Stevia derived from a South American shrub, imparts a sweet taste but cannot be marketed or sold as a sweetener in the United States. It is a natural herb. This zero-calorie sweetener mainly contains steviol glycoside, which is 10–15 times sweeter than sucrose.

It is used as a non-nutritive sweetener and herbal supplement. A non-nutritive sweetener is one that contains little to no calories. Stevia is used as a healthful alternative to added sugar in many meals and beverages.