Just Tried New Artificial Sweetener Made From Stevia – Truvia

I should probably start this post with a disclaimer.  I don’t like artificial sweeteners.  I don’t like the way they taste, nor do I like the effects I believe they have on the human body.  Its not all in my head either.  My wife swears I should have been a wine taster.  One time she purchased some “No Sugar Added” orange juice.  We were having breakfast, and she had poured a glass for me.  I hadn’t seen the jug, but after one taste I asked if it had sucralose (Sucrose) in it.  She swore up one side and down another that it didn’t.  She got mad at me over it, and finally got up, grabbed the box, and proceeded to read the contents.  Sure enough, there it was:  Sucrose.  Having said all that, I was in the grocery store the other day, and as I was walking past the low calorie sweetener aisle, when a new artificial sweetener, labeled “Truvia” caught my eye.  It is a blend of erythritol and rebiana, listed as being safe for diabetics and having zero calories.  I thought — “Why not?”  So I grabbed a small box of the stuff.

What is this new artificial sweetener?

Generally speaking, I’ve gotten in the habit of reading up on new items before I stuff them in my body.  This was no different.  Erythritol is a naturally occurring sugar alcohol that has been used for a long time.  The rebiana was of greater interest though.  It is a new product, based on the stevia extract, that is being developed by the Coca-Cola Company and Cargill.  Truvia is the consumer brand-name for this new low calorie sweetener. Stevia, seen here as, Stevita Co. Inc., SpoonableTM Stevia, 16oz Jar, great for baking! SAVE with FREE SHIPPING offer! is a genus of herbs and shrubs native to Central and South America.  Stevia is a natural sweetener that has been used in South America for some time.  There has been a lot of interest in using it in consumer goods in the U.S.  Recent headlines indicate that time may be rapidly approaching.

So, tonight we made a pot of coffee and my wife and I resolved to give it a try.  To be honest, it was terrible.  My wife loves her coffee.  Her comment was “That’s a terrible thing to do to a cup of coffee!”  I just poured mine out and made another cup and sweetened it with sugar.  Its now been three hours, and I still have a bitter taste on the tip of my tongue.

Needless to say, we won’t be trying this stuff again.  I’m trying to be fair, though.  What we tried is a derived product.  Maybe the natural product doesn’t taste as bad.

Anyone else tried this it?  If so, let me know what you think.

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