We make natural sweetener better

Stevia is native to subtropical and tropical South America and Central America. It has been used as a sweetener by the Guarani Indians of Paraguay for hundreds of years.

“As consumers become increasingly health conscious, there is mounting demand for ingredients that can add flavour and sweetness without adding calories”
-Alan Liao

Japan began domestic cultivation of stevia in 1950s. China introduced stevia from Japan in 1970s. Stevia grows in 27 provinces of China, such as Sinkiang Province, Shandong Province, Jiangsu Province, Anhwei Province, Heilongjiang Province, etc. There are seven main components in Stevia leaf. They are Rebaudioside A (also known as "Reb-A"), Stevioside, Dulcoside A, Rebaudioside C, Steviolbioside, Rebaudioside B, Rubusoside.

Stevia timeline

In 1887, Moises Santiago Bertoni "discovers" stevia while studying herbs used by Guarani natives in Paraguay. In the United States, the National Institute of Health studies stevia's history and properties in 1955. This study establishes the structure and chemistry of major components of the plant. Japan begins using stevia sweeteners commercially in food products, soft drinks and for table use in 1977. In 1980s, China begins producing of Stevia Extract commercially, and become the main supplier to Japan and Korea. In 1995, The DSHE Act goes into effect and the FDA grants market approval for stevia extract to be sold as a dietary supplement in the United States. At JECFA's 63^rd meeting in 2004, it reviews available data on stevia glycosides and establishes temporary Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of 2mg/kg. In 2007, Cargill and the Coca-Cola Company file patents for rebiana, a high-purity form of the best tasting part of the stevia leaf, which is of consistent quality and characterized fully.  

Laws and policies

Stevioside was put on the list of Chinese Hygienic standards for use of food additives (GB2760). The national standards was established in 1987, and the amendment (GB2760-2007) became effective in 2007. JECFA reviewed available data on stevia glycosides and established temporary Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of 2mg/kg in 2004, and the satandards was established in 2006 and revised twice. An ADI of 0-4 mg/kg bw (expressed as steviol) was established at the 69th JECFA (2008). FSANZ gave regulatory approval for high purity Reb-A to be used as a food and beverage ingredient in Australia and New Zealand in August 2008. In December 2008, the US FDA issued a GRAS notice confirming they had "no objection" on Reb-A for use as a food sweetener at a minimum of 95 percent purity. French government approved the use of stevia sweeteners with 97 percent purity Reb-A in September 2009, officially opening up the first EU market for this ingredient. Stevia and steviol glycosides have a long history of use in several countries, including Japan and Paraguay. Stevia sweeteners are approved for use in many other countries, including Korea, Mexico, Russia, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Uruguay, Brazil and Malaysia.

Cultivation and distribution in China

Stevia tends to grow well on a variety of soil types ranging from course textured sands to well drained loams but not clay or poorly drained sites. During the growing season, it seems to thrive in a temperature range of 15℃ to 30℃ provided all input resources and good management practices are incorporated. There are two planting patterns in China: Seed reproduction and Cuttage.

There are five main stevia distribution areas in China: ①subhumid area of temperate zone, ②warm temperate zone subregion, ③dry area of temperate zone, ④humid area of subtropical zone, ⑤humid area of south subtropical zone & subtropical zone.  

The typical region of ① is DongBei. The output there account for more than 20 percent of the total output. The typical region of ② is Shandong province and stevia there contains 8%-12% steviol glycosides. The typical region of ③ are Inner Mongolia and Sinkiang and stevia there contains 8%-10% steviol glycosides. The typical region of ④ are Anhwei and Jiangsu province. The output of this area account for more than 45 percent of the total output and stevia there contains 8%-13% steviol glycosides. The typical region of ⑤ are Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Hainan. Now there are 6 thousand acres base in Shandong Province, 20 thousand acres base in Dongtai, Jiangsu Province and 25 thousand acres base in Mingguang, Anhwei Province, where is the largest planting base of stevia in China. The dried leaves yield per acre is 1180-1550 kg.

Stevia extracts are widely used in Chewing gum, Beverages, Yoghurts, Candies, Baked goods, Slimming and diabetic diets, Pharmaceutical products, Daily consumer goods, etc.

We make natural sweetener better

Layn own two large plantations of stevia in Sinkiang Province and Jiangsu Province. This year we have collected thousands tons of dried leaf to manufacture above150MT 97 percent Rebaudioside A. We plans to get 10,000MT dried leaf from our own planting bases in 2011. We have optimized the purifying process to guarantee high purity and its taste. Our two GMP and HACCP certificated plants ensure our large production capacity. In our company five-year developing plan, we plan to offer Reb-A up to 1000MT per year.

We have our own plantations and select high-quality raw material with more than 8 percent of Reb-A to ensure high quality products and competitive cost. Our plants are equipped with more than 30 GMP and automatic controlled production lines which ensure large production capacity. Our production is strictly followed with GMP, ISO9001, ISO14001, ISO22000 and HACCP standards, which can ensure our products with high and consistent quality.