Uslada – a perennial plant of the aster family, 40-60 cm tall and with a bush diameter of 40-45 cm. Leaves, both fresh and dried, possess a sweetness hundreds of times greater than ordinary sugar due to the content of stevioside – the sweetest natural product, which has no calories.
Green mass yield is 9-13 kg/m². The plant is resistant to root rot and can be grown as a houseplant or an annual in the temperate zone. Seeds should be sown on the surface, under glass or film to maintain constant moisture; seedlings are transplanted upon the appearance of the first true leaf. Hardened seedlings are planted in sunny areas with light fertile soils, at a step of 20-25 cm from each other.
Stevia poorly tolerates drought and requires constantly moistened soil, however stagnation of water is harmful. The harvest is collected in the phase of the beginning of flowering, when leaves reach maximum sweetness. Due to the lack of calories and unique health benefits, stevioside becomes an ideal sugar substitute in cooking.
