Several species of wild grape (Vitis spp.) grows wild across much of the United States. The most common ones are fox grape (Vitis labrusca), summer grape (Vitis aestivalis), and riverbank grape (Vitis riparia).

Be careful about identifying wild grape properly because there are several vines that you may confuse it with.

Identification:

Leaves: Heart-shaped, tri-lobed, roughly toothed, rough to the touch.

Flowers:

Fruit: Blackish blue

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Poisonous Look-Alikes:

Canada Moonseed: Very similar in appearance to wild grape, but it does NOT have forked tendrils or toothed leaves. Canadian moonseed has smooth leaves.

Porcelain Berry: Berries are a very bright purple until the turn bright blue when ripe. Leaves look somewhat similar.

Pokeweed: Not a vine and the leaves are lanceolate.

Virginia Creeper: Virginia creeper bears purple fruit in the fall, but the leaves are made up of five leaflets with red stems.

Edible Uses:

Eating the fruit as a trail side nibble or making wine are pretty obvious uses. Harvest the fruit in central, eastern United states in late July, early August.

You can also use the leaves as a cooked green or to make stuffed grape leaves. The leaves contain vitamins C, E, A, K and B6, plus niacin, iron, fiber, riboflavin, folate, calcium, magnesium, copper and manganese

Medicinal Value:

The leaves are highly nutritious. The following are proven health benefits

1. Reduces inflammation

If you have the inflammation problem such as arthritis, tonsillitis, or chronic gastritis, you can consume grape leaves to relieve them. Grape leaves contain omega-3 fatty acid and antioxidant that responsible for the inflammation process. It will help you to reduce the inflammation and treat your chronic illness.

2. Controls blood glucose level

Grape leaves have the low glycemic load. This is a good diet, especially for diabetic patients to control their blood glucose level. It is supported also by high dietary fiber inside the grape leaves that can lower the blood glucose level.

3. Improves digestive function

Grape leaves are great in dietary fiber. It helps to improve the digestive function and absorb the food well to get its nutrient

4. Contains omega-3 fatty acids

If you don’t eat a lot of fish, it’s a great addition into your diet to make sure you’re getting enough omega-3 fatty acids.

5. Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Effects

Can help prevent certain types of cancer. The grape leave juice may also help fight salmonella and other bacterial infections in the digestive system.

6. Loaded with Magnesium and Calcium

Just one ounce of grape leaves contains about 7% of your daily value for magnesium and 10% for calcium. Magnesium is a common deficiency in the modern diet.

Sources:

“Health Benefits of Eating Grape Leaves.” Heal With Food. Access Date: August 1, 2020. <https://www.healwithfood.org/health-benefits/eating-grape-vine-leaves.php&gt;

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