Lanaken, Belgium   Monday, April 06 1998 - 16:07
Hello Sandra, Hope you're doing fine.
Sunday, March 29 1998 kl.14:00 Sandra Peake >> Maria Van Rymersdael
about "Stevia"
SP>   We get hot summers ,Maria, probably hotter than yours by quite a bit.
SP>   We have trouble with weeds rerooting in hot, wet summers, but mostly
SP>   we have hot dry summers.
Our summers overh here are mostly wet and cool (about 68øF or below), normal 
nice summerweather here is with temps of 70/80øF.  Only during last 2/3 years 
we've had some periods of around 90øF but than it's really very muggy/soggy.
SP>   Before going full steam into it, try some sample packets or extract
SP>   first. I always hate stocking up on things I find later that I can't
SP>   use. :-(
I'm just trying to taste some leaves!! :-) They are delicious to eat directly 
from the plant.  Only need to take care to dry still some otherwise I won't 
get any powder to use for any recipe.  I suppose that when dried the taste 
gets much stronger sweet than the fresh leaves do taste
MVR>> Up to now the plant is not yet available. Hope it will be withing
MVR>> short.
This weekend I got 2 Stevia plants! They finally arrived at the local 
greenhouse/shop. The plant has a registered tradename "Stepa" and is the 
result of research made at the University of Leuven here in Belgium.  There 
is only one grower taking care of growing this special variety.
They also sell the  "Stepa" powders for use in meals and drinks.  Together 
with the plant they deliver also a description of the plant and how to treat 
it. There are some recipes in too.
Information on the STEPA can be got on Internet : htt://www.stepa.be
Don't know if that homepage is in English but I guess so.
SP>   Richter's Herbs in Canada ship around the world. You have to apply
Now I got a plant, there is no more need to try to get one from Richter's, 
but thanks for that information.
SP>    You can drop an internet message to Richter's requesting more info
SP>    and a catalogue at www.richters.com. Give them your home postal
SP>    address, and you should get a catalogue within a couple of weeks.
SP>    Have fun reading their excellent catalogue, Maria. Bye for now.
That is what I surely will be doing: ask a catalogue at Richter's. After this 
mail I'll make immediately a messy to them. I hope I can find nice and 
usefull plants in there.
Oh just see that it's not an Email address you're giving above. Could you 
give me their Email because I don't have Internet, but I CAN send a mail from 
Fido to an Email-address. Look forward to your reply....
Happy Spring-Greetings
           Maria
... Fascinating is a word I use for the unexpectedÿ.
--- end of message to Sandra Peake
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