stevia is a nutrient rich plant. it is a natural herb of the asteraceae, typically growing along the edges of the rain forest of paraguay. locals quote it was initially used by their ancestors more than a millennium ago, both for its intense sweet taste and medicinal qualities. consisting of more than 100 essential nutrients that have been discovered, the leaves can be 30 times sweeter than normal sugar, depending upon the type, geographic location and period of harvest. the type correlates to the amount and blend of glycosides within each stevia unit.