# So, does stevia taste terrible, or do these hippies just suck at making soda? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** soda-softdrinks\ **Created:** [June 15, 2009, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-does-stevia-taste-terrible-or-do-these-hippies-just-suck-at-making-soda/499842 "2009-06-15T15:39:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-does-stevia-taste-terrible-or-do-these-hippies-just-suck-at-making-soda/499842/1 "2009-06-15T15:39:00Z")
I’ve now had soda from Zevia twice. Once when a can of lemon-lime Zevia came free with a meal, and now because Whole Foods was the only store within walking distance of my hotel, and I needed some caffeinated diet soda to kick off the morning. The sodas are sweetened with Stevia, a natural non-caloric sweetener. The lemon-lime soda tasted like someone took 7-up and dumped a scoop of Country Time lemonade mix into it. Not quite right… And my diet cola this morning tastes like … well, like black pepper. Also not quite right. So my first assumption is that Stevia, despite the hype, tastes like crap and can’t be masked. After all, every lousy supermarket chain has managed to put out a serviceable house brand of cola/diet cola/etc. But it’s also possible that the people making Zevia brand sodas just don’t know what they’re doing. (Or that–yeek–someone thinks this stuff tastes _better_ than normal formulations of cola and lemon-lime soda.) Anyone have broader stevia experience? ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-does-stevia-taste-terrible-or-do-these-hippies-just-suck-at-making-soda/499842/2 "2009-06-15T15:46:31Z")
Just tried some Blue Bunny ice cream bars made with Stevia. The didn’t tast like the real thing but they weren’t any better or worse than ones I’ve had with Splenda. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-does-stevia-taste-terrible-or-do-these-hippies-just-suck-at-making-soda/499842/3 "2009-06-15T15:51:33Z")
Stevia does have a sort of after/undertaste to it, a leaf fresh off the plant (I have a stevia plant growing in my Aerogarden) has a sort of faint licorice-ish undertaste to it, not overly strong, actually quite nice, however, commercially prepared white stevia powder (“Sweetleaf” brand, made from dried stevia leaf extract) has a faintly chemical-ish taste to it From what I understand, Truvia and Purevia are refined even more, removing the chemical taste, as they’re pure Stevoside/Rubinia extract, I haven’t tried either of those sweeteners though, a fresh leaf right off the plant is nice, the Sweetleaf extract is mediocre at best, too chemical tasting for me Stevia is notoriously hard to grow from seed and it’s a fussy plant, seed packets have a 50% germination rate, and it’s an extremely slow grower to start, but once it gets going, it’s quite hardy It seems Stevia has a very recognizable taste in sweetened beverages, the VitaminWater 10 calorie lineup has Stevia extract as one of it’s sweeteners, and I can recognize it’s unique taste… ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-does-stevia-taste-terrible-or-do-these-hippies-just-suck-at-making-soda/499842/4 "2009-06-15T15:53:05Z")
Stevia doesn’t taste horrible, but it _does_ taste more like Equal than it does cane sugar or HFCS. If you don’t like the taste of artificial sweeteners, you won’t like stevia or things sweetened with it. And no, that taste doesn’t have anything to do with the processing it goes through; we have a stevia plant, and it tastes like that straight out of the ground. ---
**Author:** ![Claire\_Beauchamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ec9cab/32.png) [@Claire\_Beauchamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claire_Beauchamp)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-does-stevia-taste-terrible-or-do-these-hippies-just-suck-at-making-soda/499842/5 "2009-06-15T15:59:21Z")
I think the problem with a lot of drinks and foods sweetened with ANY non-sugar or non-corn syrup sweetener taste strange because they use too much sweetener. I’m a Southern girl and have a sweet tooth, and happily drink diet Coke, Dr. Pepper, Sprite, etc. because they have gotten the balance right. I use Splenda in tea and coffee, but don’t care for the diet Coke made with Splenda. As for stevia specifically, I tried some liquid several years ago and hated it. I just bought some Truvia to give it one more try in another form. So … yes, it could be that you don’t like stevia, but it could also be that those particular drinks are the problem. ---
