Among the various zero-calorie sweeteners currently available, stevia, aspartame, acesulfame-K and saccharine belong to the group known as HIS (high-intensity sweeteners). In particular, stevia sweetener, which is made from an extract of the stevia plant (Stevia rebaudiana), offers many advantages. High pH and temperature stability ensure a long shelf life and suitability for cooking, baking, and hot-vending applications. It is now used in many countries as a sweetener and food supplement.

Each HIS has a unique sweet taste profile, and there are many ways of adjusting a sweetener's profile so as to better approximate that of sucrose. One approach in Japan is to combine stevia sweetener with erythritol, and this blend is now recommended for many types of food and beverage, especially soft drinks.

NPC is one of the leading producers of stevia sweeteners. We can supply a variety of stevia sweeteners and extracts, including glycosylated stevia, the least bitter of the stevia-based compounds. One of our products is JECFA-approved stevia with high rebaudioside A content. We supply several soft drink manufacturers in Japan and, drawing on our extensive experience, we can offer expert advice and support to developers of new beverages.