Stevia is a plant native to South America that has been used as a sweetener for hundreds of years. It grows best in loamy soils with good drainage and a temperature of around 31°C. Stevia is cultivated by preparing the land, adding fertilizer, transplanting seedlings, weeding regularly, and pinching the plants to encourage growth. Leaves can be harvested after 4 months and dried before being used as a sweetener or powder. Stevia has many medicinal benefits like regulating blood pressure and blood sugar levels, and can be consumed as dried or powdered leaves.