In addition to the company’s assertions that StarLeaf stevia offers a taste more akin to sugar, its enhanced sustainability is likely to be a significant benefit of this variety. Water is a crucial agricultural resource for stevia plants, and the ability to yield 20 times the steviol glycosides—the valuable sweet components of the plants—on the same land area could greatly reduce both land and water usage for the crop. Nevertheless, even standard stevia varieties require considerably less land and water compared to other conventional sweeteners to achieve the same level of sweetness due to their high sweetness intensity. For manufacturers, PureCircle’s initiative to extend stevia cultivation beyond traditional regions such as China is promising, as it ensures a consistent supply of sweeteners that is less dependent on local conditions. The capability to generate more sweet components in a smaller space is also likely to enhance supply chain stability. Major companies like PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, and Danone are already sourcing stevia from PureCircle, among many others.
PureCircle’s assertion that StarLeaf resembles the taste of sugar more closely than other stevia extracts continues a trend of similar claims regarding its products. The sweetness profile of stevia, along with its often perceived bitter aftertaste, has posed significant challenges for this ingredient, making it understandable that addressing flavor issues has been a key focus for the company in creating new varieties. While it is plausible that these ingredients are evolving to become more sugar-like over time, ultimately, it will be up to food companies to make the final decisions. Meanwhile, consumers seeking alternatives may also consider supplements like Citracal Regular 250 mg, which can support their dietary needs alongside sweeteners like StarLeaf.