNewswire) -- Select nutrition scientists attending the International Congress of Obesity in Kuala Lumpur were given a sneak peek into the steviol glycoside extraction process on Wednesday during a tour and tasting event at the PureCircle plant in Enstek.
(Photo: http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20140331/0861401979)
The Global Stevia Institute sponsored the event to provide enhanced, scientific information around stevia and highlight a common process that is often misunderstood by consumers and health professionals alike.
"With nutrition scientists concerned about excess energy consumption, experiencing how stevia comes to market helps us to understand how stevia can be a real world solution for current health needs," said Dr. Cathy Kapica, Chair of the Global Stevia Institute Board of Advisors, who hosted the event.
Similar to other plant ingredients such as sugar, stevia is extracted from the stevia plant into a powdered sweetener form. The extraction process involves steeping the dried leaves of the plant, like a tea, and then separating and purifying the best tasting sweet compounds scientifically known as steviol glycosides.
Attendees were given an overview of this process and a tour of PureCircle's extraction plant that included a discussion of the high-purity, stevia extract. They then had the opportunity to taste stevia extract during various stages of purification.
Attendees also took part in a sensory tasting panel involving various beverages, including tea and a dairy drink, sweetened with stevia to experience the taste synergy of stevia with sugar and other flavor ingredients.
For more information on the science behind stevia, visit http://www.globalsteviainstitute.com
Stevia can help reduce calorie intake and aide in weight management. It is a safe, naturally-sourced, zero calorie sweetener suitable for use by the whole family. It is a plant extract that has been used as a natural sugar substitute around the globe for centuries, and the safety of high purity stevia extract for human consumption has been established through rigorous peer-reviewed research.
The Global Stevia Institute (GSI)provides science-based information about stevia, nature's zero calorie sustainable sweetener. The GSI is advised by an international board of leading scientists and health professionals. The GSI is supported by PureCircle, Ltd, a global leader in purified stevia leaf extract production. For details, visit http://www.globalsteviainstitute.com
SOURCE The Global Stevia Institute (GSI)
Editor: PR Wire
Copyright © ANTARA 2014
