Blueberries are a delicious, sweet fruit that grows on bushes, but did you know that the leaves are edible as well? While they don’t taste like blueberries (they’re slightly bitter), there are many reasons why you may want to consider eating them. Here’s everything you need to know about blueberry leaves and how to prepare them so that you can enjoy this tasty treat for yourself!
Can You Eat Blueberry Leaves?
Blueberry leaves are edible, and they make a tasty addition to salads and other dishes. The leaves are also used in teas and herbal remedies.
Blueberry leaves are very high in vitamin C and contain small amounts of other vitamins and minerals. However, most of the nutrients in blueberry leaves are found in the stems, flowers, and fruits that grow on the bush.
The leaves of blueberries can be eaten fresh or dried for use as tea. Dried blueberry leaves have been used for centuries as a traditional medicine to treat diarrhea, colds, flu, and sore throats.
When using blueberries as part of your diet, be sure to wash them thoroughly before eating them raw or cooking with them. This will remove any dirt or pesticides that may have been sprayed onto the bush during cultivation.
Benefits Of Eating Blueberry Leaves
Blueberry leaves are edible and offer a variety of health benefits. They’re often used as tea or added to salads or smoothies. The leaves can also be dried and stored or frozen so they can be enjoyed year-round.
Blueberry leaves contain:
Vitamin A – Vitamin A is essential for vision health, bone growth, reproduction, and cell turnover. It helps your body fight infections, prevents cancer cell growth, and aids in the healing process after an injury.
Vitamin C – Vitamin C is necessary for the formation of collagen, which provides the structure for bones and cartilage as well as gums and teeth. Vitamin C also helps wounds heal faster by boosting the immune system to fight off infection and protecting against free radicals that can cause damage to healthy tissue cells.
Folate – Folate is important for forming red blood cells that transport oxygen throughout your body through its network of blood vessels. This vitamin also plays a role in preventing heart disease by keeping your homocysteine levels in check (high homocysteine levels increase your risk of heart attack).
Iron – Iron is essential in transporting oxygen throughout your body via red blood cells. Women need more iron than men do because they lose iron during menstruation each month.
How To Clean Blueberry Leaves
When it comes to blueberry leaves, you will need to clean them thoroughly first before using them.
Step 1: Wash the blueberry leaves in cold water to remove dirt and other debris.
Step 2: Rinse the leaves thoroughly to ensure that they are clean, or else they may have an unpleasant flavor or texture when eaten.
Step 3: Transfer the leaves to a colander and drain them thoroughly so that they don’t retain excess water while cooking, which can make them soggy and less appetizing when eaten raw or cooked in recipes such as omelets or salads.
How To Eat Blueberry Leaves
Blueberry leaves can be used in a variety of different ways. Here are a few suggestions:
Blueberry leaves can be used in the same way as spinach or kale. They’re best cooked, but it’s possible to eat them raw in salads. You can also dry them for later use.
Here are a few recipes you can try:
Sautéed Blueberry Leaves With Garlic And Olive Oil: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Add the blueberry leaves and stir until wilted, about 1 minute more. Season with salt and pepper to taste, remove from heat and serve with lemon wedges on the side if desired.
Spinach Salad With Blueberry Leaves: Combine baby spinach leaves with chopped red onion, sliced strawberries, dried cranberries, and blueberry leaves in a large salad bowl. Toss with your favorite vinaigrette dressing (I like balsamic vinegar) just before serving for an easy weeknight meal that’s packed with flavor!
Make Tea: Steep the leaves in hot water and use it as tea. This can help soothe sore throats, coughs, aches and pains, diarrhea, and more. It’s also known to have anti-inflammatory properties that may help reduce swelling in the airways if you have asthma.
Other Things You Can Do With Blueberry Leaves
Besides food, blueberry leaves are a great addition to your garden. They can be used as mulch, composted, or even in pots.
Mulch
The leaves will decompose quickly and provide nutrients for your soil. If you’re using them as mulch, make sure that they are not treated with pesticides or herbicides. They can also be used as an alternative to grass clippings for composting.
Composting
Blueberry leaves have a high nitrogen content and make excellent additions to compost piles. They should always be shredded before adding to a compost pile because whole blueberry leaves can take up valuable space in the pile and prevent airflow.
Conclusion
So, if you want to eat blueberry leaves, what do you do? You can either eat them raw or cook them. They taste like spinach but with a hint of mint. That sounds delicious!
Kate has been in the food business for over 20 years. Worked as a cook at several buffets which include Old Country Buffet, Five Star Buffet, and Ichiban Buffet. Now, I’m mostly at home cooking for my family, caring for chickens and ducks, and tending the garden.
