Discovered Kal Pure Stevia Extract Powder at the Kimberton Whole Foods store, in Kimberton, PA. Paid roughly $13 for this 1.3 ounce shaker bottle. Had doubts that it would taste as sweet and bitter-free as the glycerite stevia liquids we’d used for many years in herbal teas, on fruits, and in wheat and oat cereals. And this spice-sized little canister, that costs about what we’ve traditionally paid for an 8-ounce bottle of the stevia liquids, would probably not sweeten as much, and thus, cost more per sweetened teacup. Well, we were wrong, and, pleasantly surprised too. In short: This product seems every bit as flavorful and significantly more economical than the liquid stevia extracts. Like the other premium stevia formats, this one is non addictive, and does not add to a plump waistline. It’s not perfect however. It seems not to be completely natural, due to the added maltodextrin; a man-made sweetening and filling agent. But as of this writing, it’s the least pricey yet good tasting sweetener we’ve tried so far. Perhaps sacrificing 100% natural isn’t such a bad trade for the cheaper cost. Maybe. We’ll see.
Features, Pros, Advantages, and Benefits
- No bitterness or flavors present, other than sweetness of course.
- Zero calorie sweetener and dietary supplement. Thus, no carbohydrates.
- Antibacterial properties.
- 300 times more sweet per unit measure than sugar.
- Looks very much like pure white sugar. It’s quite white.
- No undesirable aftertaste.
- Probably does not raise blood sugar levels in diabetics.
- Includes a handy single-serving measuring scoop. Very small amount is considered one serving, and in this particular size bottle, there are 950 of these servings. Costs less than a quarter per cup of sweetened tea.
- No chemicals, artificial flavors, or preservatives. It’s a natural sweetener; not artificial.
- Does not increase hunger or food cravings the way sugar can.
- To retain its free-flowing powdery consistency, store in a cool, dry place.
- The expiration date is at least two years hence when you buy a freshly minted bottle.
- You get a lot of sweetness in a very light package, as comparable liquid stevia products can way as much as three times what this Kal power does. So, in addition to the low product price, shipping charges are reduced significantly as well.
- Temperature stable, like sugar. Does not lose it sweetness when you cook with it or pour it into hot beverages.
- Also available in a 3.5 ounce size, for even greater potential cost savings.
- Sprinkles a little, or a lot, with an adjustable four-position lid. One position closes off all openings.
Disadvantages, Cons, Problems, Concerns, and Suggested Improvements
- Produced in China. Would be wonder for Americans if supplements like this were produced in the USA. But, perhaps the Chinese origin is why it costs rather little.
- Does not measure like sugar. So recipes must be reworked if you wish to utilize this sweetener. Since Kal Stevia Extract Powder takes up so much less space and weight than sugar for the same strength of sweetness.
- Not organic. At least, no mention of organic on the label.
- The word, “pure,” in the title of this product may be misleading. Do they mean pure stevia? If so, it’s not, as this product also contains maltodextrin. However, we’ve experienced no identifiable symptoms of maltodextrin intolerance. True, this product may CONTAIN pure stevia extract. However, pure stevia extract does not entirely describe what’s in this sweetener. Sad that, according to numerous other reviewers, this product once was a truly pure stevia powder sweetener extract.
Warnings
We have consumed steviosides nearly every day for the past two decades without any side effects or health problems resulting. In fact, replacing sugar with stevia may have very well improved our over blood chemistry values, reduced weight, and improved overall health. Nonetheless, as this product is a dietary supplement, be sure to check with your primary care physician before use; particularly if diabetic. Also, as noted elsewhere, this product contains maltodextrin (man made), which may cause internal irritations in some people. Use it the debut time with caution, until your sure your body can handle the maltodextrin in this product.
Serving Hints, Tips, and Suggestions
Use this to sweeten teas, yogurt, cereals, pancakes, and home made chocolate milk.
Nutrition Facts
- Serving size: 42 milligrams.
- Servings per container: 950.
- Calories: 0.
Ingredients
Stevia Rebaudiana (leaf extract), and maltodextrin.
Our Product Rating
After having tried this Kal sweetener in over a hundred cups of tea, coffee, bowls of plain Greek yogurt, and on hot cereal, we find the flavor every bit as good as the liquid stevia we’d been using for nearly a decade, and this dry sweetener cost less than half as much to get the same amount of sweetness in the same number of cups of tea.
References
Revision History
- 2015-01-28: Moved this post to the Tom’s Diet Quest blog, and tweaked the content. Adjusted ad placement, and rearranged category and tag assignments.
- 2014-11-08: Initially published this post.