Beech leaves, raw (organic?)

Beech leaves are the young, edible leaves of the European beech ( Fagus sylvatica). They are often used raw in salads. Organic ?

Use in the kitchen

Can you eat beech leaves? Young, tender leaves of the red beech (beech leaf shoots) can be eaten cooked or raw, they taste slightly sour and are reminiscent of sorrel. ⁵ Older leaves are hard and tough and can only be eaten if they are finely chopped.

Young beech leaves are a popular raw ingredient in spring salads, smoothies or fresh juices. But they also taste great stewed or steamed with various vegetables or cooked with spinach. The young beech shoots are ideal for making pesto and spreads (e.g. with nuts) or as an addition to patties and vegan omelettes. They enrich soups, sauces, herb dips and vegetable fillings and are also recommended as vegetables pickled in wine or as sauerkraut. Young beech leaves also work well as a flavoring in drinks (e.g. lemonade, wine, liqueurs).

Another edible part of the beech tree is beechnuts. These are the three-edged, shiny chestnut-brown nuts of the red beech tree. They taste nutty and, raw or roasted, are reminiscent of young walnuts. ^4.5 They are used roasted as a topping for salads and vegetables, as an addition to bread dough and as a coffee substitute. ^1.5 Oil can also be extracted from beechnuts, which can be used for salads and for frying. However, eating large quantities of beechnuts and beechnut oil is not recommended (see the chapter "Danger - Intolerances - Side Effects"). ³

The soft inner bark of felled (!) beech trees was also used from March to April. Scraped into strips and laid on top of each other, they were processed into crispbread or dried and pulverized to make flour for pastries. Fresh beech wood chips were also used in the kitchen, namely as a smoke flavoring or to flavor vinegar. In addition, beech seedlings (from March to April) can be used for pickling or finely chopped and left to steep in salt as a salad addition. ⁵

Vegan recipe for spread with beech leaves

Ingredients: 20 g young beech leaves, 20 g garlic mustard, 50 g cooked red lentils, 1 tomato, 10 g soaked sultanas, a little turmeric, salt andpepper.

Preparation: Place rinsed beech leaves, garlic mustard, cooked lentils, tomatoes and sultanas in a tall container and puree with a hand blender. Season the vegan spread with turmeric, salt and pepper and serve with bread or raw vegetable sticks for dipping.

Tea preparation

You can make a tea from beech bark that is used in naturopathy (see the chapter "Folk Medicine - Naturopathy"). ⁵ To do this, boil 30 g of chopped beech bark with 250 ml of water. Then let the beech tea steep for 5 minutes and strain it. Drink 1-2 cups of this daily.

Beech leaf tea is also possible. However, this is used externally. A compress placed in the tea and cooled to body temperature appears to have a decongestant and cooling effect.

Vegan recipes with beech leaves can be found under the note: " Recipes that have the most of this ingredient ".

Shopping - Storage

Can you buy beech leaves? Supermarkets (e.g. Coop, Migros, Denner, Volg, Spar, Aldi, Lidl, Rewe, Edeka, Hofer, Billa) and organic supermarket chains (e.g. Alnatura, Denn's Biomarkt) do not stock beech leaves. Dried beech leaves can be found in some online shops - but these are decorations for aquariums or animal feed.

The best way to collect fresh beech leaves is to collect them yourself in the wild.

