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Chaya leaves

Chaya leaves are the edible leaves of the chaya plant, typically cooked for soups, stews, and vegetable dishes.

Chaya leaves — illustrative ingredient image

About Chaya leaves

Chaya leaves are the harvested edible foliage of the chaya plant, presented as leaves rather than as the broader plant ingredient. They are generally green, with young leaves more tender and mature leaves more substantial.

Their flavor is mild and vegetal, while cooking softens their leafy texture substantially. Prepared leaves can remain somewhat structured when not overcooked and are used in soups, stews, vegetable dishes, fillings, and other savory preparations.

Chaya leaves may be sold whole, stripped from stems, or chopped before cooking. Trimming changes the plant part represented, and cooking changes the leaves from firm harvested foliage to a soft prepared ingredient.

Ingredient type
whole food

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Where chaya leaves appears

4 linked foods

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Main dishes

Soups

Ingredient connections awaiting review · Coverage is still growing, including packaged snacks.

Name examples awaiting language review. Confirm the specific food or product.

Local names for chaya leaves

Names and romanised forms to recognise on menus and labels.

English

chaya leaves

Available names only. Languages may be spoken in other countries; a name alone does not identify every ingredient in a dish.

Chaya leaves nutrition & diet

Chaya leaves nutritional value

Fresh chaya leaves · raw

Per 100 g of the analysed fresh raw chaya leaves, per 100 g.

Calories
85.84kcal
Protein
7.7g
Carbs
11.2g
Fat
1.1g

Fresh raw leaf values; chaya requires appropriate cooking before consumption.

Portions & preparation

Match the reference specifically to chaya leaves and the edible cooked portion, distinguishing leaves from stems and from other regional greens. Preparation should be identified because boiling, steaming, or incorporation into soups changes moisture and recipe composition. Account separately for oil, broth, salt, and accompanying vegetables or fillings.

Compare the right form: Use a reference for identified chaya leaves in the matching cooked preparation, with stems excluded or included explicitly and recipe additions documented.

Diet considerations

Chaya leaves are plant-derived. Plain cooked leaves may fit plant-based patterns, but soup, stew, and filled preparations can include meat stock, dairy, egg, or other animal ingredients. Tamale-style dishes may contain maize or other cereal ingredients. Compatibility therefore depends on the exact cooked recipe and serving composition.

AI-authored reading notes · Awaiting editorial review. Measured values, where available, have a separate source above.

Dietary compatibility

  • Vegan
    Typically compatible
  • Vegetarian
    Typically compatible
  • Pescatarian
    Typically compatible
  • Keto
    Depends on the version
  • Paleo
    Typically compatible
  • Low-carb
    Depends on the version
  • Halal
    Not established
  • Kosher
    Not established
What these diet assessments mean
Vegan · Typically compatible
The plain ingredient profile is plant, fungal or mineral based. Added ingredients in a prepared product need a separate check.
Vegetarian · Typically compatible
The plain ingredient profile is plant, fungal or mineral based. Added ingredients in a prepared product need a separate check.
Pescatarian · Typically compatible
The plain ingredient profile is plant, fungal or mineral based. Added ingredients in a prepared product need a separate check.
Keto · Depends on the version
Compatibility depends on the portion and preparation. A sourced carbohydrate amount for a defined serving is not available.
Paleo · Typically compatible
The plain form fits the conventional paleo food groups. Added ingredients and individual interpretations can differ.
Low-carb · Depends on the version
Compatibility depends on the portion and preparation. A sourced carbohydrate amount for a defined serving is not available.
Halal · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish halal status.
Kosher · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish kosher status.

For the plain ingredient · Awaiting review. Diet compatibility is not allergy suitability or halal/kosher certification. Keto and low-carb depend on the portion.

Reviewed ingredient entryIngredient reference · Preparations vary

AI-generated illustration for visual context. It does not identify a particular product or establish allergen content.

Sources & review

Nutrition reference: Impact of Boiling on Nutrient Retention in Chaya Leaves ↗. Values are scaled from 100 g of the recorded edible form. Individual portions have no assumed fixed weight.

Expanded overview, name examples and nutrition notes are database drafts awaiting editorial review. Numeric nutrition values, where shown, have their own source and food-form reference.

The ingredient description and dish connections come from the draft catalogue and may change after review.

Last recorded verification: .