At Rill Hydration, we believe what’s inside your hydration matters just as much as how it makes you feel.
That’s why we’re starting a new ingredient series — What’s Inside Rill — where we walk through each component of our formula and explain why it’s there and how we chose to use it.
We’re starting with one of the most talked-about — and misunderstood — ingredients in hydration: stevia.
Sweeteners at Rill: Why We Use Two
Before diving into stevia specifically, it’s important to understand our approach to sweetness as a whole.
Rill Electrolytes are not sugar-free — and we don’t claim to be.
Instead, we focus on balanced, all-natural sweetness that supports hydration without overwhelming your system. To do that, we use two sweeteners:
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Panela — an unrefined cane sugar that adds depth and smoothness
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Stevia — a plant-based sweetener used in very small amounts to gently lift flavor
We’ll do a full ingredient spotlight on panela in a future post. Today is all about stevia — and why we’re careful with it.
What Is Stevia?
Stevia is a natural sweetener derived from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant. It’s approximately 200–300 times sweeter than table sugar, which means even a tiny amount can dramatically affect taste.
Because it’s so concentrated, stevia can easily overpower a drink if it’s not used carefully.
Why Stevia Is So Polarizing
Stevia’s reputation isn’t really about the ingredient itself — it’s about how much of it ends up in your drink.
Many hydration mixes — especially those marketed as "sugar-free" — rely on stevia as their primary source of sweetness. To achieve that level of sweetness without sugar, brands often use large amounts of stevia extract, which can lead to:
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A sharp or lingering aftertaste
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Headaches or nausea for people who are sensitive
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A sweetness level that feels heavy rather than refreshing
Another important piece of the puzzle:
Brands are not required to disclose exactly how much stevia they use per serving.
So while a product may list stevia on the label, it’s hard to know whether it’s a tiny supporting ingredient — or doing all the work.
How Much Stevia Is in Rill?
This is where Rill’s formulation stands apart.
One scoop of Rill contains approximately 15mg of stevia.
For comparison:
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Rill: ~15mg of stevia per serving
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LMNT: Uses stevia extract as its sole sweetener, typically 100+ mg per serving
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Liquid IV: Uses ~11g of sugar (from cane sugar and dextrose) plus stevia and “natural flavors”
In many hydration drinks, stevia is responsible for most — or all — of the sweetness. In Rill, it plays a much smaller, more supportive role.
Why This Matters to Us (and Why Rill Exists)
Rill was created because we couldn’t find a hydration product that actually worked for us.
We tried other electrolyte mixes — and they were either too sweet, relied heavily on artificial flavors, or were missing key ingredients needed to hydrate without triggering headaches or discomfort.
Some left us feeling worse than before we drank them.
That experience shaped everything about Rill’s formulation. If a version tasted overly sweet, felt harsh, or caused even subtle side effects, it didn’t make the cut. We kept refining until we landed on a formula that felt clean, balanced, and easy to drink daily. (You can read more about our story here)
Stevia sensitivity was part of that process — and one of the reasons we use so little of it.
Why Not Just Skip Stevia Entirely?
Because when used sparingly and alongside real ingredients, stevia can help round out flavor without relying on artificial sweeteners or excessive sugar.
By pairing a very small amount of stevia with panela, we’re able to:
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Keep sweetness subtle- no one has ever told us our electrolytes are sweet!
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Avoid artificial flavor systems
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Create hydration that tastes natural, not engineered
The goal isn’t to eliminate sweetness — it’s to make it feel intentional.
How This Fits Into the Bigger Picture
Stevia is just one ingredient in a much larger formula.
In future posts, we’ll take a closer look at:
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Panela and why unrefined sugar matters
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Our salt source and trace minerals
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Why we chose magnesium malate
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Sodium levels and the “smart middle ground”
Every ingredient in Rill is there for a reason — and always in a specific amount.
The Bottom Line
Stevia doesn’t have to be all or nothing.
When used carefully and in small amounts, it can support clean hydration without the aftertaste or side effects many people associate with it.
This is just the beginning of our What’s Inside Rill series — and we’re excited to keep sharing how and why Rill is made the way it is.
Ready to Taste the Difference?
If you’ve struggled with overly sweet hydration or stevia-heavy drinks in the past, Rill was made for you.
Explore our clean, mineral-rich hydration blends and find the flavor that fits your routine.
👉 Shop Rill Hydration
👉 Find Your Flavor-- Try our newest flavor, Cranberry!
