How do you make liquid stevia at home?

Stevia is a popular natural sweetener that is extracted from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant. It contains steviol glycosides that provide a sweet taste but with no calories or carbohydrates. Stevia is commonly sold in a powdered form, but you can also make your own liquid stevia extract at home using just a few simple ingredients.

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Why make homemade liquid stevia?

Here are some of the benefits of making your own homemade liquid stevia extract:

It’s more economical – Store-bought liquid stevia can be expensive, but you can make it at home for a fraction of the cost.

You control the flavor – You can customize the intensity of the sweetness and flavor to your taste.
Avoid additives – Some commercial stevia products contain additional ingredients you may want to avoid.
Requires just stevia leaves – Homemade only requires stevia leaves and water or alcohol as the solvent.

Easy to make – Just need to steep the dried leaves in hot water or alcohol to extract the sweet compounds.

What you’ll need

Making homemade liquid stevia only requires a few simple ingredients and supplies:

Dried stevia leaves – You can purchase bags of dried leaves or dry your own leaves from a stevia plant.

Solvent – Water, vodka, or glycerin. Water extracts the flavor but not the sweetness. Vodka or glycerin are better solvents for extracting the sweet glycosides.
Glass jar with tight lid – For steeping the leaves and storing the finished extract.
Fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth – To strain out the leaves.

Dropper bottles – For storing and dispensing your homemade stevia extract.

How to Make Homemade Liquid Stevia with Vodka

Making stevia extract with vodka is one of the simplest methods. The steps include:

Fill a glass jar about halfway with dried stevia leaves.

Fill the rest of the jar with vodka until the leaves are fully submerged. Use enough vodka to allow the leaves to move freely in the jar.
Screw on the lid tightly and shake the jar vigorously for 3-5 minutes to thoroughly mix the leaves and vodka.
Store the jar in a cool, dark place for 2-4 weeks, shaking it each day.

After 2-4 weeks, strain the liquid through a cheesecloth-lined mesh strainer into a bowl or measuring cup. Gather up the corners of the cheesecloth and squeeze out all the liquid.
Transfer the liquid stevia extract to small dropper bottles. Store in the refrigerator for up to 6 months.

The finished homemade liquid stevia will be a concentrated sweetener. Start with a few drops at a time when using it to sweeten foods and beverages. 1/4 tsp of homemade stevia extract equals approximately 1 tsp of sugar.

How to Make Homemade Liquid Stevia with Glycerin

Glycerin, a colorless and odorless liquid, is an excellent solvent for extracting the sweet glycosides from stevia leaves. Follow these simple steps:

Fill a glass jar about halfway with dried stevia leaves.
Fill the remaining space in the jar with food-grade glycerin until the leaves are fully submerged. Allow some room at the top for the mixture to move.

Screw on the lid and shake vigorously for 2-3 minutes to thoroughly combine.
Let the jar sit in a cool, dry place for 6-8 weeks, shaking daily.
After 6-8 weeks, strain the glycerin into a bowl through a cheesecloth-lined mesh strainer, squeezing out all liquid.

Transfer finished stevia glycerite to small dropper bottles and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 year.

Glycerin has a naturally sweet taste on its own, so this homemade stevia extract will provide both sweetness from the stevia compounds as well as the glycerin. Start with small amounts when sweetening foods and adjust to taste.

How to Make Homemade Liquid Stevia with Water

Making a simple stevia extract with water is easy and only requires stevia leaves and hot water. Here is the process:

Bring approximately 2 cups of water to a boil.
Remove from heat and add 1 cup of dried stevia leaves. Stir to fully soak the leaves.
Cover and let the mixture steep for 30-60 minutes. The longer it steeps, the more intense the sweetness.

After steeping, strain the liquid through a cheesecloth-lined mesh strainer into a bowl or measuring cup. Squeeze out all the moisture from the leaves.
Transfer the liquid to a glass jar. Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

A stevia extract made with water will not be as concentrated in sweet glycosides as extracts made with alcohol or glycerin. However, it still provides a nice light sweetness perfect for hot beverages like tea.

Tips for the Best Homemade Liquid Stevia

Follow these tips to get the most flavor and sweetness out of your homemade stevia extract:

Use green stevia leaves – Greener leaves tend to be higher in sweet compounds compared to brown leaves.
Grind leaves – Grinding the leaves to a powder before steeping releases more of the sweetness.

