UNPAK – Universitas Pakuan (Unpak) Successfully Holds a Workshop on the Production of Sweet Potato Leaf Simplisia Tea

Universitas Pakuan (Unpak) successfully held a workshop on making tea from sweet potato leaf simplisia, which took place at Kebun Merdesa on Monday, January 13, 2025.

The event was attended by over 20 enthusiastic participants eager to learn how to make tea from sweet potato leaves sourced directly from the surrounding area of Cikarawang Village.

The purpose of this workshop was to introduce the health benefits contained in sweet potato leaves.

The Proposer, Apt. Erni Rustiani, M.Farm., in her opening remarks, explained that simplisia tea is made from the leaves or parts of plants that have health benefits.

“Sweet potato leaves are often seen as just an addition to dishes or animal feed. In fact, sweet potato leaves have extraordinary benefits that can be used to make tea that is good for health,” said Erni Rustiani.

Benefits of Sweet Potato Leaf Tea

Sweet potato leaf tea has various remarkable health benefits, including boosting immunity, reducing the risk of diabetes, helping to lower blood pressure, and being rich in antioxidants.

This tea also has a unique taste and a calming aroma. Additionally, sweet potato leaves are easily found in rural areas and are abundant, making their use a great opportunity to add value to local products.

The Process of Making Sweet Potato Leaf Simplisia Tea

In this workshop, participants were taught an easy and healthy method of making sweet potato leaf tea. The process begins with selecting young, fresh sweet potato leaves, then washing them thoroughly.

Next, the leaves are dried either by sun-drying or using an oven. Once dried, the sweet potato leaf simplisia is ground into a powder and placed in tea bags.

For flavor variation, simplisia from jasmine flowers, lemon, ginger, pandan leaves, lemongrass, or other spices can be added according to taste. The sweet potato leaf tea can be brewed with hot water and sweetened with sugar or honey.

During the workshop, participants were very enthusiastic and felt helped by the new knowledge they gained, especially regarding the health benefits of sweet potato leaves.

Many of them were surprised to learn that sweet potato leaves could be processed into tea with such excellent health benefits.

Erni Rustiani hopes that this workshop will inspire more people to utilize local ingredients like sweet potato leaves as an innovation for useful new products.

“In addition to promoting a healthy lifestyle, this activity can also serve as a step toward sustainable economic empowerment in the community, especially in rural areas,” said Erni.

Promoting a Healthy Lifestyle and Local Economic Empowerment

By processing local ingredients into beneficial products like sweet potato leaf tea, this activity is expected to support a healthy lifestyle while also boosting the local community’s economy.

Unpak hopes this workshop will be a stepping stone for many local product innovations that not only improve health but also encourage sustainable economic growth.