One of my goals for this year is to use less sugar. I have to say, it is quite a challenge because I do have a sweet tooth. That's why when I was asked to try Organic SweetLeaf Stevia by Moms Meet, I immediately grabbed the opportunity.
Here are some of the things about SweetLeaf Stevia that got me really curious:
- It is Certified Organic, zero calorie sweetener made from high-quality Stevia leaves.
- SweetLeaf Organic Stevia Sweetener is gluten free and contains no artificial ingredients, calories, carbohydrates glycemic response which makes it ideal for people managing their blood sugar or calorie intake.
- One packet of of SweetLeaf Organic Stevia is as sweet as 2 teaspoons of sugar.
- With a delicious taste that is sweeter than sugar, SweetLeaf Organic Stevia Sweetener is perfect for sweetening hot or cold beverages, cereals, baked goods, desserts, fresh fruit, yogurt and more.
Above is the gift pack I received from the makers of SweetLeaf Organic Stevia. Though I was really curious about on how the sugar alternative will taste, I have to admit, the Sweet Drops stole the show. Packaged in a familiar medicine bottle complete with a rubber dropper, the SweetDrops made me a little hesitant to actually try it. (Well, it just brings bad memories.)
Anyway, since our rule in this house is try something once before saying No, (unless of course it contains their allergens), I kept on open mind. Now, here's something important to know most especially by us food allergy people. Since the labels of SweetLeaf products don't specify for any allergens or warnings, I decided to contact them before writing this post. Here's their response on my inquiry.
Ms. DeSagun,Our ingredients include purified water, organic stevia extract, and natural flavors which are plant based, which means that we use a combination of herbs, fruits, vegetables, and essences. Sweet Drops™ contain no MSG or other products like it. Our liquids are also vegan and gluten free, meaning they contain no corn, wheat, barley or rye. We do not use GMO products. Our equipment may process different things but it is thoroughly cleaned between each product. Our product does not contain any soy or rice, and stevia extract used for the preparation of SweetDrops has been obtained with water extraction only.I hope this information helps!
As of this posting, I still haven't had a specific response on the peanuts and tree nuts (aside from Hazelnuts). I'll keep you posted once the information is available.
However, our family did try the Pumpkin Spice and the Berry Flavors (about 8 times already) and so far, all four of the kiddos didn't have any reactions.
For testing, I used our favorite recipe for Pumpkin Oat Muffins. Instead of the adding 1 cup of sugar as the recipe requires, I cut it in half and included 8 packet of Sweet Leaf Organic Stevia. Then, I added about 10 drops of the Pumpkin Spice Sweet Drops to the batter and baked it in a loaf pan at 350 F for about 40 minutes (or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out almost clean). The result is a delicious Pumpkin Spiced Bread.
One of the reasons why I enjoy using Sweet Drops is that it not overly sweet like honey or agave. It's not even thick at all. In fact, it is more of like the extracts we use for baking, only colorless, alcohol free and full of flavor. That's when I realize the importance of the dropper. It allowed me to precisely add how much I need. Surprisingly, a little of this really goes a long way.
Aside from adding extra flavor to baked goods, the SweetLeaf Drops works well coffee, tea and yes plain old water. Even Child #3, (the pickiest one) agrees. It provides so much flavor without the added calories, after taste and side effects. Personally, I get headaches if I consume products with aspartame or other artificial sugar substitutes.
Now for the Organic SweetLeaf Stevia packets. After using it on hot liquids such as coffee and even tomato based sauces, I found out that it gives the added sweetness without any after taste - a challenge most sugar substitutes have. When used with cold liquids, it melts right away and is not bitter at all. I've made sweet lemon tea with it a few times and I have to say, I can't tell the difference.
If you are watching your sugar intake, SweetLeaf Organic Stevia products are really nice to have on hand. It gives that sweetness we love and crave without the guilty feeling.
(Note: I received this products for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet SM program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet SM blogger, I agree to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer for this product.)
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