It may be common to discard the tops of strawberries, but the leaves also offer valuable benefits.

If you’ve ever spent time cleaning strawberries for a tasty strawberry dessert or strawberry drink, the thought of just popping the entire juicy fruit into your mouth has likely crossed your mind.

But can you eat strawberry leaves? Yes, you can eat strawberry leaves. In fact, the entirety of a strawberry—fruit, leaves, and stem—are all edible.

So why don’t we see more people eating the entire strawberry?

According to Alabama-based dietitian Chelsea Edwards, strawberry leaves are safe to eat, though they are often discarded in the United States. She explains that many people remove the leafy tops while cleaning strawberries rather than consuming them. Edwards, a Registered Dietitian, owns Huntsville Nutrition Collective in Huntsville, Alabama.

Can You Eat Strawberry Leaves?

Yes! Strawberry leaves are not only edible but also offer health benefits. They contain Vitamin C, though in lower amounts compared to the fruit itself.

According to Edwards, strawberry leaves have a much higher concentration of polyphenols than the fruit. These polyphenols function as antioxidants, potentially lowering the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes while also providing anti-inflammatory benefits.

The National Center for Biotechnology Information states that strawberry leaves and their extracts offer several biological benefits, including strong antioxidant properties, antibacterial and antifungal effects, and anti-inflammatory action.

How To Eat Strawberry Leaves

If you plan to consume strawberry leaves, Edwards encourages making sure the leaves, like the fruit, are thoroughly cleaned before consumption. Here's what Edwards suggests:

- Discard any leaves that have a lot of browning on them.

- When the strawberries have been cleaned, the fruit is safe to consume.

Edwards suggests that the best way to consume strawberry leaves is by eating them with the fruit or blending them into a smoothie.