Photo by David J. Stang · CC BY-SA 4.0Stevia (ka'a he'ẽ)
Stevia rebaudiana · ka'a he'ẽ
The Guaraní “sweet herb,” introduced to science by Moisés Bertoni.
What it is
A small shrub native to northeastern Paraguay that still grows wild in Amambay. The Guaraní sweetened their drinks with its leaves long before the Spanish conquest. In 1887 it was shown to the Swiss naturalist Moisés Bertoni, who described it and named it after the Paraguayan chemist Ovidio Rebaudi. Its glycosides are hundreds of times sweeter than sugar and contain almost no calories.
Did you know…?
Large-scale cultivation began in Paraguay in the 1970s. Today it is grown in many countries, above all China.
Season
The leaves are harvested several times a year. Its small white flowers appear in late summer and autumn.
Where
Farms in the east and center of the country. In the wild, in the grasslands of Amambay. The Moisés Bertoni Scientific Monument (Presidente Franco) honors the scientist's work.
Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 4 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.