Stevia in Green Smoothies

[rawstrength]

I've been trying to get more greens and less fruit into my green smoothies. What I have found really helps is adding a bit of stevia for sweetness. Normally I do not like the taste of stevia in other recipes because it has this "green" taste to it, but it is perfect in green smothies (which taste green anyways). Stevia makes the green smoothies sweeter without adding any sugar. Just thought I should share :) .
PS: The green leaf kind of stevia is the best. It is just ground up dehydrated stevia plant leaves. But I have also used the white powder type of stevia, the more processed type, and suffered no ill effects.

[RawKnitster]

I second that. :) When I make a smoothie that turns bitter from too many dark greens a sprinkle of stevia takes away the bitterness. I don't like stevia's flavor as a sweetener for other foods and recipes, but in a green smoothie I don't notice that unpleasant taste.

[rawmiss]

If you are trying to do low fruit, why not just go all the way and just turn it into a soup - complete with warm water. My soups are celery, tomato and some greens and I'll often add garlic and onion powder for taste and if I want a hearty soup I'll add whole flax seeds. I did this over the winter when I wanted something to warm me up :p and I didn't want a cold green smoothie, brrrr.

[rawstrength]

For some reason, green soups just don't do it for me. I don't know why I don't like them . . . I like salads, but not green soups. I like my green drinks sweet :) .

[DebB]

Thanks rawstrength ~ I'll have to try the green Stevia. I too have been trying to up the greens and lessen the fruits and I just can't seem to get it palatible. So, I'll try the stevie - thank you for sharing! *Ü*

[adiebabe]

The green leaf kind of stevia is the best. It is just ground up dehydrated stevia plant leaves. But I have also used the white powder type of stevia, the more processed type, and suffered no ill effects.

Hmmmnn...didn't know you could get the leaves ground up that way....I've never seen that! Is it named differently? Did you find it at a store or online? Lastly (sorry! LOL!), how does it tatse compared to the white powdery type? I'm curious (can ya tell? :rolleyes:)...I use stevia sparingly in smoothies like you or in coffee (yeah...still drink it at times) but it's soooooo sweet! I'm not a real sugar-kinda person and it can be overwhelming to me. These leaves sound interesting though...

[GoingtoRAW]

I want to try the stevia in my smoothies as well. I have not really liked the taste of stevia in the past - left a terrible after taste in my mouth. The last time I tried it was over 10 years ago and someone told me that it has a different taste now or whatever. I have been using raw agave nectar in my smoothies but I want to eliminate that as well. I am definitely trying to cut down on the fruit in my smoothies - 1 - because it can get really costly and 2 - because I am craving a different taste in my smoothies but can't stand the bitterness of all "green." In fact for a couple of days I cut down to only 16 ozs. from my usual 32 because I felt like I was ODing on fruit! Thanks for the tip!:)

[Bookish Lass]

Thanks, I was just wondering about this! My family is staying away from fruit for a little while but still wanting the greens. We have some stevia we grew last summer :)

[green jeanie]

i am with you all the way with this one raw strength!!

i like the liquid stevia the best......BY FAR. I find it a lot less metallic tasting

sooo good in a celery based smoothie


I also add it to my lemon water at work all day. It makes a nice gentle lemonade and I find i drink way more water