Craving the warm, cozy taste of cinnamon and sweet vanilla in your morning coffee or warm oatmeal, but want to skip the blood sugar spike, synthetic syrups, and harsh chemical aftertastes? NOW® BetterStevia® Liquid Sweetener Cinnamon Vanilla delivers rich, natural café-style flavor in convenient, zero-calorie liquid drops.
Quick Product Overview: A plant-based, zero-glycemic liquid sweetener combining certified organic whole-leaf stevia extract with natural cinnamon and vanilla oils in a smooth vegetable glycerin base. With approximately 281 servings per bottle, a few concentrated drops replace tablespoons of table sugar or sugary coffee shop syrups without raising blood glucose levels.
0 Calories
Guilt-Free Sweetness
0g Net Carbs
Keto & Diabetic Friendly
Whole Leaf
Enzymatically Debittered
~281 Servings
Economical 2 oz Bottle
The Science of BetterStevia: Why It Won't Spike Blood Sugar or Leave a Bitter Aftertaste
If you have tried other stevia brands in the past and noticed a lingering licorice bite or metallic sting, you are not alone. Understanding the difference comes down to basic plant chemistry and careful extraction:
1. Whole-Leaf Extract vs. Isolated Chemical Fractions
Many budget sweeteners isolate a single stevia compound known as Rebaudioside A (Reb A) using harsh chemical solvents. Research confirms that when Reb A is isolated on its own, it activates human bitter taste receptors on the back of the tongue (specifically hTAS2R4 and hTAS2R14). NOW® BetterStevia® uses a certified organic, water-extracted whole-leaf process treated with a gentle, food-grade enzymatic wash. This retains the full natural spectrum of sweet steviol glycosides while eliminating the compounds that trigger bitter receptors.
2. How Your Body Metabolizes Stevia (Zero Glycemic Impact)
Unlike table sugar (sucrose) or corn syrups, stevia's sweet compounds pass completely undigested through your stomach and small intestine without entering the bloodstream. In the lower bowel, harmless gut bacteria break the compounds down into steviol, which is absorbed, processed in the liver into steviol glucuronide, and excreted naturally in urine.
Clinical evaluations (including studies published in Appetite, 2010) show that natural stevia produces zero spike in postprandial blood glucose and zero demand for insulin. Both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA GRAS Notice No. 252) and the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) have affirmed high-purity steviol glycosides as safe, with an established Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of 0–4 mg per kilogram of body weight.
3. The Vegetable Glycerin Base Advantage
Water-only stevia drops often form droplets that float on top of hot drinks or hit the tongue as an overly sharp shock of sweetness. NOW suspends its organic stevia in a food-grade vegetable glycerin base. This thick, smooth carrier distributes effortlessly through hot coffee, tea, and batters, coating taste receptors evenly for a rounded, genuine sugar-like sweetness.
Purity You Can Trust: NOW® Foods In-House Laboratory Testing Standards
Because dietary sweeteners and botanical herbs are harvested from open agricultural soils, they are vulnerable to environmental contamination, heavy metals, pesticides, and microbial pathogens. You should never have to guess about what is inside your bottle.
NOW Foods operates one of the most advanced analytical testing facilities in the dietary supplement industry, maintaining over 45,000 square feet of laboratory space in Bloomingdale, Illinois, and Sparks, Nevada. Their testing protocols meet strict ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation standards, performing more than 16,000 to 19,000 comprehensive tests each month.
Strict Contaminant Screenings Applied to Every Batch:
Heavy Metal Screening via ICP-MS: Raw botanicals are tested using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), detecting toxic heavy metals (Lead, Arsenic, Cadmium, and Mercury) down to microscopic parts-per-billion (ppb) thresholds, verifying strict compliance with United States Pharmacopeia (USP) elemental impurity guidelines and California Proposition 65 limits.
Purity & Active Potency via HPLC: High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) verifies that active steviol glycosides are present in therapeutic, sweet ratios without adulteration or cheap bulking agents.
