How To Make Stevia Extract: With and Without Alcohol

Stevia extract is a natural sweetener derived from the leaves of the stevia plant, offering a sugar-free alternative that is much sweeter than regular sugar.

Making your own stevia extract at home is a simple process that allows you to control the sweetness and purity of the end product.

Does Stevia Raise Insulin Levels?

Stevia has a glycemic index of zero, meaning it doesn’t raise blood sugar levels significantly. 

Stevia is a natural sweetener that comes from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant. 

The leaves contain steviol glycoside molecules, which are 250–300 times sweeter than sugar. 

Follow our guide on How To Grow Your Own Stevia Plant.

If you’re looking for white sugar alternatives, you’ll enjoy our article 20 Sweeteners You Can Grow-Produce.

How To Make Stevia Extract: With Alcohol

Making your own stevia extract is a simple way to create a natural sweetener from homegrown stevia leaves. This concentrated liquid can be used in coffee, tea, lemonade, baked goods, and other recipes where you would normally use sugar.

Ingredients

• 1 cup dried stevia leaves (or 2 cups loosely packed fresh stevia leaves)
• 2 cups vodka (80 proof) or other food-grade alcohol

Instructions

1. Harvest and Prepare the Leaves

Harvest fresh stevia leaves from your garden and rinse them thoroughly to remove dirt and debris.

If using dried leaves, make sure they are completely dry and free from additives. Lightly crush the dried leaves using a mortar and pestle, food processor, or coffee grinder to expose more surface area.

2. Fill the Jar

Place the leaves in a clean glass jar.

• For dried leaves: Add 1 cup of crushed dried leaves.
• For fresh leaves: Add 2 cups of loosely packed fresh leaves.

Pour 2 cups of vodka over the leaves, ensuring they are completely submerged.

3. Steep the Mixture

Seal the jar tightly and place it in a cool, dark location.

Allow the mixture to steep for 24–48 hours. Longer steeping times can result in a bitter flavor, so avoid letting it sit for more than two days.

Shake the jar gently once or twice during the steeping process.

4. Strain the Extract

Pour the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth into a clean bowl or measuring cup.

For a clearer extract, strain a second time through a coffee filter.

You should have approximately 1½ to 2 cups of liquid extract.

5. Reduce the Extract (Optional)

If you’d like a sweeter, alcohol-free extract:

Pour the strained liquid into a small saucepan.

Heat over very low heat for 20–30 minutes. Do not boil.

The goal is to slowly evaporate some of the alcohol and concentrate the sweetness.

Reduce the liquid by approximately one-third to one-half.

For example:

• 2 cups of extract, reduced by one-third, yield about 1⅓ cups.
• 2 cups of extract, reduced by one-half, yield about 1 cup.

Remove from heat and allow to cool completely.

6. Store

Transfer the finished extract to a clean glass bottle or dropper bottle.

Store in the refrigerator for best quality.

Properly stored, the extract will typically keep for 6–12 months.

How to Use Stevia Extract

Stevia extract is very concentrated.

Start with:

• Coffee or tea: 3–5 drops
• 16-ounce beverage: ¼–½ teaspoon
• Baking recipes: 1–2 teaspoons, depending on desired sweetness

Adjust to taste.

Notes

For the sweetest extract, harvest stevia leaves just before the plant begins flowering. This is when the sweet compounds are generally at their highest concentration.

Dried leaves usually produce a stronger extract than fresh leaves because the sweetness is more concentrated.

How To Make Stevia Extract: Without Alcohol

To create stevia extract without using alcohol, follow this straightforward water-based method, ensuring a natural and sweet result.

This approach is perfect for those looking for a homemade, alcohol-free sweetener.

Start with Fresh or Dried Leaves:

First, gather fresh stevia leaves from your garden. Alternatively, you can use dried stevia leaves. If you opt for fresh leaves, wash them thoroughly to remove any dirt or debris.

Crush the Leaves:

Next, if you’re using dried leaves, crush them into a fine powder using a mortar and pestle or a coffee grinder.

This step increases the surface area, making it easier to extract the sweetness.

For fresh leaves, simply chop them finely to release their natural sweet compounds.

Boil Water:

Then, bring water to a boil. The amount of water will depend on how much extract you want to make, but a good ratio to start with is one cup of water for every cup of fresh leaves or for every tablespoon of dried leaves.

Steep the Leaves:

Once the water is boiling, remove it from the heat and add your stevia leaves. Let the leaves steep in the hot water for about 24 hours. This long steeping time allows the water to fully absorb the sweetness from the stevia leaves.

Strain the Solution:

After steeping, strain the liquid through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth to remove the leaf particles. If you desire a clearer extract, you can strain it multiple times or even use a coffee filter to ensure all solid particles are removed.

Reduce the Extract:

To concentrate your stevia extract, pour the strained liquid into a saucepan and simmer it over low heat. Allow the water to evaporate until you’re left with a concentrated liquid.

This process requires careful attention to prevent burning, especially as the extract reduces.

Cool and Store:

Finally, let your homemade stevia extract cool before transferring it to a clean bottle or jar. Store the extract in the refrigerator to maintain its freshness.

Use your alcohol-free stevia extract to naturally sweeten beverages, desserts, or any dish where you’d usually use sugar.

This alcohol-free method offers a simple and natural way to create stevia extract at home, providing a healthy alternative to processed sweeteners.

How Much Stevia Do I Add?

The amount of stevia extract you should use depends on the specific product and its concentration, as well as your personal sweetness preference.

Stevia is significantly sweeter than sugar, often by about 200 to 300 times, so a little goes a long way.

Here are some general guidelines for how much stevia to add.

1. Liquid Stevia Extract: Typically, a few drops are sufficient to sweeten a cup of coffee or tea. Start with 2-3 drops and adjust according to taste. For baking or larger recipes, begin with 1/4 teaspoon and increase as needed, keeping in mind that 1 teaspoon of liquid stevia extract is roughly equivalent to about one cup of sugar in terms of sweetness.
2. Powdered Stevia Extract: This form is often more concentrated. A pinch can sweeten a cup of tea or coffee, and about 1/16 to 1/8 of a teaspoon will usually substitute for one teaspoon of sugar.
3. Homemade Stevia Extract: Since the concentration can vary, start with small amounts and taste as you go. If you’ve made a concentrated liquid extract, it might be similar in potency to commercial extracts, so the same starting point of a few drops per cup can apply.

Always adjust the amount based on your taste and the specific sweetness level of the stevia product you are using.

Since different brands and forms of stevia can vary in sweetness and flavor, experimenting is key to finding the right amount for your needs.