Stevia composition

A process for producing a rebaudioside B composition, comprising the steps of:

• providing a stevia sweetener comprising rebaudioside A having a carbohydrate residue at a C19 position;
• providing an alkaline aqueous solution free of any co-solvents;
• hydrolyzing the C19 carbohydrate residue of rebaudioside A to form rebaudioside B by dispersing the stevia sweetener in the alkaline aqueous solution and incubating for about 0.5 to 48 hours at about 30-100° C. to form a mixture;
• cooling the mixture to about 10-30° C.;
• adjusting the pH with acid to about pH 3.0-4.0 to obtain a precipitate;
• separating the precipitate and washing it with water;
• and
• drying the washed precipitate to obtain the rebaudioside B composition;
• wherein the rebaudioside B composition comprises a mixture of rebaudioside A and rebaudioside B at a ratio of about 5%:95% to about 95%:5% (w/w).