Found in the wild

Where does the beech grow? The natural distribution area of the common beech ( Fagus sylvatica) extends from Europe to the Caucasus. The deciduous tree grows mainly in the temperate climate zone. ^{2 ,9} Beeches are the main trees on limestone soils in southern Germany and the Alpine foothills. ⁴ In Switzerland, the species is found in forests at collinic to subalpine altitudes. ¹³

Red beeches are deciduous trees and can reach heights of up to 40 m. They are easily recognized by their smooth, light gray to silver gray bark. What do beech leaves look like? The red beech leaf is elliptical to egg-shaped, smooth and slightly wavy at the edge. Young leaves are delicate, shaggy and almost translucent light green, later becoming shiny and darker. The male inflorescences are spherical, multi-flowered, with prominent stamens, while the female inflorescences are stalked and have two flowers - the two flowers are surrounded by a soft-spined fruit cup (cupula). The fruits of the beech are called beech nuts. These are three-edged, elongated, mostly single-seeded nuts. ^{4,6, 13} Red beeches bear fruit profusely every 3-5 years. ⁶

The tender, light green beech leaves have a season from April to May. They are best harvested when they have just emerged from their buds. The leaf stalks should be soft enough to be easily crushed with your fingers. ⁵ Beech nuts ripen in September and October. They should be collected as early as possible - they dry out quickly and are also popular with wild animals. ⁴

Storage tips

It is best to use the freshly picked, young beech leaves on the same day. Otherwise, you can dry them gently, like herbs. To do this, you can spread the leaves out on a kitchen towel and leave them to dry in the fresh air. They should not be exposed to direct sunlight. If the plant parts rustle when you touch them, they are dry. Paper bags, metal cans or brown jars are suitable for storage. ⁷

Ingredients - Nutritional values - Calories

Beech leaves contain, among other things, the minerals potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus and the trace elements manganese, iron, zinc and copper. ⁸

The raw nuts (beechnuts) are rich in oil (40-45%), starch and protein. They also contain vitamin B₆ and vitamin C. ^5,6

The complete ingredients of beech leaves, the coverage of the daily requirement and comparison values with other ingredients can be found in our nutrient tables. In the article Nutrients explained you will get a detailed insight into the topic.

Health effects

The health effects of beech leaves are probably due to the secondary plant substances they contain.

Secondary plant substances

Our article on secondary plant substances provides an overview of the classification of substance groups, their occurrence in food and possible effects on humans. Beech leaves contain the following secondary plant substances, among others: ^11,12,19

• Isoprenoids: terpenoids, terpenes, steroids (sterols), saponins (glycosylated saponins)

• Polyphenols: Phenolic acids (hydroxycinnamic acids such as ferulic acid, caffeic acid and p-coumaric acid), flavonoids (flavonols such as kaempferol and quercetin, flavan-3-ols (catechins), apigenin, naringenin, chrysin), procyanidins, proanthocyanidins

However, it should be noted that the composition of secondary plant substances in beech leaves can vary depending on the variety, time of harvest and growing conditions. Therefore, quantities are only of limited use and should only be understood roughly.

A variety of secondary plant substances, such as polyphenols, terpenoids, sterols and saponins, were found in beech leaves. In addition, biogenic volatile organic compounds emitted by the leaves of Fagus sylvatica were characterized. These include monoterpenes (Δ ³ -carene, α-pinene, α-terpinene, β-phellandrene, β-pinene, γ-terpinene, camphene, cis-ocimene, limonene, myrcene, p-cymene, sabinene and tricyclics) and sesquiterpenes (α-humulene and longifolene). ¹¹

The content of phenolic compounds (especially hydroxycinnamic acids, flavonoid derivatives) in beech leaves is subject to seasonal fluctuations. A decrease was observed from mid-April to the end of May, while relatively stable values were measured in the summer months until autumn. Seasonal changes in terpene emissions from the leaves have also been reported. Terpene emissions generally increase from spring to summer and decrease again in autumn. ¹¹

Hydroxycinnamic acids play an important role in plant defense against cell wall degradation and pathogenic infections. Flavonoids serve as defense against herbivorous insects and mammals and contribute to disease resistance as constitutive antifungals or as phytoalexins in plants. These compounds also play an important role in UV protection and in the UV stress response of plants due to their UV-B absorbing properties and their antioxidant properties that counteract the light-induced production of harmful reactive oxygen species. ¹¹

