Sweeteners ~ Stevia Leaf & Ethyl Maltol

[Perpetua]

Sweeteners


Ethyl Maltol

Ethyl Maltol, if you haven’t used it before, is a sweetener with a cotton candy flavour, it usually comes in crystal form and to make a solution you simply dissolve about a ¼ of a teaspoon in 10 ml of PG… Very sweet, and yummy when you want that sweet type flavour in a mix.

www.liberty-flights.co.uk/product.asp?id=112


Stevia Leaf


Some flavours are what are termed as dry on the mouth, and need sweetening up a bit, you can use caramels etc, but this also changes flavour, and not what you always want, especially when using delicate fruits or tobaccos.

Lots of producers use the above product “Ethyl Maltol Crystals”, but it can be very difficult to find in stock in the UK…. A better and totally natural product is something called “Stevia leaf extract” it is available in either powder or liquid form and is claimed to be up to 1000 times sweeter than sugar, so a little goes a very long way.

It does not “taint” your liquids with that artificial sweetener taste, and it is recommended for use as a sweetener for diabetics, as it has no effect on blood sugars.

Like everything you pay for quality, and the very best stuff comes from Paraguay. You can source it in the UK, but beware of “cut down” products and imitations.


www.ebay.co.uk/itm/25g-STEVIA-pure-extract-powder-90-Steviosides-sweetener-pharma-grade-/261115388910?pt=UK_Health_Beauty_Vitamins_Supplements&hash=item3ccbb0a3ee




* With thanks to Frog for the explanations. *

[Perpetua]

Massive thanks to Frog for the following . . . .

As there seems to be an interest in the Stevia sweetener, I thought I would do a little instructional walk through…… but first some background information….

Stevia is obtainable in powder or a liquid based formula, the liquid based formula consists typically of Stevia leaf extract, Water, pure grain alcohol, and vegetable glycerine. The powder is pure ground Stevia Leaf.

I personally use the powder and make up a solution, (I use it in it’s powder form in other stuff, cooking, drinks, etc as I am Diabetic – so two birds with one stone). Since stevia has zero calories, zero carbohydrates and a zero glycemic index, it is perfect for those with diabetes, hypo/hyperglycemia or anyone looking to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

I obtain mine direct from the source, in Paraguay, the best, no additives, no chemicals, just 100% pure! The powder is the strongest and can be up to 1000 times sweeter than sugar, so a little goes a long way, but it makes it difficult to get a repeatable measured amount when wanting to add it to sweeten a small bottle of 10ml juice…. The answer is to make a solution.

First you need the powder, some PG and a few tools (you could use distilled water instead of PG if you wished, as you will only be adding small drops – I use PG as I can then calculate it in my PG ratios).




Next you need to put a little into a clean empty dry 10ml bottle, up to about the amount you can see on the pic below.





You then need to top up the bottle with about 8ml of PG, it came up to about where the arrow is on the pic below.





Warm in a microwave for “A FEW SEC’s” Shake, Shake, it can take a bit of shaking, but it will dissolve. As you see below, it is still a little cloudy but this will clear in a few mins. Some of the undiluted particles will drop to the bottom of the liquid, this is normal as the product we used is just a finely ground leaf.
You can let it settle and decant to another bottle or just use it as it is, being careful not to use the last drops.





Don’t forget to label up the bottles, I keep the rest of my powder in a screw top jar.





As you can see, the liquid after about 20 mins is crystal clear, and ready to use.





This solution is very strong and sweet, use cautiously, it is a safe, natural sweetner, without any aftertaste etc. I add by drips and usually only need 2 or three in a mix. Especially good with tobaccos or anything where you don’t want to change the flavour, just sweeten it.

You can also add it to any pre made liquids or mixes you have already made that are not sweet enough for you, and because it is so strong and you only need a few drops, it will not alter the mix ratios or strengths very much.

Enjoy