If you go into any health food store you will see a selection of Stevia liquid concentrates selling anywhere from $10 to $15 per bottle, depending on the size.
I have friends who go through two to four bottles a month, just using this to sweeten their coffee or tea.
The fabulous news is … you can make the same amount of Stevia liquid concentrate in under five minutes and for less than 50 cents a bottle!
Once you see how easy it is, you will never buy another over-priced bottle again.
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Stevia Liquid Concentrate Recipe
Ingredients:
2 teaspoons White Stevia Extract Powder
4 tablespoons distilled water
1 tablespoon Vodka (or Rye or Brandy)
Cobalt Blue or Amber Glass Dropper Bottles (2 x 2 ounce bottles)
Instructions:
Using a very small pot, or even a stainless steel measuring cup, bring the distilled water to a simmer. Add the pure white concentrate powder and stir until dissolved.
Let the liquid cool to room temperature and add the alcohol, if using.
Using a very tiny funnel, pour the liquid into clean cobalt or brown dropper bottles. You can either use your old Stevia bottles or get some cobalt eye dropper bottles from Amazon. Some local pharmacies will sell you dropper bottles, you just have to ask!
TEST
Not all white power concentrates are alike. The sweetness varies with different manufacturers.
Test the strength of your concentrate. Make your usual cup of tea or coffee and start with 1 drop. If there is a slight bitter taste, you have probably used TOO much white powder … add one tablespoon of distilled water to your batch and test again.
IF it is way too weak, put everything back on the stove and add more concentrate. Keep track of how much extra powder you are adding.
Most of the commercial concentrates require 2–4 drops to sweeten a cup of coffee or tea.
Once you have a concentrate that meets YOUR needs, write down the quantities you used on a recipe card so that the next time you make it, you will be spot on with no testing or fiddling required.
I use this bulk concentrated powder and get consistent results: 3 – 5 drops to sweeten a regular sized cup of tea or coffee.
Important Notes — BEFORE You Start:
1. Be sure to buy the PURE white extract powder. This stuff is so concentrated that a little scoop on the narrow end of a toothpick will sweeten your tea or coffee. It is easier to make the liquid concentrate and measure it out in drops. You have more control over the amount of Stevia you use this way. Make sure the ONLY ingredient is Stevia … don’t use anything with “fillers.”
2. Distilled water. Not mineral water, not tap water, not specialty bottled water … you want the water to be as pure as you can get it and for that you need distilled water. You can buy distilled water at a pharmacy or some grocery stores.
Distilled water is usually sold in gallon containers. A jug of distilled water will last me over a year. I transfer it out of the plastic container into large glass jars so it doesn’t absorb anything from the plastic container.
3. Vodka, Rye or Brandy are OPTIONAL.
If I am going to store my bottles of Stevia in the refrigerator, I don’t add alcohol. My batches (without alcohol) have lasted over six months without any problems.
If I am making Stevia concentrate to carry in my purse or to give to friends, I add the alcohol. The alcohol kills any microbes or germs. My Stevia bottle resides in my purse for months without any problems.
Vodka is flavorless. Rye and Brandy have a bit of a taste so it is up to you what you use. The cheapest you can buy is just fine!
4. Cobalt Blue or Amber Glass Dropper Bottles. If you use plain clear bottles, sunlight can deteriorate the ingredients. The tinted bottles will prevent deterioration. You can use them over and over again until the little rubber pumper thing on top stops working.
Buying Stevia In Bulk:
Amazon has some of the best bargains for Stevia. Stevia lasts years in the powdered form, so buy in bulk and save on the shipping.
BulkSupplements Pure Stevia Powder (500 grams)
Useful Tools
| Image | Title | Price | Prime | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12, Cobalt Blue, 2 oz, Glass Bottles, with Glass Eye Droppers | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | ||
| 12, Amber, 2 oz Glass Bottles, with Glass Eye Droppers | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | ||
| Clear Plastic Funnel w/Micro Tip To Fill Any Small Container (Pkg/9) | X | Buy Now | ||
| Norpro Mini Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons, Set of 5 (tad, dash, pinch, smidgen and drop) | PrimeEligible | Buy Now |
Prices and images pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
can you please tell me why my stevia liquid made from powder goes white looking and has white flecks through it within 24-48 hours? both with and without alcohol? i used vanilla flavoured vodka and no vodka, clear bottle and amber but the same happens
Hi Barry, I actually have NO idea what would cause the white flakes … I’ve never seen that happen in the 15+ years I’ve been making my own concentrate. I am going to GUESS that it is probably the concentrated powder you are using … OR it could be the water you are using. Are you using DISTILLED water? The water from drinking water bottles is NOT distilled … you should be able to find gallon containers of distilled water in most drugstore chains.
If you are using distilled water … then next time you are buying concentrate powder, get a different brand.
The white flakes are probably harmless, but if they bother you my suggestion is to filter your liquid concentrate through a few layers of cheesecloth OR a coffee filter.
I make my own stevia liquid from the leaves of a stevia plant. The only difference is that the liquid is naturally green rather than clear. I don’t have to use the expensive extract to make it and the plant just keeps on growing after each harvest. Pull all the leaves off your harvest, rinse and place them loosely into a jar about 2/3 full. (Several jars, if you’re lucky.) Pour vodka over the leaves until they are covered. Let sit 36 hours or so. Strain leaves out, squeezing out every last drop, into a saucepan. Stir constantly over medium heat until the mixture begins to boil. Simmer immediately so it doesn’t continue to boil for three minutes. You will have pure, sweet stevia liquid. Place in eye dropper bottles and enjoy!
Thanks for the tip Tas! Not everyone wants to grow and process their own Stevia plants but it is a fabulous alternative if you have a garden space.
This is perfect! I’ve been complaining for several months now that the 8 oz. bottle of Now Stevia Liquid I used to pay $8 has gone up substantially over the last few years. Last bottle was $19 something. Thanks so much. I’m on it!
Depending on how much concentrate you get, you can reduce the cost down to less than $1.00 per bottle. If you have saved any of your old bottles, the price is even less. I purchased the cobalt blue bottles over two years ago and have been recycling them ever since.
Since I get the larger bulk quantity AND recycle my dropper bottles, I am paying about 50 cents a bottle. LOL I make bigger batches and refill all my friends dropper bottles.