**Author:** ![Mahna\_Mahna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47c2d/32.png) [@Mahna\_Mahna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahna_Mahna)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-does-stevia-taste-terrible-or-do-these-hippies-just-suck-at-making-soda/499842/6 "2009-06-15T16:09:04Z")
I’m not a fan of the taste of stevia, personally. I know some people who claim they don’t notice any sort of aftertaste in stevia sweetened products, but I can definitely taste something a little… off, for lack of a better word. It’s not nearly as bad as the aftertaste I get from other artificial sweeteners (especially Splenda, which is absolutely atrocious), but it’s still noticeable enough to keep me from enjoying whatever it’s been added to. Much to my dismay, the hippie organic drink stand at our local farmer’s market decided to start sweetening their lemonade with stevia this year. Phtooey. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-does-stevia-taste-terrible-or-do-these-hippies-just-suck-at-making-soda/499842/7 "2009-06-15T16:09:39Z")
Excess stevia is notorious for tasting bitter. Me, I think even a little bit of the powder tastes bitter, but I’m kind of a bitter wimp. I do like munching on the leaves, though. I’ll have to try Truvia or Purevia and see how those taste. ---
**Author:** ![badbadrubberpiggy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/57b2e6/32.png) [@badbadrubberpiggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badbadrubberpiggy)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-does-stevia-taste-terrible-or-do-these-hippies-just-suck-at-making-soda/499842/8 "2009-06-15T16:12:16Z")
I’ve only tried the pure stevia they sell powdered - you’re only supposed to use a teeny tiny amount, it’s extremely sweet but has a bitter taste, too, especially if you use too much. It tastes like ultra-concentrated Equal to me. ---
**Author:** ![Telperien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Telperien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperien)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-does-stevia-taste-terrible-or-do-these-hippies-just-suck-at-making-soda/499842/9 "2009-06-15T16:18:07Z")
It’s also possible that you’re one of those people to whom stevia isn’t going to taste right. I use liquid stevia drops from NuNaturals in iced tea, and I think it harmonizes well with tea. I haven’t tried it with anything else, though. I don’t like the taste of Truevia powdered stevia as much, and I haven’t tried other powdered stevia preparations. I do like the stevia-sweetened Vitamin Water, though. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-does-stevia-taste-terrible-or-do-these-hippies-just-suck-at-making-soda/499842/10 "2009-06-15T16:59:08Z")
I used to use stevia (both liquid and powder) to make kool aid. You had to get the amount just right - too little or too much and it tasted way off… but if you hit the balance just right, it was the best of the artificial sweeteners. Maybe that brand didn’t get it quite right. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-does-stevia-taste-terrible-or-do-these-hippies-just-suck-at-making-soda/499842/11 "2009-06-15T17:05:15Z")
my two cents. I bought a stevia plant for grins last year. this year two came up in the garden on their own. I dont use it for anything, but a leaf right off the plant taste amazing like regular old sugar, much more so than any other artificial sweetner I have ever had. I would THINK processed stuff would be even better still. But never quite like the real thing. Like others, I think they are using TOO much of it, at which point the non sugar like aspect is detectable. They should probably use just enough for a hint of sweetness, with other flavors and tastes that compliment said sweetness. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-does-stevia-taste-terrible-or-do-these-hippies-just-suck-at-making-soda/499842/12 "2009-06-15T17:34:37Z")
> [@MacTech](#): > > (“Sweetleaf” brand, made from dried stevia leaf extract) … Sweetleaf? You’re kidding me! What’s next? Paranoid brand artficial sweetener, for people who are afraid of getting fat? Iron Man brand artificial sweetener, for guys who don’t want none of that girly diet crap? (Electric Funeral brand artificial sweetener was a gigantic flop for some reason.) ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-does-stevia-taste-terrible-or-do-these-hippies-just-suck-at-making-soda/499842/13 "2009-06-15T18:32:14Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > my two cents. > > I bought a stevia plant for grins last year. > > this year two came up in the garden on their own. > > I dont use it for anything, but a leaf right off the plant taste amazing like regular old sugar, much more so than any other artificial sweetner I have ever had. > > I would THINK processed stuff would be even better still. But never quite like the real thing. Like others, I think they are using TOO much of it, at which point the non sugar like aspect is detectable. They should probably use just enough for a hint of sweetness, with other flavors and tastes that compliment said sweetness. Fresh-picked Stevia is great stuff, but it’s so _powerful_, a single leaf is all that’s needed to sweeten most coffee-mug sized beverages, eating a leaf directly off the plant tastes to me like I swallowed a tablespoon of sugar with a dash of licorice essence ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-does-stevia-taste-terrible-or-do-these-hippies-just-suck-at-making-soda/499842/14 "2009-06-15T19:13:33Z")
