Tomato leaves poisonous?

[Jenise]

Apparently it's long been believed that tomato leaves are poisonous. But culinary scientist Harold McGee is unable to corroborate that, and has instead found interesting uses for tomato leaves. He even goes so far as to say that they're worthy of being added to our arsenal of fresh kitchen herbs.

Here's his article about tomato leaves in today's New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/29/dining/29curi.html?pagewanted=1&ref=dining

We'll probably soon see capsules containing tomato leaves to reduce cholesterol.

[Robin Garr]

Apparently it's long been believed that tomato leaves are poisonous. But culinary scientist Harold McGee is unable to corroborate that, and has instead found interesting uses for tomato leaves. He even goes so far as to say that they're worthy of being added to our arsenal of fresh kitchen herbs.

Mary read that this morning and says we ARE going to try it. I'm game.

By the way, in Filipino cuisine (and maybe others), green-pepper leaves are widely used as a soup green, and they add a delicious green-pepper flavor to whatever broth they're simmered in.

[David M. Bueker]

delicious green-pepper flavor

Does not compute.

Green peppers are one of those flavors a lot of people don't like, and I can't figure out why.

[Jenise]

Green peppers are one of those flavors a lot of people don't like, and I can't figure out why.

Can't either. Loved them out of the box--nearly killed myself biting into a jalapeno when I was three years old at the supermarket with mom. I adored big green peppers so figured the little ones would be good too. Didn't quite work out.

Apparently it's long been believed that tomato leaves are poisonous. But culinary scientist Harold McGee is unable to corroborate that, and has instead found interesting uses for tomato leaves. He even goes so far as to say that they're worthy of being added to our arsenal of fresh kitchen herbs.

Here's his article about tomato leaves in today's New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/29/dining/29curi.html?pagewanted=1&ref=dining

The logic isn't bad, though: solanaceae produces its fair share of poisonous things, such as nightshade and potato leaves.

Mark Lipton

And the tomato itself was believed to be poisonous for the longest time. When it was first introduced to England it was a decorative plant.