High-purity Rebaudioside A supports clean sweetness in zero-calorie beverages and reduced-sugar dairy systems.
Stevia is a natural high-intensity sweetener derived from the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni. Its sweetness comes from steviol glycosides, a family of diterpene glycosides that are 200–300 times sweeter than sucrose while contributing zero calories. For R&D and formulation teams, stevia offers a practical route to sugar reduction in beverages, dairy, bakery, and supplements.
What Is Stevia?
Stevia is a genus of herbs and shrubs in the sunflower family, native to South America. Only Stevia rebaudiana accumulates meaningful levels of sweet steviol glycosides. The leaves contain 4–10% total steviol glycosides by dry weight, depending on cultivar, climate, and harvest timing. China is now the world's largest exporter of steviol glycosides. Major cultivation areas include Gansu, Xinjiang, Shandong, and Jiangsu, while Henan, including Zhengzhou, serves as a key processing and export hub. Alfa Chemical is based in Zhengzhou, Henan.
Steviol Glycosides: The Chemistry of Sweetness
More than 30 steviol glycosides have been identified. The two most commercial are stevioside and Rebaudioside A. Rebaudioside A is preferred for industrial sweetening because its sensory profile is closer to sucrose, with less bitterness and aftertaste. Commercial grades are available at 60%, 80%, 90%, 95%, and 97% purity by HPLC. The 97% grade is specified for applications requiring minimal bitterness and aftertaste. For full specifications, see the Rebaudioside A CAS 58543-16-1 product page.
White crystalline powder, ≥97% Rebaudioside A by HPLC, soluble in water and ethanol.
Key Properties of High-Purity Rebaudioside A
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Appearance | White to slightly yellowish crystalline powder |
| Sweetness Potency | 200–300× sucrose |
| Purity | ≥95% total steviol glycosides; ≥97% Rebaudioside A |
| Solubility | Soluble in water (~0.8 g/L at 25°C) and ethanol |
| pH Stability | pH 3–10 |
Formulation Considerations
Rebaudioside A performs best when paired with bulking agents such as erythritol or allulose. Blending at 200–400 ppm Reb A with 3–5% erythritol reduces bitterness and restores mouthfeel in beverages. For dairy systems, partial substitution up to 50% sucrose maintains texture. Reb A solubility is approximately 0.8 g/L at 25°C; pre-dissolving in warm water (40–50°C) or ethanol-water mixtures improves handling.
Regulatory Status
The FDA has issued GRAS No Objection Letters for highly purified steviol glycosides. EFSA authorizes steviol glycosides as food additive E 960, with Rebaudioside A specified under E 960a. JECFA has set an ADI of 4 mg/kg body weight as steviol equivalents. Steviol glycosides are not absorbed intact in the upper gastrointestinal tract; gut microbiota metabolize them to steviol, which is absorbed and excreted as steviol glucuronide. China's National Health Commission approved steviol glycosides ≥95% purity as food additives in 2020. For a detailed review of safety assessments and clinical evidence, see Rebaudioside A Safety: What the Evidence Actually Shows.
Applications
Rebaudioside A is used across a wide range of food and beverage categories. For pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications, see our Pharmaceutical Intermediates category.
- Beverages: carbonated soft drinks, RTD tea, juices, flavored water
- Dairy: yogurt, flavored milk, ice cream, dairy desserts
- Bakery and confectionery: cakes, cookies, candy, chocolate
- Tabletop sweeteners, supplements, sauces, and condiments
Why Alfa Chemical
Alfa Chemical supplies high-purity Rebaudioside A from Zhengzhou, China. Standard packaging: 1 kg foil bag, 5 kg carton, 25 kg drum. Lead time: 3–7 days for stock items, 10–15 days for bulk orders. Third-party testing available on request. MOQ: 1 kg for R&D, 25 kg for commercial. Every batch includes a batch-specific COA and SDS. Rebaudioside A pricing depends on purity, order volume, and packaging; contact us for a current quotation.
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Related Resources
- Rebaudioside A CAS 58543-16-1 Product Page
- Rebaudioside A Safety: What the Evidence Actually Shows
- Alfa Chemical Technical Articles & Industry Insights
Alfa Chemical is a manufacturer and global supplier of organic chemicals, pharmaceutical intermediates, and specialty ingredients, headquartered in Zhengzhou, China. We serve R&D, formulation, and procurement teams across the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and personal care industries.
This article is for technical reference only. Regulatory status may vary by jurisdiction. Alfa Chemical products are supplied according to the accompanying COA and SDS. This is not regulatory or legal advice.
Learn more: What Is Stevia? Rebaudioside A & Steviol Glycosides Guide