It might seem like second nature to lob off the top of a strawberry and toss it aside, but strawberry leaves have benefits, too.

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 is a Registered Dietitian and the owner of 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.

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, “the use of leaves, as well as leaf products (of strawberries), has suggested a number of biological benefits, including significant antioxidant activity, antibacterial and antifungal effects, and anti-inflammatory action of strawberry tree leaves.”

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.

“The best way to consume strawberry leaves is either with the fruit itself or thrown into a smoothie,” says Edwards.