By Thom King, CFS, Founder and Chief Innovation Officer, Icon Foods

Application-Driven Selection, Usage Levels, and System Design

First Principle (Read This or Lose the Game)

Stevia is not “a sweetener.” It’s a temporal system.

  • Reb A (RA) → reliable, economical, can linger
  • Reb D (RD) → cleaner than RA, improved finish
  • Reb M (RM) → closest to sugar, smooth, premium
  • Engineered Blends (RA99M, RM95D) → optimized cost vs performance

Every formulation is a tradeoff: Cost vs Cleanliness vs Temporal Curve

Platform Advantage: Organic + Conventional

Every SteviaSweet™ spec is available in:

  • Conventional
  • Organic

With two key low cost entry points:

  • 95/60 → cost-driven, high-efficiency systems
  • SG95e → cost-driven, clean-label, smoother organic/conventional bridge

Translation: You don’t reformulate when switching organic ↔ conventional. You swap specs, not systems.

10-Second Formulator Decision Flow

  1. Organic required?
    → Yes: Start with SG95e or Organic RM/RA
    → No: Continue
  2. Cost the primary driver?
    → Yes: Start with 95/60 or RA95
    → No: Continue
  3. High-sensitivity system (beverage, dairy)?
    → Yes: RA99M → RM95D
    → No: RA98 → RA99M

Cost vs Performance Ladder

Tier Spec Role
Budget 95/60 Cost-driven builds
Clean Budget SG95e Cost + improved taste
Mid RA95 / RA98 / RA99 / RD95 General purpose
Hybrid RA99M Best cost-performance
Premium RM95 / RM95D Sugar-like performance

Beverages (RTD, Carbonated, Teas, Hydration)

What matters:

  • Fast onset
  • Clean finish
  • No linger
  • Low pH stability

Star Players:

  • RM95 / RM95D → premium, sugar-like
  • RA99M → best hybrid
  • RD95 → mid-tier cleaner option

Usage Levels:

  • RM95 / RM95D: 80–150 ppm
  • RA99M: 120–200 ppm
  • RD95: 150–250 ppm
  • RA99 / RA98 / 95/60: 200–350 ppm (requires support)

Starter Build (10% sugar equivalent):

  • Allulose or Tagatose: 6.0%
  • Erythritol: 2.0%
  • RA99M: 150 ppm
  • Citric acid + flavor: q.s.

Stack Strategy:

Avoid:

  • 95-60/RA95 solo → metallic linger shows up fast

Dairy (RTD Protein, Yogurt, Ice Cream)

What matters:

  • Protein masking
  • Creamy temporal curve
  • Fat interaction

Star Players:

  • RM95D → best masking
  • RA99M → balanced cost/performance
  • RA95 Organic → organic builds

Usage Levels:

  • RM95D: 100–180 ppm
  • RA99M: 150–250 ppm
  • RA95 Organic: 200–300 ppm

Starter Build (ice cream base):

  • Allulose or Tagatose: 8–10%
  • Glycerin: 1.5–2%
  • Inulin: 3%
  • RM95D: 150 ppm

This is your mouthfeel offensive line

Confectionery (Chocolate, Coatings, Gummies)

What matters:

  • Bitterness control
  • Melt profile
  • No cooling clash

Star Players:

  • RM95 / RM95D
  • RA99M

Usage Levels:

  • RM95: 120–200 ppm
  • RA99M: 150–250 ppm

Stack Strategy:

  • Base: allulose, tagatose, or maltitol
  • Optional: thaumatin/modulators

Avoid:

  • High RA95 → amplifies cocoa bitterness

Bakery (Cookies, Bars, Cakes)

What matters:

  • Heat stability
  • Browning
  • Bulking

Star Players:

  • RA95 / RA98 → cost workhorses
  • RA99 → cleaner
  • RA99M → premium

Usage Levels:

  • RA95 / RA98: 200–400 ppm
  • RA99: 150–300 ppm
  • RA99M: 120–250 ppm

Stack Strategy:

  • Backbone: soluble fiber + allulose or tagatose
  • Stevia = kicker, not quarterback

Gummies and Chews

What matters:

  • Build and release
  • Clean finish
  • Gel compatibility

Star Players:

  • RM95D
  • RA99M

Usage Levels:

  • RM95D: 120–180 ppm
  • RA99M: 150–220 ppm

Stack Strategy:

  • Allulose / Tagatose / IMT
  • Acid system sharpens finish

Dry Mixes (Drink Sticks, Protein Powders)

What matters:

  • Solubility
  • No dust bitterness
  • Stability

Star Players:

  • RA99M
  • RM95
  • SG95e / RA98 Organic

Usage Levels:

  • RM95: 100–160 ppm
  • RA99M: 140–220 ppm
  • SG95e / RA98 Organic: 180–300 ppm

Off-Note Control Playbook (Win or Lose Right Here)

Problem Fix
Bitter Bitter Add RM or RD
Metallic Metallic Increase acid + top notes
Lingering Lingering Blend with allulose or tagatose
Hollow Hollow Add polyol or fiber

Common Failure Modes

  • Overdosing RA → bitterness + linger
  • No bulk → thin, artificial profile
  • Poor acid balance → delayed sweetness
  • Protein systems → amplify off-notes without RM/RD

Temporal Snapshot

Spec Onset Peak Decay
RA95 Medium High Long
RA99M Fast Clean Medium
RM95 Fast Smooth Short

Where 95/60 and SG95e Fit

  • 95/60 → cost-driven, strong flavor systems carry it
  • SG95e → cost driven where clean-label builds needing better taste

These are not compromises. They are strategic tools.

Final Truth

Stevia alone doesn’t win formulations. You win with:

  • Bulk system (allulose, tagatose, fibers, polyols)
  • Temporal smoothing (RM, RD, modulators)
  • Acid + flavor architecture

Stevia is the finisher, not the foundation

Call to Action

If you want this dialed in fast:

  • Send us your formula. We’ll fix it.
  • Need a starting point? We’ll build it.
  • Need cost optimization? We’ll engineer it.

Related reading: Formulation Guide: Practical Selection and Use of RebD, 95 RebM and RM95D, The RA Rundown and Stevia Has Grown Up.