Review and Giveaway: Truvia Natural Sweetener CLOSED

It's fast approaching summertime, which means lots of barbecues and dining alfresco with yummy treats like fruit salad, coleslaw, and key lime pie. I know you won't catch me without a glass of lemonade or sweet tea in my hand. Most of the summer refreshments I love contain a bit (or a lot) of sugar. And while I love me some sweets, I don't love the effect on my diet. I alternate between raw sugar and Splenda, but I'm always leary of something created in a lab.

Well, now I can enjoy my goodies without the worry, thanks to Truvia.

Truvia (Tru-VEE-a) is a new, natural zero-calorie sweetener derived from the leaves of the stevia plant. Stevia was discovered in Paraguay over 200 years ago and has been used as a sweetener in various parts of the world for more than three decades. What makes Truvia different from other brands of stevia is its purification process. The leaves are harvested and dried, then steeped in water - similar to making tea. This unlocks the best-tasting part of the leaf, rebiana. Rebiana is then combined with erythritol (sugar alcohol found in natural fruits like grapes and melons) and natural flavors to form Truvia natural sweetener.

Truvia comes in a familiar crystallized form so it can be used easily in your favorite beverages or recipes. One packet is equivalent to two teaspoons of sugar so there is plenty of sweetness in that small package. And because it has no effect on the glycemic index, Truvia is safe for people with diabetes or insulin resistance. It has been rigorously evaluated and has been definitively established as a safe, general-purpose sweetener by the FDA and World Health Organization.

I first tasted Truvia when I reviewed Breyers YoCrunch 100 Calorie Packs, but I had never tried it on its own. I was delighted when I was offered a box of Truvia packets to review.



I love the way it tastes in my coffee and tea. It has a crisp, clean, sweet flavor with no funky aftertaste or side effects like aspartame (which gives me headaches). I think Truvia is a bit sweeter than its artificial counterparts, which tickles my taste buds. It also tastes great sprinkled on grapefruit or over oatmeal.

I perused the Truvia website and found a list of delicious recipes from celebrity chef Sam Talbot. After much debate, I finally decided on the Chocolate Crepes for a decadent morning meal.

Chocolate Crepes
Yields: 16 servings

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
12 packets Truvia natural sweetener
1/8 tsp salt
2-1/4 cups skim milk
2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
2 large eggs
2 tbsp cocoa powder
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
non-stick cooking spray

Directions

1. Assemble all ingredients.
2. In a large bowl combine flour, Truvia and salt.
3. Add milk, melted butter, eggs, cocoa powder and vanilla; whisk mixture until very smooth.
4. Place batter in fridge for one hour to allow flour to absorb liquid.
5. Place skillet or crepe pan over medium heat; heat until hot.
6. Spray pan with non-stick cooking spray.
7. Pour 1/4 cup batter in pan and swirl to form thin layer.
8. Cook for about 1 minute or until golden brown on the bottom, flip and cook other side for 30 seconds.
9. Place cooked crêpe on a towel; cool for about 2 minutes.
10. Stack crêpes with wax paper between each layer to prevent sticking.

Serving Suggestion

Place several rows of fresh or frozen raspberries, strawberries, banana slices or a fruit sauce down the center of the crêpe and fold it up. Top with light whipped topping and dust with cocoa powder to garnish.

(c) www.truvia.com

I've never been great at making crepes (you have to be so precise!) but these turned out wonderfully! The taste reminded me of Cocoa Pebbles cereal. I used blackberry preserves and sprinkled half a packet of Truvia on top to serve, as that was all I had on hand. But I plan to make them again with strawberries and cream cheese or with caramelized bananas and whipped cream. Mmmm!



This Blueberry Mojito recipe sounds like a winner too! I like that they offer a sweetness conversion chart so you know just how much Truvia to substitute for sugar.

Bottom line: Order that dessert and hold the guilt. Truvia tastes great, won't wreck your diet, and won't ruin your appetite as you wonder exactly what you're ingesting.

BUY IT: You can find Truvia at grocery and retail stores nationwide. It is available in a 40-count box (ARV $3.99), 80-count box (ARV $6.49) or 140-count box (ARV $10.99). You can also use this handy dandy store locator to find where Truvia is sold near you.

WIN IT: One lucky winner is going to win their own box of Truvia natural sweetener!

MAIN COURSE (MANDATORY ENTRY): Tell me what you'd like to cook or bake with Truvia. Remember to please leave your email address in your comment if it isn't visible on your profile to prevent disqualification!

SUGAR ON TOP (BONUS ENTRIES): To maximize your chances of winning, you may do any or all of the following. Be sure to complete the above mandatory entry or your bonus entries will not count!

1.) Follow my blog and/or subscribe via reader or email. Comment telling me which method you chose. If you already follow or subscribe, that counts! (1 entry each)

2.) Follow me and Truvia on Twitter and tweet about this contest. You can do this daily! You may use the following tweet or come up with one of your own:

#Win a 40-count box of @Truvia natural sweetener @kris10chumley ENDS 6/18 http://bit.ly/dmjQPy

Just leave me a comment with your tweet link. (1 entry per day max)

3.) Become a fan of Truvia on Facebook. (1 entry)

4.) Add my button to your site and comment with a link where I can find it. (1 entry)

5.) Sign up for Truvia's Honestly Sweet e-club and comment with the email you used. (1 entry)

Giveaway will end on June 18, 2010 at 11:59pm EST. Open to U.S. only. Winner will be chosen via Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to congratulatory email or prize will be forfeited and another winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: As noted above, I received a 40-count box of sweetener from Allison with Truvia to facilitate my candid review. I was in no other way compensated for this post. The thoughts and opinions expressed are purely mine. Your experience may differ.