US-based agricultural processing firm Sunwin Stevia International has begun production of enzyme treated stevia products at its facilities.
The company also has received an initial purchase order for 3,500kg from a US-based undisclosed client.
Enzyme treated stevia, one of the most advanced types of steviosides produced for food and beverage applications, is developed by the addition of glucose to stevia extracts using a-glucosyltransferase.
According to the company, the new method can effectively reduce or even eliminate the bitter aftertaste of natural stevia.
Sunwin Stevia CEO Dongdong Lin said that the company is one of a select few suppliers capable of producing enzyme treated stevia on a large scale basis.
"We believe our technology is state of the art and enzyme treated stevia has the potential to vastly expand the market in the years to come. We look forward to actively marketing our enzyme treated stevia in Europe and North America and expanding our sales in this important new product category," Lin added.