NOW BetterStevia Instant Tabs (175 Dissolvable Tablets): Portable, Zero-Calorie Sweetness Without the Bitter Bite
Finding a clean, zero-calorie sweetener that does not leave a harsh, bitter aftertaste or carry toxic chemical additives is a major challenge. NOW Foods BetterStevia® Instant Tabs (Item #6919) solves this problem with a pocket-friendly, fast-dissolving tablet that sweetens hot coffee, herbal tea, or cold drinks naturally. Each pocket dispenser delivers 175 pre-measured servings of certified organic stevia leaf extract, eliminating sticky spills, messy powders, and torn paper packets wherever you go.
Zero Calorie / Zero Carb100% guilt-free sweetening that will not break a fast or disrupt ketosis.
0 Glycemic Index (GI)Safe for diabetic blood glucose management and metabolic diets.
Click-Top Dispenser175 instant-dissolve micro-tablets in a durable, pocket-sized travel container.
The Whole-Leaf Difference: Why BetterStevia Eliminates the "Bitter Aftertaste"
Many shoppers try supermarket stevia and immediately stop because of an unpleasant chemical sharpness or lingering licorice taste. That metallic sting is usually the result of cheap, harsh extraction methods or over-processed single isolates.
NOW Foods uses a specialized, gentle whole-leaf extraction process that preserves the entire natural sweetness profile of the real stevia plant (Stevia rebaudiana). Rather than stripping out individual fractions that taste sharp on the tongue, BetterStevia balances the plant’s natural steviol glycosides. The result is a clean, well-rounded sweetness that closely matches real cane sugar without artificial flavors or chemical aftertastes.
How sweet is 1 tablet? One micro-tablet matches the sweetness of approximately 1 standard teaspoon of white table sugar (about 4 grams of sugar). You get the full flavor sweetness you want while removing 16 calories and 4 grams of refined carbohydrates from every cup of coffee.
Clinical & Health Insights: Blood Sugar, Ketosis, and Dental Health
When replacing regular table sugar, scientific consensus and clinical literature demonstrate that high-purity stevia leaf extracts offer distinct metabolic advantages:
✓Zero Blood Sugar Spike (Glycemic Index = 0): Human clinical trials confirm that steviol glycosides pass through the upper digestive tract without being absorbed as glucose. They do not trigger insulin spikes or stress the pancreas, making them safe for individuals with type 1, type 2, or pre-diabetes (Anton et al., Appetite, 2010; Samuel et al., The Journal of Nutrition, 2018).
✓Keto & Intermittent Fasting Friendly: Because these dissolvable tablets deliver zero net carbohydrates and zero calories, they do not kick your body out of ketosis or break an intermittent fast.
✓Tooth-Friendly & Non-Cariogenic: Harmful oral bacteria like Streptococcus mutans feed on ordinary sucrose and ferment it into tooth-eroding lactic acid. Bacteria cannot ferment stevia glycosides, protecting dental enamel and preventing tooth decay (Brambilla et al., Caries Research, 2014).
✓Recognized Global Safety Profiles: High-purity steviol glycosides hold FDA GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) status (GRN No. 252, 287) and an established Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of 4 mg per kg of body weight per day by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
Unlike grocery store packets padded with maltodextrin, dextrose, or artificial chemical bulking agents, NOW BetterStevia Instant Tabs contain a short, transparent ingredient list verified directly against manufacturer specifications:
Microcrystalline Cellulose: Natural, purified plant fiber from wood pulp that provides physical structure so the tiny tablet holds its shape without crumbling in your pocket.
Organic Stevia Leaf Extract: The natural botanical extract that supplies 100% of the calorie-free sweetness.
Croscarmellose Sodium: A plant-based disintegrant that quickly absorbs liquid, helping the tiny tablet burst apart and dissolve rapidly when dropped into your drink.
Magnesium Stearate (Vegetable): A plant-derived mineral lubricant that allows the tablets to press smoothly through clean manufacturing molds.
Allergen & Dietary Statement: Not manufactured with wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, or tree nut ingredients. Produced in a certified GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens. Suitable for vegans and vegetarians.
NOW Brand Laboratory Testing: Strict Purity & Contaminant Verification
Many discount sweeteners sold online come from unverified third-party importers who skip routine batch testing. NOW Foods operates over 45,000 square feet of state-of-the-art analytical testing facilities across Bloomingdale, Illinois and Sparks, Nevada, performing over 19,000 internal tests every month to guarantee product safety.
ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Accredited Labs
Testing laboratories are independently accredited to the world’s gold standard for technical calibration, validated scientific methodology, and reproducibility.
ICP-MS Heavy Metal Screening
Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry, incoming stevia batches are tested down to parts-per-billion (ppb) for lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury to beat strict Prop 65 limits.
HPLC Purity & Potency Verification
High-Performance Liquid Chromatography separates and quantifies real steviol glycoside ratios, confirming genuine botanical identity and screening out adulterants.
Microbiological & Pesticide Screens
Every lot is screened for agricultural pesticides and cleared of bacterial pathogens including Salmonella, E. coli, yeast, and mold using automated PCR testing.
