Abstract: Diterpene glycosides have been found to enhance and modify the flavor of orally consumable compositions, such as foodstuffs, smoking compositions, chewing compositions, oral hygiene compositions and medicinal compositions to improve or vary the sensory perceptions thereof. An orally consumable composition having an enhanced or modified flavor comprises an effective amount of a diterpene glycoside. A diterpene glycoside can be added to an orally consumable composition as a constituent of the leaf material of Stevia rebaudiana. One or more compounds which are not diterpene glycosides, which contribute an unpleasant or unsweet taste to the leaf material of Stevia rebaudiana, can be removed from the leaf material by heating the leaf material at a temperature in the range of about 60.degree. C. to about 200.degree. C. or by extraction with an organic solvent having a polarity greater than hexane but less than water.