Are hop leaves edible?
I had to thin my hop plants and I have some hop leaves. I know people use hop shoots and hops for cooking but I was wondering if hop leaves are edible and, if so, how they are used.
Best Answer
I had to do some research1, but: yes, hop leaves are edible, e.g. as salad.
You might be better off with tender young leaves, but there are no critical ingredients that should deter you from giving them a try. Commonly one would expect the leaves to be used in a salad, but for older leaves I'd be tempted to add a heating step, like adding a handful in a stir-fry or omelette - think spinach or chard, for example.
As for the chemical compounds that influence the medicinal properties 2, the contents are extremely low in the leaves, so unlike for shots or flowers there is no limit to the amount you can safely consume.
1 Sources (in German, Endlish souces were less fruitful):
http://www.vivalranger.com/index.php/wissensdatenbank/essbare-pflanzen/126-hopfen-wilder-humulus-lupulus
http://selbstbewusstgesund.de/ernaehrung/essbare-wildkraeuter-3/
2 We explicitly do not discuss health and nutrition here, but some foods should be consumed in limited amounts nevertheless. For hops, that is mainly due to ingredients with calming and estrogen-like properties.
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Quick Answer about "Are hop leaves edible?"
For the plant itself, mature hops are rarely eaten due to their bitter taste and odd texture. But people often eat young hop leaves and shoots. They have a unique flavor that's reminiscent of asparagus or fiddleheads. Young leaves and shoots can be tossed in salads or cooked like other green vegetables.How do you eat hop leaves?
Mature hop leaves\u2013good for making dolmas, hop pasta, or other things. They're a bit tough at this stage but useful for ID. Mature hop flowers, another good thing for ID. You can eat them, but they're bitter.Can you use hop leaves?
Although some chefs add hops to dishes such as pizza and salads, consuming fresh hops is not for everyone. Hop cones are quite bitter-tasting and the texture is not highly palatable. Due to these undesirable qualities, culinary uses for hops remain a novelty.Can you eat hop plants?
Humulus lupulus is in fact related to cannabis. Despite that, smoking and/or eating hops is not recommended\u2014not even for medical purposes! Consuming hops in any way, other than in beer, can give you an upset stomach and a raging headache, but your pets are at a far higher risk as hops are often toxic to animals.5 Ways to Eat Hop Shoots: How to Pick and Eat Hops in Spring
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