Strawberries are one of those top fruit favourites for their versatility, their properties, their flavour, their colour and even their appearance, which makes them headline design motifs in children’s clothing, tableware and even dolls. Who could forget the iconic Strawberry Tart! I’m sure that to this day, when washing strawberries to remove pesticides and viruses (ideally you buy organic) you would do the same as me, i.e. rinse them, leave them to soak with vinegar for a minimum of 2 minutes, rinse again and immediately pop the leaves off and straight into the waste bin (or into the organic waste bin for accuracy).
Well, don’t do it any more, or at least not until you’ve read some of the uses you can put them to. This all stems from various studies pointing to the fact that strawberry leaves also possess considerable biological potential; they contain vitamin C, iron and calcium, they are rich in bioactive compounds, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents, they contain tannins effective against nausea and stomach cramps, and caffeic acid, a compound that eases inflammation, which is good news for those suffering from arthritis. What a gem!
Three surprising uses for strawberry leaves
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, one note: although the vitamins and minerals in strawberries make them a health ally, there are certain people for whom it is contraindicated.
Bear this in mind if you fall into any of these groups: people with a sensitive gut, people with oxalate kidney stones or those allergic to strawberries (which often coincide with aspirin allergies). In any case, if in doubt, always consult your doctor before trying any of the following uses for strawberry leaves.
Prepare a healthy, refreshing drink
Have you cut the leaves and found you’ve salvaged a lot of pulp with them? Use them to make a refreshing drink with lightly flavoured water. To make it, place the clean organic strawberry leaves in a glass container, cover them with water and seal tightly. Chill for a few hours, strain and sip.
At first, about fifteen leaves will do, but you can adjust the quantities according to the strength of the flavour you want. Do you grow mint at home? You can also add a few leaves, or even organic cucumber peels.
Make a smoothie with an extra nutrient boost
If you typically prepare smoothies for breakfast to give you a boost, you might want to know this. The next time you whip up a green smoothie, don’t limit yourself to spinach or kale: also add the leftover strawberry leaves, as they’ll give your smoothie an extra nutrient kick.
Rinse the organic strawberry well and blend it with the leaves and all. Another option is to freeze them after removing the stems for future smoothies; that said, dry them well first and store them preferably in airtight freezer bags.
Craft your own delicious homemade vinegar
This particular use is one of my favourites because I love scenting olive oil with whatever takes my fancy to give a fragrant lift to my salads, bruschetta and vinaigrettes. I add garlic, rosemary, basil, thyme… But I hadn’t thought of doing the same with vinegar—what I’d tried before was store-bought.
Strawberry vinegar isn’t just tasty as a salad vinaigrette; you can also add it to certain sauces to boost flavours. It’s as easy as placing the leaves in a glass jar and covering them with the vinegar you prefer (it’s best to experiment with different varieties to see which works best). Let it sit for a week in a cool, well-sealed pantry, strain it and transfer to a cruet. And there you have it!
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