Organic Bay Leaves

Our Organic Bay Leaves have a pungent, camphoraceous eucalyptus aroma. It’s a little astringent. It’s a bit sharp and woodsy. Behind the eucalyptus there are hints of peppery oregano and sweet thyme, with a little bit of cool mint at the end. Whole bay leaves initially give off a bitter taste but readily reveal elements of pine and the complex essences of nutmeg and clove. It finishes with a persistent and cooling mint-camphor flavor. Our Organic Bay Leaves contain, on average, 1.3% essential oils by weight and is largely made up of cineole, which is the primary compound in eucalyptus.

Bay leaves, or bay laurel, have been culturally significant for thousands of years. Pythia, High Priestess of the Oracle of Delphi, would chew bay leaves as she stared into the flames of the Oracle and waited for prophecy. At the first Olympic games in 776 BC, the champions were awarded not with gold medals, but with bay garlands. In early Greece and Rome, bay wreaths were used to crown kings, priests, prophets and the victors of scholarly and athletic contests. We still use the phrase “to rest on one’s laurels” to indicate that a person has attained significant achievements in their life and can now sit back and relax, since they have nothing left to prove.

Tips From Our Kitchen

Our Organic Bay Leaves should be added to a dish early in the cooking process, as it takes a while for their flavor to fully penetrate the food. Remove leaves before serving, as they are bitter and sharp if swallowed and can get lodged in the throat. Add bay leaves to a Mediterranean stew like bouillabaisse, or a big pot of marinara sauce. They’re at home in jambalaya or gumbo, and equally welcome in dirty rice or red beans and andouille sausage. Put leaves and lemon slices over fish and wrap in parchment to bake en papillote. Add to water for boiling potatoes. Have a tapas party and marinate sardines in bay leaves and olive oil before grilling. We also have Organic Ground Bay Leaves available for sale.

There are approximately 130 bay leaves per ounce.

Our Organic Bay Leaves are grown in Turkey.

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