[11] While these plants are not sold anywhere for culinary use, their visual similarity to bay leaves has led to the oft-repeated belief that bay leaves should be removed from food after cooking because they are poisonous. 1 Description 2 Quests 3 Enhancing 4 Combining 4.1 Component to "A leaf prized for its medicinal properties." Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). [9] There is confusion in the literature about whether Laurus nobilis is a source of cyanide to any practical extent, but there is no evidence that cyanide is relevant to its value in killing jars. Bay leaves have a long history, originating as an ornamental symbol of honor and success, and worn by Roman and Greek emperors, as well as Olympians, scholars, heroes, and poets. Laurus nobilis is an aromatic evergreen tree or large shrub with green, glabrous smooth leaves, in the flowering plant family Lauraceae.It is native to the Mediterranean region and is used as bay leaf for seasoning in cooking. Bayleef is a corruption of bay leaf… The leaves also flavour many classic French dishes. They are not effective for killing large beetles and similar specimens, but insects that have been killed in a cyanide killing jar can be transferred to a laurel jar to await mounting. They are most often used in rice dishes like biryani and as an ingredient in garam masala. As with many spices and flavourings, the fragrance of the bay leaf is more noticeable than its taste. Salam is the name of a spice-producing tree used in Indonesian cooking. Bay leaves are bitter and sweet in taste. For this benefit, experts suggest consuming 1-3 grams of bay leaves a day to … The oil content cannot be less than 1 milliliter per 100 grams of the spice. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/bay-leaf, The Herb Soceity of America - An Herb Society of America Fact Sheet - Bay. Male and female flowers are borne separately on individual trees. Name origin. Bay leaves come from several plants, such as: The leaves contain about 1.3% essential oils (ol. [4] They are a fixture in the cooking of many European cuisines (particularly those of the Mediterranean), as well as in the Americas. Bay has been cultivated from ancient times; its leaves constituted the wreaths of laurel that crowned victorious athletes in ancient Greece. Pimento sticks are placed on top of the leaves and the chicken is placed on top and smoked. Priestesses who worshiped Apollo would chew the bay tree berries before giving out prophecies. Bay leaves can also be crushed or ground before cooking. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. It can be used whole or in a dried or ground form. Restores 50 Health. Besides tasting great, bay leaves can also help with digestion issues and gastric ulcers. A popular spice used in pickling and marinating and to flavour stews, stuffings, and fish, bay leaves are delicately fragrant but have a bitter taste. Black Friday Sale! Salam has spread in Southeast Asia, from Burma, Indochina, Thailand, the … The smooth and lustrous dried bay leaves are usually used whole and then removed from the dish after cooking; they are sometimes marketed in powdered form. Name: Bay Leaf ( Laurus nobilis ) Perennial Shrub Family: Lauraceae Common names: Bay Laurel, Sweet Bay, Indian Bay, Sweet Laurel, Grecian Laurel, Roman Laurel, Nobel Laurel, Poet’s Laurel, Apollo’s Bay Leaf, Bay Leaf Range: Native to the Mediterranean and widely cultivated in North America, Central America, India, Russia, France, Italy, Turkey, Spain, and Mexico. Its vegetable part is based on the leaves of the bay laurel, whose oil is used for healing and as a stimulant in aromatherapy. The bay leaves are soaked and placed on the cool side of the grill. How To Grow The Bay Leaf Plant. Updates? Ground bay laurel may be substituted for whole leaves, and does not need to be removed but it is much stronger. Bay leaves can also be used scattered in a pantry to repel meal moths,[6] flies,[7] cockroaches,[8] mice,[citation needed] and silverfish. Bay leaf (plural bay leaves) refers to the aromatic leaf of the bay laurel. The crushed, fresh, young leaves are put into the jar under a layer of paper. Native to the Mediterranean region, sweet bay is an attractive evergreen tree that can reach as many as 18 metres (60 feet) in height. [10] It also is unclear to what extent the alleged effect of cyanide released by the crushed leaves has been mis-attributed to Laurus nobilis in confusion with the unrelated Prunus laurocerasus, the so-called cherry laurel, which certainly does contain dangerous concentrations of cyanogenic glycocides[11] together with the enzymes to generate the hydrogen cyanide from the glycocides if the leaf is physically damaged. Bay tree, any of several trees with aromatic leaves, especially the sweet bay, or bay laurel (Laurus nobilis; family Lauraceae), source of the bay leaf used in cooking. The Bay leaf tree is an evergreen tree that grows up to a height of 12m. The growth rate is very slow. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. They also contain eugenol.[3]. Although a native of Asia Minor, the Laurus nobilis tree can be found in the Mediterranean owing to its partiality for warm climates. However, they remain unpleasantly stiff even after thorough cooking, and if swallowed whole or in large pieces they may pose a risk of harming the digestive tract or causing choking. See also list of herbs and spices. Sun or part shade is ideal for a Bay Leaf … Bay Leaf or Laurel Leaf are dried leaves or an evergreen shrub or more rarely a tree attaining a height of 15 to 20 mtrs. [citation needed], Bay leaves have been used in entomology as the active ingredient in killing jars. To be considered dried it has to contain 7% moisture or less. In English it is known as bay leaf or Indonesian laurel, while the scientific name is Syzygium polyanthum. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Crushed bay leaves impart more fragrance than whole leaves, but are more difficult to remove and thus they are often used in a muslin bag or tea infuser. This is generally referred to as Mediterranean Bay Leaf. Bay leaf burning has been used a way to relieve stress for centuries. Corrections? Origin. This is not true; bay leaves may be eaten without toxic effect. They are used in soups, stews, meat, seafood, vegetable dishes, and sauces. The combination of chemicals (specifically the chemical linalool) in the leaves creates a smoke that, when inhaled, calms the body and mind. During the Middle Ages bay leaves were used medicinally. United Kingdom),: 84 bay laurel, sweet bay, true laurel, Grecian laurel, or simply laurel. The benefits and history of bay leaves is something I think you’ll definitely find interesting. The leaves are also added whole to soups, stews, and other Caribbean dishes. In Indian cuisine, bay laurel leaves are sometimes used in place of Indian bay leaf although they have a different flavour. The bay leaf is an aromatic leaf commonly used in cooking. [13] Thus most recipes that use bay leaves will recommend their removal after the cooking process has finished. Bay leaf, also called laurel leaf, leaf of the sweet bay tree (Laurus nobilis), an evergreen of the family Lauraceae, indigenous to countries bordering the Mediterranean.