Drying Technologies for Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni: Advances, Challenges, and Impacts on Bioactivity for FoodApplications—A Review

Stevia rebaudiana leaves and extracts need to be promptly dried after harvest to prevent microbial activity and preserve their bioactive compounds, including glycosides, flavonoids, and essential oils. Effective drying also reduces moisture and volume, which lowers packaging, storage, and transportation costs. Therefore, innovative drying methods are necessary to maintain stevia’s physicochemical, sensory, and nutritional properties for functional food formulations. This review evaluates...