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Potential sweetening agents of plant origin. II. field search for sweet-tasting Stevia species

Abstract:

Field work in Paraguay, Peru, Colombia and Mexico, including field organoleptic tests and interviews, was carried out in search of sweet-tasting Stevia species. Results of such tests performed on at least 31 species, as well as ethnobotanical data on 9 species, are presented. The data obtained showed that leaves of no other Stevia species studied possessed a potent sweet taste comparable to that of S. rebaudiana leaves. Since only 15% of the approximately 200 known species in this genus were investigated in this study, it is quite possible that further research may reveal additional sweet-tasting Stevia species. © 1983 The New York Botanical Garden.