I've been wanting to try stevia for awhile, so when I was in the health food store yesterday, I asked the clerk and she directed me to a canister with a "Stevia" label on it. It was an olive green powder, which was not what I was expecting, but since I had never seen it before, I figured, that must be it! I bought a half-ounce to try it. When I got home, I made a pot of herbal tea and put a 1/4 tsp of the the stuff in it and stirred. Nothing happened! It did not dissolve. It just floated to the bottom and stayed there. When I tasted the tea, it was bitter, not sweet at all. So I think I may have bought the wrong thing. What does Stevia look like? Shouldn't it have dissolved? Does anyone know what I actually bought?

Stevia seems to come in a number of forms: white powder, green powder and liquid. Were there any instructions or information with your Stevia?

The problem is that Stevia is not "legal" (in Canada at least) as a sweetener and can only be sold as a "supplement".

I think that the white powder which you mix in water makes the best sweetener (and the least expensive). Or the liquid. Some forms can have a licorice or herbal taste which is not to everyone's taste.

How about going back to where you bought it and ask some questions about how to use it?

I haven't seen the green powder, mine is white. I bought it to use in decaf coffee but didn't like the licorice after taste. I then bought the liquid stevia and it's great in coffee, doesn't leave any after taste like the powder form. You may want to try the liquid form for your tea.

HI,
I buy the Stevia Supreme. Comes in a large spice type bottle.
Its a white almost powder. Haven't seen the green stuff....
I don't notice any after taste with mine...I know that some people
don't realize you need VERY little to sweeten ...not like some sugar subs. I also don't experience any side effects....headaches
etc.....
Oh the stuff I get is by Stevia Co. out of TX.
greentea