1800s

The Guarani Indians realized the advantages of Stevia, and commonly used the leaves to enhance the taste of tea, medical potions and other bitter mates. Stevia was also simply chewed for their sweet taste. The widespread use of stevia consumtion had become well entrenched throughout Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina.

Who discovered Stevia you ask? Well, the credit for the discovery of stevia goes to an Italian explorer who was a botanist, initially unfamiliar wit the region.

1887

Stevia, "a very strange plant", was brought to the attention of Dr. Moises Santiago Bertoni, director of college of Agriculture in Asuncion. He subsequently announced his discovery of the "new species" in a botanical journal published in Asuncion.

1903

Bertoni did more experiments on the plant and concluded that the sweetening power of Stevia (also known as Kaa he-e) is much superior to sugar. Soon enough, what was previously known as a "rare" and "little known" plant had become "famous" and "well known".

Bertoni's discovery was a turning point for Stevia. Prior to 1900, it had only been grown in the wild. Consumers were limited to those having access to its natural habitat.

1908

In 1908, a ton of dried Stevia leaves were harvested. Soon enough, Stevia plantations began springing up and the growth of Stevia increased. Since the growing of stevia seed does not work, thousands of Stevia plants were transplanted for easy access.

As the awareness of this unique herb increased, so did the interest in its potential as a marketable commodity.

1918

Stevia was first brought to the attention the U.S department of Agriculture by a botanist who thought it had "remarkable sweetness".

1921

Stevia was presented to the USDA by George S.Braddy, an American Trade Commisioner. He claimed it to be ideal for diabetics" and "desirous of seeing it placed before any American companies liable to be interested, as it is very profitable"

However, a report from the official public laboratory of Hamburg, Germany, noted that "specimens received are of the well-known plant which alarmed sugar producers some years ago."

1931

Two chemists in France isolated the most prevalent of several components that gave the stevia leaf its sweet taste. A pure white crystalline extract, they named stevioside. Dr. Hewitt G. Fletcher, a U.S government researcher described the extract as "the sweetest natural product yet found".

1960s

An enterprising Japanese had discovered just how useful stevioside really was.

1970s

Stevioside and other products were introduced to Japan by a consortium of food-product manufacturers.

1988

It was reported that Stevia Sweetener represented approximately 41% of the market share of potently sweet substances consumed in Japan. It was widely used as a tabletop Sweetener and gradually started being sold in packets of saccharin and aspartame. The Japanese used Stevia to sweeten a variety of food products including ice cream, bread, candies, pickles, seafood, vegetables and soft drinks.

Stevia's success in Japan proved several other significant facts. The plant could be grown throughout this temperate island nation. Stevia's safety was proven throughout extensive scientific testing.

Today

The Stevia phenomenon spread to several countries including America, China, Germany, Malaysia, Australia, India, France, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, Israel and South Korea.

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