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 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . Leaves of a  Stevia rebaudiana  cultivar, comprising Rebaudioside D, Rebaudioside M, Rebaudioside N, and Rebaudioside O, having a total steviol glycosides content defined as the sum of the concentrations of Rebaudioside A, Rebaudioside B, Rebaudioside C, Rebaudioside D, Rebaudioside E, Rebaudioside F, Rebaudioside M, Rebaudioside N, Rebaudioside O, Stevioside, Steviolbioside, Dulcoside A and Rubusoside on a wt/wt dry basis, wherein a relative concentration of Rebaudioside M to the total steviol glycosides content is greater than 1.4%, and wherein the sum of the relative concentrations of Rebaudioside D, Rebaudioside E, Rebaudioside N and Rebaudioside O to the total steviol glycosides content is greater than 5.8%, wherein the relative concentration is calculated as follows:
   Relative concentration of steviol glycoside=[concentration of steviol glycoside (% wt/wt on dry basis)/total steviol glycosides content (% wt/wt on dry basis)]×100.
   
     
     
         6 . The leaves of  claim 5 , wherein the relative concentration of Rebaudioside D is at least 2.4% 
     
     
         7 . The leaves of  claim 5 , wherein the relative concentration of Rebaudioside N is at least 1.6%. 
     
     
         8 . The leaves of  claim 5 , wherein the relative concentration of Rebaudioside E is at least 1.0%. 
     
     
         9 . The leaves of  claim 5 , wherein the relative concentration of Rebaudioside O is at least 0.8%. 
     
     
         10 . An aqueous extract of the leaves of  claim 5 , made by a process comprising the steps of:
 a) providing  Stevia rebaudiana  leaves, wherein  Stevia rebaudiana  leaves comprise Rebaudioside M at a relative concentration greater than 1.4%;   b) providing a solvent comprising water;   c) contacting the  Stevia rebaudiana  leaves with the solvent to extract the steviol glycoside from the leaves; and   d) separating the  Stevia rebaudiana  leaves to obtain a liquid aqueous extract of  Stevia.      
     
     
         11 . The aqueous extract of  Stevia  of  claim 10 , wherein the process further comprises refining and purification of the aqueous extract of  Stevia  to obtain a  Stevia  composition with total steviol glycoside content of at least 6.9% (wt/wt on dry basis). 
     
     
         12 . A food, beverage or other consumable comprising the  Stevia  extract of  claim 10 .