Real-World Practical Guidance: How to Use & Prevent Dissolution Issues
Because BetterStevia Instant Tabs use natural plant cellulose rather than chemical binders, understanding how to use them ensures you get the best taste and texture in every drink:
1. Best Use: Hot Beverages (Coffee, Tea, Lattes)
Drop 1 tablet into 4 to 8 ounces of hot liquid. Give it a gentle swirl with a spoon. The tablet disintegrates in seconds, infusing clean sweetness throughout the entire beverage without clumping.
2. Dissolving in Cold or Iced Drinks
Pro Tip: In iced tea, cold brew coffee, or iced water, cellulose takes longer to disperse. For the best result in iced drinks, drop the tablet into a single tablespoon of warm or room-temperature water first, swirl for 5 seconds until dissolved, and then pour it over your ice.
3. Why You Might See a Tiny White Dusting at the Bottom
Microcrystalline cellulose is an insoluble natural dietary fiber. A tiny trace of white cellulose powder may naturally settle at the bottom of your mug after drinking. This is completely harmless, normal, and confirms that the tablet is held together with real plant fiber rather than synthetic chemical binders.
How BetterStevia Instant Tabs Compare to Other Sweetener Formats
Choosing the right sweetener format comes down to convenience, ingredients, and lifestyle needs. Here is how NOW BetterStevia Instant Tabs compare:
Feature
NOW BetterStevia Tabs
Supermarket Stevia Packets
Liquid Stevia Drops
Artificial Sweeteners (Sucralose/Aspartame)
Main Bulking Agent
Natural Plant Fiber
Dextrose or Maltodextrin (Carbs)
Purified Water or Alcohol
Maltodextrin / Chemicals
Portability & Mess
Click dispenser; 0 mess
Torn paper packets; spills
Risk of sticky leaks in bags
Torn paper packets
Glycemic Impact
0 (No insulin spike)
Can spike due to dextrose
0 (No insulin spike)
May alter gut microbiome
Servings per Pack
175 Tabs
40 – 80 Packets
Approx. 100 – 200 drops
50 – 100 Packets
Taste Profile
Smooth whole-leaf sweetness
Sharp, lingering aftertaste
Sweet, can overdose easily
Chemical or metallic
Who This Product Is For — And When to Choose an Alternative
To help you make the best decision for your pantry, here is a transparent breakdown of who benefits most from BetterStevia Instant Tabs and where other products might be better suited:
✓ Ideal For:
Daily hot coffee and tea drinkers wanting quick, clean sweetness at home or in the office.
Travelers, commuters, and dining-out regulars needing a pocket-sized container that will not spill or leak.
Individuals managing diabetes, metabolic syndrome, or pre-diabetes seeking zero glycemic impact.
People on ketogenic, low-carb, or intermittent fasting nutrition protocols.
Anyone wanting to avoid synthetic sweeteners like sucralose, saccharin, and aspartame.
When to Choose an Alternative:
Baking & Cooking: Stevia micro-tablets do not provide structural volume, browning, or caramelization. For cakes, cookies, and breads, choose a granulated 1:1 cup-for-cup monk fruit or erythritol baking blend.
Bulk Pitchers: If sweetening an entire gallon pitcher of iced tea or lemonade at once, pure organic BetterStevia bulk powder or liquid drops are easier to measure in large volume.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are NOW BetterStevia Instant Tabs?
NOW BetterStevia Instant Tabs are fast-dissolving micro-tablets made from certified organic whole-leaf stevia extract. They provide a portable, zero-calorie, zero-carbohydrate sugar replacement packaged in an easy-to-use 175-tablet dispenser.
How many tablets equal one teaspoon of table sugar?
One tablet provides the sweetness intensity of approximately one teaspoon (about 4 grams) of white granulated table sugar. You can adjust the number of tablets based on your personal taste preference.
Why is there a tiny bit of white powder left at the bottom of my mug?
The white residue is microcrystalline cellulose, a harmless, insoluble dietary plant fiber used to hold the small tablet together. Because it is pure plant fiber rather than a synthetic chemical binder, small traces may settle as natural sediment in cold liquids or after sitting.
How does NOW Foods test BetterStevia for heavy metals and purity?
NOW Foods tests its stevia in ISO/IEC 17025 accredited in-house laboratories. Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), raw materials are screened for heavy metals (lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury) down to parts-per-billion levels. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) is used to verify steviol glycoside purity, and automated microbiological systems ensure the product is free from bacteria, mold, and pesticide residues.
Are NOW BetterStevia Instant Tabs safe for diabetics and keto diets?
Yes. Stevia has a glycemic index (GI) of zero and contains zero calories and zero net carbohydrates. It does not raise blood sugar or stimulate insulin secretion, making it safe for diabetic diets, low-carbohydrate plans, and ketogenic lifestyles.
How should I store the 175-tablet dispenser?
Keep the dispenser in a cool, dry place with the dispenser lid snapped shut after each use. Avoid storing it in areas of direct high humidity (such as right next to a boiling kettle or dishwasher) to prevent moisture from softening the tablets.