Steep longer – For more concentration of flavor and sweetness, steep the leaves for longer periods of time.
Shake daily – Agitating the jar daily results in a more efficient extraction.
Tight lid – Use a jar with an airtight lid to prevent evaporation during the steeping process.

What is the conversion for stevia powder to liquid?

It takes approximately 1 teaspoon (about 2 grams) of stevia powder to equal 40-50 drops or 1/4 tsp of homemade liquid stevia extract. As a general guideline:

1 tsp stevia powder = 40-50 drops or 1/4 tsp liquid stevia
1 tbsp stevia powder = 120-150 drops or 3/4 tsp liquid stevia

1 gram stevia powder = 20 drops or 1/8 tsp liquid stevia

However, the exact conversion depends on the particular stevia powder and liquid you are using. It’s best to start with less liquid stevia and add more to taste when substituting powder for liquid in recipes.

What is the best way to use liquid stevia?

Here are some tips for using homemade or store-bought liquid stevia:

Start with a few drops – Liquid stevia is highly concentrated, so start with just a few drops and add more to reach desired sweetness.
Add it last – Add stevia at the end of cooking or baking so the heat doesn’t break down the sweet glycosides.
Pair it with sugar – Combining stevia with cane sugar takes advantage of both sweeteners.

Shake before use – Shake the stevia extract before each use to evenly distribute the sweet compounds.
Store properly – Keep opened stevia liquids in the fridge and unopened extracts in a cool, dark pantry.

Liquid stevia works well in most beverages, sauces, marinades, dressings, desserts, yogurt, oatmeal, and more. It provides sweetness without adding volume, carbs or calories.

What are the disadvantages of liquid stevia?

Liquid stevia has several advantages as a zero-calorie natural sweetener, but there are some potential downsides to be aware of:

Bitter aftertaste – Some stevia extracts can have a bitter licorice-like aftertaste, depending on sensitivity.
Not heat stable – The sweet compounds can break down with prolonged heat exposure during cooking and baking.

Doesn’t brown or caramelize – Stevia liquids won’t produce the same browning reactions as sugar.
Hard to measure – The highly concentrated sweetness makes liquid stevia tricky to measure accurately.
Expense – Store-bought stevia extracts can be pricier than sugar or other sweeteners.

Despite some disadvantages, many people find these are outweighed by stevia’s benefits as a zero-calorie sweetener. The aftertaste can be minimized by using high-quality stevia extracts and combining it with other sweeteners.

Is liquid stevia safe?

Multiple scientific studies and health organizations have concluded that stevia extracts like Reb-A are generally recognized as safe for use by most people. Some key points about stevia’s safety include:

GRAS status – Stevia and its steviol glycosides have GRAS status, meaning they are generally recognized as safe by the FDA.

Non-toxic – Studies show stevia is non-toxic and safe at recommended dosages.
Allergic reactions rare – Allergic reactions are very uncommon but possible for those with sensitivities.
Not for infants – Stevia is not approved for use by infants under two years old.

Safe for diabetics – Small amounts of stevia are safe for people with diabetes. It does not impact blood glucose or insulin levels.

As with anything you ingest, it’s wise to be cautious starting out and consume liquid stevia in moderation as part of an overall healthy diet. But for most people, it can be part of a safe, low-calorie sweetening option.

Does liquid stevia go bad?

Yes, homemade or commercially produced liquid stevia can eventually go bad, although its shelf life is considerably longer than many other sweeteners.

Here are some signs your liquid stevia may have gone bad:

Change in color – It may darken from clear to brown or even black.
Cloudy appearance – The liquid looks cloudy or opaque instead of clear.

Change in smell – An odd, sour, or unpleasant smell develops.
Mold – There are visible mold spots in the bottle.
Loss of sweetness – The sweet taste is diminished or gone.

To maximize freshness and shelf life:

Refrigerate after opening.
Keep bottles tightly sealed.

Store out of direct light.
Wipe bottles clean before sealing.
Discard if expired or spoiled.

Properly stored, unopened stevia extract can last 12-24 months or longer. Opened bottles will stay fresh for 6-12 months refrigerated.

Conclusion

Making your own liquid stevia extract at home is simple. All you need is dried stevia leaves, water or a solvent like vodka or glycerin, and a glass jar. Steep the leaves for 2-8 weeks, strain out the leaves, and you have a concentrated, calorie-free natural sweetener. Store your homemade stevia in the refrigerator and enjoy its sweetness in teas, coffee, baked goods, desserts, and more for up to a year.