The demand for natural, high-intensity sweetener stevia has continued to grow since the stevioside compounds were isolated in 1931. Today it is grown and used not only in its native South America, but also 10 other countries, including China, Germany, Malaysia, Israel and South Korea.1 In fact, China is the largest stevia producer in the world, according to food and drink consultancy Zenith International2.
The global stevia market is expected to reach USD 556.7M by 2024. The beverage segment will experience the fastest volume growth at a CAGR of 5.8% through 2024. A growing demand is expected in Asia Pacific, particularly in China, India, South Korea, and Japan, where new product launches will likely use the ingredient in dried and powdered form.
News & Trends
- According to Food Navigator3, recent research reveals how stevia impacts blood sugar levels, related to how stevia activates a protein called TRPM5.
- Multiple countries have implemented or are considering sugar taxes, in order to limit their citizens’ sugar intake and improve health, further paving the way for food products with natural sweeteners4,5.
- Manufacturers are currently exploring fermentation as a less costly way to obtain glycosides like Rebaudioside M and Rebaudioside D which are sweeter than Rebaudioside A6.
- Suppliers continue to work to create stevia ingredients that taste more sugar-like, striving to avoid the bitterness some consumers have come to expect.
- PureCircle recently launched stevia cocoa and vanilla flavor enhancers7, perhaps heralding future product development around different flavors.
- Technavio’s latest market research report8 identifies the top three emerging market trends driving the global stevia market:
- New product launches by stevia players and manufacturers using stevia
- Demand for organic stevia
- Improvement in the taste of stevia
Formulating with stevia
We’ve gathered additional facts and tips about formulating with stevia in the slideshow below.
References:
- Stevia.net: History of Stevia Use
- Beverage Daily: High stevia volumes predicted despite low price and limited production
- Food Navigator: New insights reveal how stevia controls blood sugar levels
- Wikipedia: Sugary drink tax
- Food Navigator: Health advocates argue for a tax on sugary drinks in Canada to save lives and healthcare costs
- Nutritional Outlook: Ingredient Trends to Watch for Food, Drinks, and Dietary Supplements: Stevia
- PureCircle Unveils Stevia Cocoa and Vanilla Flavor Enhancers
- Technavio: Top 3 Trends Impacting the Global Stevia Market Through 2021
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