Known as the European blueberry, bilberry is a small shrub about knee high native to the mountains, forests and heathlands of Europe. Bilberries are in the same family as blueberries, cranberries and huckleberries with sweet, dark purple fruits that ripen in late summer. Both the berries and leaves of the bilberry plant have been used as herbal medicine since the Middle Ages.

Dried bilberry leaves are typically used for their antiseptic and astringent properties to address digestive issues and help treat urinary tract infections. Bilberry leaf tea is also a folk remedy for managing diabetes, and the herb is being studied for its potential to regulate blood sugar and improve circulation in individuals with diabetes.

Typically brewed as a tea, bilberry leaf has a clean, leafy taste that is mildly sweet and tangy, reminiscent of bilberries.