Sweet Potato Leaves: The Supergreen We’ve Been Missing

When most people think of sweet potatoes, they picture the root—roasted, mashed, or turned into crisps. But in many African households, it’s the leaves that are just as cherished. Known for their mild flavour and nutritional punch, sweet potato leaves have long been used in traditional dishes across Africa and Asia. Now, they’re finally being recognized more widely for what they are: one of the most nutrient-dense, climate-smart greens available today.

At Oya Foods, we’re proud to include sweet potato leaves in our range of functional, African-inspired products. As part of our mission to reduce waste and spotlight underutilised crops, we source, dehydrate, and package these powerhouse leaves so they can be used all year round—whether in powders, blends, or as standalone ingredients.

A Nutrition Hero in Disguise

Often overshadowed by the root, sweet potato leaves are loaded with iron, calcium, vitamin A, and dietary fibre. They support everything from immune health and bone strength to digestion and energy production. They’re also rich in antioxidants, which help reduce inflammation and protect cells from oxidative stress.

What makes them especially compelling is that they match—and sometimes surpass—the nutritional value of more widely known greens like spinach. All this from a part of the plant that’s often discarded or overlooked.

Grown with Purpose

Beyond their nutritional value, sweet potato leaves are a model of sustainable agriculture. The plant grows quickly, adapts to various climates, and doesn’t require much water, making it ideal for small-scale farmers and climate-resilient farming systems. Because the leaves grow alongside the root, harvesting both adds value to each planting cycle—reducing waste while increasing income, particularly for women in the agri-value chain.

Our approach at Oya Foods is to treat these leaves not as by-products, but as valuable ingredients in their own right. By dehydrating and preserving them, we extend their shelf life, make them available off-season, and open the door for use in modern food formats.

How to Use Them

Once dried and ground into a fine powder, sweet potato leaves become a versatile, nutrient-dense ingredient. They can be added to soups, stews, smoothies, sauces, or used in blends for meal kits and health-forward product lines. Their mild taste makes them an easy way to boost the nutrition of everyday meals—without overwhelming the flavour.

Whether you’re a chef, a product developer, or a health-conscious consumer, sweet potato leaf powder offers a simple way to deliver plant-based nutrition, sustainably.

Reclaiming What Was Always Ours

Like many indigenous ingredients, sweet potato leaves were once dismissed in mainstream markets as “poor man’s food.” But the tide is turning. As consumers seek cleaner, more sustainable, and nutrient-rich options, foods with deep roots in African tradition—like morogo, baobab, and sweet potato leaves—are finally being seen for their full value.

At Oya Foods, we believe that African ingredients shouldn’t just survive—they should lead. By reimagining how these ingredients are grown, processed, and packaged, we’re helping shape a future where indigenous foods hold space on global shelves and in health-forward products.

Sweet potato leaves are a perfect example of this shift: rooted in tradition, full of potential, and ready for what’s next.

Explore our range of functional African greens—including sweet potato leaves—available now in dried

 form.