Stevia vs Monk Fruit: Taste, Ingredients and Baking
More on: Stevia Guides
TL;DR: Stevia vs monk fruit: both are plant-based, sugar-free sweeteners, stevia from the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana and monk fruit from the fruit of Siraitia grosvenorii. The bigger difference is often what else is in the pack, because many blends are bulked out with erythritol. Propel Health Organic Stevia Extract Powder is one ingredient, with a serve of just 300 mg.
Two natural sweeteners.
Two very different labels once you turn the pack around.
See Propel Health Organic Stevia Extract Powder
Where each one comes from
Stevia is extracted from the leaf of the stevia plant. Its sweetness comes from steviol glycosides.
Monk fruit, also called luo han guo, is a small melon. Its sweetness comes from mogrosides.
Both are far sweeter than sugar, so pure extracts are used in tiny amounts.
Taste and the ingredients list
| Stevia extract | Monk fruit sweetener | |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Stevia leaf | Monk fruit |
| Taste | Clean sweetness, some people notice a slight aftertaste | Often described as fruity |
| Common fillers | Erythritol in many supermarket blends | Erythritol in many blends, often listed first |
If erythritol is the first ingredient, most of what you are buying is erythritol.
Which one to choose
For tea, coffee, smoothies and baking with one ingredient and nothing else, choose a pure stevia extract.
Propel Health Organic Stevia Extract Powder is certified organic stevia leaf extract, over 95% steviol glycosides, with no erythritol or fillers.
One serve is 300 mg, about a tenth of a teaspoon, so a little goes a long way in a recipe.
