Stevia extracts

Abstract

A Stevia extract made from leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant is described. The extract has desired levels of steviol glycosides and is useful in food, beverage, and other consumable products.

1 . A process for preparing steviol glycoside compositions, comprising the steps of:
 a) providing  Stevia rebaudiana  leaves, wherein the  Stevia rebaudiana  leaves comprise RebM in an amount above a common relative concentration of RebM;   b) providing a solvent comprising water;   c) contacting the  Stevia rebaudiana  leaves with solvent to extract the steviol glycosides from the leaves; and   d) separating the  Stevia rebaudiana  leaves to obtain  Stevia  extract solution comprising RebM, wherein the RebM is present in the solution above its common relative concentration;   
       and wherein for RebM the common relative concentration is 1.4%. 
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising purification of the  Stevia  extract solution and drying to obtain  Stevia  extract with total steviol glycoside content of at least 6.9% (wt/wt on dry basis). 
     
     
         3 . An untreated aqueous  Stevia  extract prepared by the process of  claim 1 , wherein RebM is present in the extract at or above its common relative concentration. 
     
     
         4 . A food, beverage or other consumable comprising  Stevia  extract of  claim 3 .