Ethanolic beech leaf extracts have shown antioxidant activity, gastroprotective effects (with efficacy against Helicobacter pylori) and antimicrobial, antibacterial and antiproliferative properties in studies. ^11,12

Not only beech leaves, but also other parts of the Fagus sylvatica plant have health-promoting potential. Beech bark is a source of various bioactive compounds, such as vanillic acid, epicatechin, catechin, protocatechuic acid, chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, isochercitrin, quercetin, gallic acid, taxifolin, syringin, coumaric acid and procyanidins. Beech bark extracts have shown antioxidant activity in in vitro tests. In addition, an antimicrobial effect against bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli and Candida species has been observed. The extracts also have antimutagenic effects and inhibit α-glucosidase and tyrosinase activity. ^12,18

From the fruits, the beechnuts, an oil can be obtained that is rich in oleic acid and linoleic acid as well as in γ- and δ-tocopherols. ¹²

Dangers - Intolerances - Side effects

Are beech leaves poisonous? Beech leaves do not contain any toxins. However, caution should be exercised when eating the raw fruit, i.e. beech nuts. They contain hydrogen cyanide, fagin and oxalic acid. For most adults, it is safe to eat a few beech nuts raw. However, eating large quantities of raw beech nuts is not recommended. Children should not eat raw beech nuts at all. If symptoms of poisoning occur, such as headaches, dizziness, vomiting, ringing in the ears, breath that smells of bitter almonds and severe shortness of breath, you should seek medical help. ^5,10 Eating raw beech nuts can also lead to stomach and intestinal problems in sensitive people. ⁵

It is advisable to heat beechnuts before consumption, e.g. by roasting them or pouring hot water over them, to reduce the toxin content. This way you can eat the nuts without any worries. ¹⁰

Folk medicine - Natural medicine

Do beech leaves have healing properties? In British folk medicine, an infusion of beech buds was known, which was taken in Gloucestershire against boils or hemorrhoids. ²⁰

Beech leaves are used as a poultice or tea against swelling, eczema, fever and gingivitis. ²¹

Beech bark tea has a fever-reducing, antiseptic (anti-germ), stimulating and expectorant effect. In naturopathy, the tea is used to relieve respiratory diseases and chronic bronchitis. ^3.5

Beechwood tar was used, especially in the past, in various preparations for skin diseases, to relieve itching, and against gout and rheumatism. Beechwood is the main source of medicinally used creosote (tar oil). The active ingredients of beech tar are guaiacol and cresols. ^2,3,5

Charcoal made from beech wood is a component of remedies for digestive problems, varicose veins and cardiovascular problems. The smoke from beech wood, which may have a disinfectant effect, is also used therapeutically. ⁵

Ecological footprint - animal welfare

Beech forests (in Germany) contribute to climate protection. They store carbon in biomass, forest soils and dead wood. In addition, the predominant use of beech firewood avoids greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels. However, optimal climate protection strategies using beech forests are controversial and depend on fundamental assumptions. According to the current state of scientific knowledge, there is little evidence that unmanaged forests are the best option for long-term climate protection. ²²

A 2024 study showed that extreme drought events can alter the phytochemical profiles of beech leaves for at least 2 years after the drought. These effects of drought on beech chemistry may affect the likelihood of damage by leaf-feeding herbivores and thus potentially also forest communities and health. The frequency and severity of droughts are projected to increase in many regions in the 21st century. The impact of drought events on tree-herbivore interactions and thus on forest ecosystem dynamics is thus likely to become more important in the near future. ¹⁹

For detailed explanations of various sustainability indicators (such as ecological footprint, _CO2 footprint, water footprint), see our article: What does the ecological footprint mean?

