PRODUCT PROFILE Stevioside is a high intensity sweetener 250300 times that of sucrose, intended to be used in a wide range of low or reduced calorie food products and beverages. Stevia is the only natural sweetener available in the market. However, the sweet taste is not due to carbohydrate based molecules, but to several non caloric molecules called glycosides. Individuals who cannot tolerate sugar or other sweeteners can use stevia. Stevia is an artificial sweetener that has been widely used in most foods as well as beverages in the US as calorie free sweetener. It reduces the calories from your food which makes it a suitable replacement of sugar for calorie conscious as well diabetic people. It is also being found by people that the regular use of stevia helps in reactivating the insulin secreting cells in pencreas. The raw stevia leaves are around 35 to 40 times sweeter than sugar, stevia extract are sweet upto 300 times of ordinary sugar. The stevia is safest low calorie sweetener without any side effect. Stevia and steavia powder extract are marketed in many countries across the globes. Product characteristics Trade names - Stevioside Appearance - White crystalline powder Description - Natural sweetener Shelf life - Good Applications • Majorly used as a pre packaged replacement for sugar and artificial sweeteners, in various food products. • Stevia is also useful in lowering blood sugar • Reduces the tooth cavity hence it can be used in tooth pastes in place of sugar to avoid tooth decay • Stevia leaf powder can be used as a face pack with rose water as it possesses great anti wrinkle qualities in it • It can prevent people from hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, heart disease • Used in Japanese style pickles, dried seafood, fish meat products, vegetables and seafood boiled down with soy sauce, confectioneries and a host of other products. Global demand India’s production 600 metric ton per annum Stevia is poised for major growth in the Indian cash crop market as domestic and export demand pick up. Stevia production is likely to leap by as much as 300% over the next three years, according to Dr N Barathi, director of Grow more Biotech and Member of the 10th Planning Commission (Sub Group on Hi Tech Horticulture). Worldwide, 80,000 acres are covered under Stevia cultivation, of which China has a major chunk of 75%. In the last three years, the Indian farmers have also started taking up Stevia cultivation following the large demand for diabetic market here. Indian climate condition is most viable for the Stevia cultivation, which requires temperature of 15 to 25 degree Celsius. The country’s total annual production is nearly 600 tonnes. Since the applications and demand of Stevia is immense therefore the potential of the product is excellent. It is one of the imperative fields to endeavour. Cost Estimation: Capacity: 135000 packs 100gm/Annum 67500 packs 200gm/Annum, 33750 packs 400gm/ Annum 13500 packs 1 kg/Annum