My parents use stevia. They seem to like it. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-does-stevia-taste-terrible-or-do-these-hippies-just-suck-at-making-soda/499842/15 "2009-06-15T19:57:04Z")
BRING BACK CYCLAMATES!! BRING BACK CYCLAMATES!! BRING BACK CYCLAMATES!!🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-does-stevia-taste-terrible-or-do-these-hippies-just-suck-at-making-soda/499842/16 "2009-06-15T20:55:17Z")
I bought some of the truvia that is a commercial sweetener of the stevia. It has a terrible after taste and it makes me almost puke after a couple minutes. No stevia sweetener in my future. I had high hopes. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-does-stevia-taste-terrible-or-do-these-hippies-just-suck-at-making-soda/499842/17 "2009-06-15T21:09:55Z")
I don’t like the taste of the plant, but I have been very happy with Now brand stevia powder and liquid. I don’t taste an aftertaste, which I do with all other non-sugar sweeteners. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-does-stevia-taste-terrible-or-do-these-hippies-just-suck-at-making-soda/499842/18 "2009-08-17T12:43:12Z")
> [@On another topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/544243/4): > > Stevia is so much better for you I know this is ‘only’ CS, but come on. Which are you claiming it’s “better for you than”? Nutra Sweet, for example, is 100% safe in anything other than horse doctor doses. It’s hard to imagine more safe than completely safe. > [@On another topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/544243/4): > > and more natural than other artificial sweeteners Now this is just silly. It’s [the naturalistic fallacy, pure and simple](http://www.fallacyfiles.org/adnature.html) I guarantee you, if you spend a day munching on arsenic and I spend a day snacking on deep fried bacon wrapped twinkies, I will still come out waaaaaaay ahead, short or long term. ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-does-stevia-taste-terrible-or-do-these-hippies-just-suck-at-making-soda/499842/19 "2009-08-17T13:37:31Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > I guarantee you, if you spend a day munching on arsenic and I spend a day snacking on deep fried bacon wrapped twinkies, I will still come out waaaaaaay ahead, short or long term. 😃 If we’re talking reliable evidence of harm, probably any artificial sweetener, including Sweet N Low, is safer than eating sugar. No tooth decay, excess calories, or blood sugar swings. Don’t get me wrong, I loves me some sugar, but avoiding artificial sweeteners on the basis of chemical hysteria is silly. Now, avoiding them due to taste makes complete sense. I tried Stevia sweetener from Whole Foods, and it was gaktastic. Recently I nerved up to try Truvia, and it was a completely different flavor. It’s my second favorite artificial sweetener, after Ideal (xylitol). I find Splenda, Sweet N Low, and especially Equal to taste awful, but Truvia and Purevia are quite tolerable, and undetectable when used with highly flavorful ingredients. (To me; no doubt palates vary.) So, to sum up, I think the more natural stevia tastes terrible, but yeah, the problem is probably the hippie soda - use some good old American mass-produced, refined stuff, and you might like it. ---
**Author:** ![FalconFinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@FalconFinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FalconFinder)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-does-stevia-taste-terrible-or-do-these-hippies-just-suck-at-making-soda/499842/20 "2009-08-17T16:07:04Z")
I tried a Stevia sweetner I got at Vitamin Shoppe. It was the worst bit of horrible I ever had!! It tasted NOTHING like sugar and was a bad mix of bitter and just plain awful tasting I can’t even describe it!! I only tasted a little bit straight from the packet and that aftertaste stuck with me for a loooong time. Now, maybe I’m ultra sensitive to it, I don’t know, but I don’t think I’ll ever try it again!! Yuck! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-does-stevia-taste-terrible-or-do-these-hippies-just-suck-at-making-soda/499842.md?page=2)