The herb Stevia has been used as a sweetener by people in Central and South America for thousands of years.  It can be used in cooking but not in its raw form.  You can drop the leaves into hot drinks to use as a natural sweetener.

It has gained popularity in the U.S recently and can be bought in several forms.  One is by growing your own Stevia in your herb garden.

It grows well in containers (1-2 plants per pot) and is usually grown as an annual herb since it is sensitive to frost.  It is harvested in Sept/Oct after flower buds have appeared BUT NOT OPENED.  Waiting until most of the flowers blossom will cause it to leave a bitter aftertaste. (Hint:  harvest your Stevia in the morning when the sugar content is at its highest.)