You've found the famous Dave's Garden website! Join this friendly global community that shares tips and ideas for home and gardens, along with seeds and plants!
Check out the DG homepage for a brief overview of what you'll find in this gardening mega-site.
Login
If you don't have an account yet, visit the registration page to sign up.
In researching herbs for the coming growing year, two I have been looking at are "sweeteners".
The first is Stevia rebaudiana... an interesting note from Companion Plants [HYPERLINK@home.frognet.net] on this herb says
Quoted:
Unassuming semi-tropical shrub contains the glycoside stevioside, which is 300 times sweeter than sugar. Chewing a leaf is an experience in sweetness. Reputed to trigger hypoglycemic activity, this plant is a possible boon for diabetics. As the FDA has been waffling on approval of this as a food additive, we offer this only as a novelty. Easy to grow.
If I remember earlier discussions, the "easy to grow" part will be disputed. At least from seeds.
Some glowing reviews given for Lippia dulcis or Sweet Aztec herb had me shopping for this plant till I uncovered this info ~
Quoted:
Fast-growing, attractive ground cover for areas with mild winters. Hardy to 30 degrees F. The leaves have a curious and amazingly sweet flavor. Research into its use as a sugar substitute seems to indicate a tendency to cause thyroid cancer in laboratory rats. Up to 53% of its essential oil is camphor. An attractive curiosity. Excellent in hanging baskets, the leaves turn red when temps drop below 50 degrees F.
Sounds like an easy care plant and although I am not a rat, I have already lost over half of my thryoid so I am reticent about this plant for consumption purposes. I may just want to grow this one for appearance, it sounds charming.
I have a fair selection of Herbal reference books and find further information on both of these is lacking. So I am asking...
Does anyone have any input on these sweeteners or any other sweeteners available in plant form?
Do you use either of the above?
Or do you have any other information on them?
TIA ~ pod
There are 16 replies. The replies of posts in this forum are viewable only by paid subscribers of Dave's Garden, and only subscribers can post new replies. We are a member supported website.