Pesticide & Herbicide Screens (USP <561>): Advanced Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and LC-MS/MS scan for over 400 agricultural residues and industrial pollutants.
Microbiological Safety Assays: Rapid bio-luminescent screening ensures raw extracts are free from dangerous bacteria including Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus, with strict limits on yeast and mold counts.
Residual Solvent Testing (USP <467>): Confirms that no toxic petroleum or chemical extraction residues remain in the finished liquid.
This exhaustive testing protocol guarantees that the drops you stir into your family's morning beverages are verified pure, safe, and true to the label.
Complete Ingredient Listing & Supplement Facts
We believe in complete transparency. Below is the verified label breakdown for NOW® BetterStevia® Liquid Sweetener Cinnamon Vanilla (Item #6937 / N6937):
Supplement Facts
Serving Size: 5 Drops (0.21 mL)
Servings Per Container: About 281
% Daily Value*
Calories 0Total Fat 0g0%Sodium 0mg0%Total Carbohydrates 0g0%Total Sugars 0gIncludes 0g Added Sugars0%Protein 0g
*Not a significant source of saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, dietary fiber, vitamin D, calcium, iron, or potassium.
Exact Ingredients:
Vegetable Glycerin: Provides a natural, smooth, non-glycemic carrier base.
Natural Cinnamon Vanilla Flavor: Derived from authentic spice and vanilla extracts (in an alcohol base).
Contains 11% alcohol by volume. The alcohol is used strictly as a natural solvent to capture real essential oils from whole cinnamon bark and vanilla beans. At the recommended 5-drop serving, the total alcohol consumed is approximately 0.02 mL (less than the trace alcohol naturally present in a ripe banana or regular culinary vanilla extract). However, those adhering to strict zero-alcohol diets should take note.
Allergen & Facility Information:
Not manufactured with wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, or tree nut ingredients. Produced in a third-party inspected Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens. Vegan, Vegetarian, Non-GMO Project Verified, and Gluten-Free.
Because pure stevia is naturally 60 to 100 times sweeter than table sugar, learning how to dose it properly is essential for achieving great taste.
The Practical "Label vs. Reality" Rule:
The manufacturer label suggests 1 to 5 drops. In practical daily testing, start with just 2 to 3 drops in an 8-to-12 oz mug of hot or iced coffee. Over-sweetening is the #1 reason users experience taste fatigue. You can always add an extra drop, but you cannot take one out!
✓ Where This Sweetener Excels:
Morning Coffee & Lattes: Transforms black roast, Americanos, or almond milk lattes into a zero-calorie cinnamon dolce treat.
Warm Oatmeal & Chia Pudding: Add 3 to 4 drops directly into hot rolled oats or overnight chia seed cups for warm bakery flavor.
Plain Greek Yogurt: Cuts through the sour tang of high-protein unflavored Greek yogurt without adding sugar or carbs.
Protein Shakes & Smoothies: Complements unflavored whey, collagen, or pea protein isolates with rich spiced undertones.
Herbal Teas: Adds spiced warmth to rooibos, black tea, and chai brews.
✗ Where This Sweetener Is Not Recommended:
High-Heat Oven Baking: Liquid stevia does not provide the bulk, moisture retention, or caramelization properties of granular sugar or allulose. Cakes, cookies, and breads will end up flat and dense.
Strict 0.00% Alcohol Diets: As noted above, the natural flavor extract utilizes an 11% alcohol carrier.
Yeast-Leavened Doughs: Baker's yeast requires real fermentable sugars (such as dextrose or sucrose) to rise; steviol glycosides will not feed yeast.