Animal protection - species protection

The beech is known as the "mother of the forest". This is because it plays an important role in the forest ecosystem. Its falling leaves and a deep and far-reaching root system enrich the forest floor with humus and nutrients. Due to the beech's high, full canopy of leaves, which casts a lot of shade, it is in a very good position in competition with other tree species that depend on a lot of light. ^6.23

A whole range of mushroom species grow on and around beech trees, such as the stubble mushroom, chanterelle, oyster mushroom and the autumn trumpet mushroom. ⁴ Lichens, mosses and insects also colonise the common beech. ²³

The beech aphid Phyllaphis fagi also lives on the leaves of the common beech, and is an important producer of honeydew. The beech leaf nectar flow is mainly in the last third of May and the first third of June. The honeydew on the undersides of the leaves solidifies quickly, which is why bees can mostly only collect it in the early morning hours. The honeydew stays liquid longer in rolled-up leaves. ¹⁶ In general, however, bees are less popular with bees than other trees. Spruce, fir, pine, larch, maple and linden produce significant amounts of honeydew in Central Europe. ¹⁷

From a nature conservation perspective, beech trees over 200 years old are particularly interesting. So-called large caves have been formed by woodpeckers, fungi and insect infestation. These serve as a habitat for many plants and animals, some of which are on the Red List. Unfortunately, such old forests are rare today. ⁶

Worldwide occurrence - cultivation

The primeval forests of Central Europe consisted mainly of common beech ( Fagus sylvatica). ⁶ Today, the beech is the predominant deciduous tree species in the temperate and warm-temperate climate zones of Central Europe. Its natural distribution area extends from northern Spain through southern Italy and northern Greece in the south to southern Scandinavia in the north and from the Atlantic in the west to the Black Sea in the east. The species also occurs in southern England, Corsica and Sicily. ^11,12

Fagus sylvatica is an economically important tree species. ^12,18

Growing in the garden

In the garden, the beech is a popular hedge plant. It is planted at intervals of 45-60 cm. For a single tree, an area with a diameter of 10-15 m should be planned. The decorative deciduous trees look particularly good in large gardens and parks. Beeches get along well with deep-rooted trees. ^3,14

Beeches prefer sunny to partially shaded locations that are also sheltered from the wind, especially in the first few years. The soil should not be too acidic, slightly moist and loose. Clay soils can be mixed with sand. Beeches are best planted in autumn or early spring. A sufficiently large planting hole can be improved with mature compost. The seedling should not be planted too deeply. Finally, tie the young beech to a support post and water it well. ¹⁴

Further information

The common beech ( Fagus sylvatica) belongs to the beech genus ( Fagus) within the beech family (Fagaceae). The tree species grows on average up to 25-30 m high, in some cases up to 40-45 m, and usually reaches an age of around 300 years, while the oldest known specimens are estimated to be around 900 years old. ¹¹

Beech leaves can easily be confused with hornbeam leaves, which are also edible. The leaf of the hornbeam ( Carpinus betulus) has a double serrated edge and pronounced veins. The beech leaf, on the other hand, is smoother and more oval. ¹⁵

Alternative names

The common beech is colloquially known as a beech. The botanical spelling red beech underlines its membership in the beech genus. Another alternative name is common beech. The leaves of the beech are called red beech leaves or simply beech leaves (beech leaves).

In English, the beech is called common beech or European beech, and the beech leaves are called beech leaves or beech tree leaves.

Other applications

In the past, beech leaves were often used as animal feed, bedding and filling material (due to their resistance to rot). Nowadays, beech wood is one of the types of wood with the widest range of applications. The wood is processed on a large scale into wood-based materials. Due to its high energy content, it is of great importance as firewood. Beech logs are processed in a variety of ways in carpentry, from shipbuilding to furniture production. Beechwood tar is used as a preservative and disinfectant in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, as well as in dermatological medicines. ¹¹

Beech leaves can be used to produce a high-proof liqueur, the so-called Beech Leaf Noyau. The thick, sweet spirit made from beech leaves, sugar, gin and brandy tastes mild and oily. The recipe probably comes from southern England. ⁴

Beechnut oil was once used to make beechnut butter. In some rural areas of the USA, this process is still used today. ⁴