Stevia - any good?

[Mendi]

I don't like the taste of artificial sweeteners but was wondering if stevia gives a more natural sweet taste?

Not in my experience, sorry!
I made a lemon drizzle cake, and it was still in the cake tin a week later, half eaten, unheard of in this house! I've tried all kinds of non-sugar sweeteners and never found one I liked.
What are your reasons for avoiding sugar?

I'm not avoiding it as such. I have a very sweet tooth! But recently I've stuck to a low GI diet and found I'm not experiencing the hunger pangs and cravings I normally do - I think because less sugar causes fewer insulin spikes. So I'm interested in finding some sugar alternatives

I honestly think there aren't any good ones.
I have a sweet tooth too. Products keep being introduced that are the Next Big Sugar-Free Thing (Agave syrup, xylitol, stevia) and none of them taste as good as sugar to me. I think things like honey and maple syrup are good as they are less refined/have other health benefits, but just as spiky on the blood sugar.

Xylitol is probably the closest. Have you tried that?

I think all artificial sweeteners taste disgusting and have a nasty aftertaste. I don't have a sweet tooth and try to use as little sugar as possible when cooking. Sorry that doesn't help much does it?

Don't get me started on artificial sweeteners in toothpaste grr!

Truvia isn't too bad but don't cook with it - bad things happen. The slight bitter taste can be neutralised to an extent with cinnamon. I use NuNaturals solution as I'm not keen on the sugar alcohols in Truvia....they give me the runs - sorry if tmi!