Sweetener Comparison Matrix: How BetterStevia Measures Up
Compare how NOW® BetterStevia® compares directly with traditional cane sugar and synthetic alternatives:
Attribute
Cane Sugar
Sucralose / Aspartame
Cheap Reb-A Drops
NOW BetterStevia Cinnamon Vanilla
Glycemic Index
High (GI ~65)
Zero (GI 0)
Zero (GI 0)
Zero (GI 0)
Calories per Serving
16 kcal / tsp
0 kcal
0 kcal
0 kcal
Source / Processing
Refined Sugar Cane
Synthetic Chemical Synthesis
Solvent-Isolated Reb A
Organic Whole-Leaf Enzymatic Extract
Aftertaste Profile
Clean, Sweet
Chemical Lingering Sweetness
Noticeable Bitter / Licorice Bite
Smooth Warm Cinnamon Vanilla
Tooth Enamel Safety
Causes Plaque & Cavities
Non-Cariogenic
Non-Cariogenic
Non-Cariogenic (Cavity-Safe)
Heavy Metal Lab Tested
Rarely Lot-Tested
Standard Batch Screening
Varies by Unknown Importers
Every Lot Screened via ICP-MS (ISO 17025)
The VitaNet® Difference: Real Supplement Expertise & Protection
When you order your dietary supplements and health foods, who you buy from matters just as much as what brand you select. Anonymous third-party online platforms are flooded with expired batches, improper warehouse heat storage, and unauthorized sellers.
Independent Heritage
Founded in 1995 as an independent, family-owned discount retailer in Hartville, Ohio, VitaNet®, LLC brings over 31 years of direct nutritional industry experience to every customer order[cite: 1].
100% Risk-Free Guarantee
We provide an unconditional 100% money-back guarantee on all products, and we even pay the return shipping cost if you are unsatisfied, including on opened bottles[cite: 1].
Direct Factory Relationships
With over 16,000 name-brand vitamins and natural health items in our catalog, our inventory comes directly from certified manufacturers, stored in climate-controlled conditions[cite: 1].
Personal Customer Care
As a BBB A+ accredited retailer, you can speak directly with our team by phone at (330) 877-8786 or visit our physical storefront at 887 Edison Street Northwest in Hartville, Ohio[cite: 1].
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Will NOW BetterStevia Cinnamon Vanilla break my intermittent fast or kick me out of ketosis?
No. Because steviol glycosides contain zero calories and have a glycemic index of zero, they do not prompt liver glycogen release or trigger an insulin spike. A few drops in black coffee or sparkling water keep your body fully in fasted and fat-burning states.
How many drops should I use to replace one teaspoon of sugar?
Approximately 2 to 4 drops will match the sweetness of 1 full teaspoon of regular table sugar. Because this formula includes warm cinnamon and aromatic vanilla flavor notes, you will also receive subtle spice and aroma that enhances your drink without needing added flavored creamers.
Why does the bottle contain 11% alcohol?
Pure cinnamon bark and whole vanilla beans contain aromatic essential oils that do not dissolve easily in plain water. Food-grade alcohol is used as a clean, natural solvent to extract and stabilize these authentic flavors. Each 5-drop serving contains about 0.02 mL of alcohol—a tiny fraction of a drop, which is comparable to or less than the natural alcohol content found in ripe fruit.
Does this liquid sweetener need to be refrigerated after opening?
Refrigeration is not mandatory because vegetable glycerin and the natural alcohol base inhibit bacterial growth. However, keeping the bottle tightly sealed in a cool, dry cabinet away from direct sunlight preserves the cinnamon and vanilla essential oils at peak aroma. Always remember to shake well before dispensing.
Is stevia safe for household pets if they accidentally lick a spill?
Unlike xylitol (a sugar alcohol that is acutely toxic and life-threatening to dogs), stevia leaf extract is generally recognized as non-toxic to dogs and cats in small accidental quantities. However, this product contains cinnamon extract, vanilla flavor, and vegetable glycerin which can cause temporary mild stomach upset in sensitive animals, so always store your bottle safely out of pet reach.
How does VitaNet handle returns if I don't care for the flavor?
VitaNet stands behind every bottle with a risk-free 100% money-back guarantee[cite: 1]. If this flavor does not meet your expectations, simply contact our customer care team at (330) 877-8786. We will issue a refund and cover the return shipping costs, even on opened bottles[cite: 1].
