What kind of leaf is a bay leaf?
…leaf, leaf of the sweet bay tree (Laurus nobilis), an evergreen of the family Lauraceae, indigenous to countries bordering the Mediterranean. 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. They contain approximately 2…
What is the scientific name of bay tree?
Botanically, bay tree belongs to the family of Lauraceae, in the genus; Laurus . It is thought to have originated in Asia Minor region, from where it distributed to all over the Mediterranean region and other parts of Asia. Scientific name: Laurus nobilis.
What is the scientific name of the bay laurel leaf?
The scientific name of this tree is the Laurus nobilis. The bay laurel leaf is also called the Turkish bay leaf because the tree it comes from naturally grows in the Mediterranean. Sometimes people use the term "bay leaf" to refer to other varieties of leaves from similar trees.
What are the antibacterial properties of bay leaves?
In lab studies, bay leaves have been found to have antibacterial properties, which means they stop bacteria from growing near them. More specifically, bay leaves inhibit the growth of both...
What is the scientific name of bay leaves?
Bay leaf (Laurus nobilis) (Fig. 5.1 ) is an evergreen perennial shrub that belongs to the laurel family (Lauraceae). It has been used for 1000 years, and it is an essential ingredient in cooking and in many traditional practices (Parthasarathy et al., 2008).
What is a bay leaf used for?
Fresh or dried bay leaves are used in cooking for their distinctive flavour and fragrance. The leaves should be removed from the cooked food before eating (see safety section below). The leaves are often used to flavour soups, stews, braises and pâtés in many countries.
Is bay leaf and cinnamon leaf the same?
These are quite different to the European bay leaf (Laurus nobilis) and are actually leaves from a type of cinnamon tree. The flavor is distinctly clove-like, slightly spicy and refreshing....(Cinnamomum tamala or C. zeylanicum)Botanical Name(Cinnamomum tamala or C. zeylanicum)Common NamesTejpat, Cinnamon Leaves3 more rows
Why is bay leaf called laurel?
Bay laurel was the symbol of wisdom, both acquired and intuitive. Laurus nobilis is believed to derive from the Celtic word laur meaning green and the Latin nobilis signifying noble. Baccalaureate is from the Latin for laurel berries, which were given to Greek students of the classical period.
Is bay leaf poisonous?
Whether you call them bay leaves, bay laurel, or sweet laurel, this Mediterranean herb is a common ingredient in soups, stews, or braised meats. It's recommended that you remove the whole leaves or leaf pieces before eating. However, it's not because they're poisonous, but rather because they can be a choking hazard.
Can bay leaves cure infection?
Fights against fungal infections Bay leaf has been shown to provide antifungal properties, which can combat fungal conditions. These properties along with its vitamin C content can protect the skin from any kind of infection and irritation.
What is another name for cinnamon leaf?
cinnamon, (Cinnamomum verum), also called Ceylon cinnamon, bushy evergreen tree of the laurel family (Lauraceae) and the spice derived from its bark.
What plant do bay leaves come from?
The true "bay leaf", also known as "bay laurel" or "sweet bay", is sourced from the tree Laurus nobilis, a native of the Mediterranean region.
What does bay leaf come from?
Bay leaves come from the bay tree, which is indigenous to Asia. The plant spread to the Mediterranean, where it was called a laurel tree. Laurels were associated with honor and glory, which led to the famed laurel wreathes, headpieces popularly associated with Ancient Greece and Rome.
Are bay leaves medicinal?
Bay leaf is an herb that is commonly used in cooking. The leaves and oil are also used to make medicine. People use bay leaf for diabetes, cancer, stomach problems, pain, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
What is laurel used for?
A laurel is a shrub that was traditionally used to weave wreaths and crowns that were symbols of victory in the sporting events of Ancient Greece. Today, laurel is synonymous with achievement, and a laureate is one who an award or achievement is bestowed upon.
What is the difference between bay leaf and laurel leaf?
Yes, the laurel leaf and the bay leaf are the same thing. Bay leaves come from an ancient Mediterranean tree called the bay laurel tree or Laurus nobilis, from the family Lauraceae. Besides bay leaves, laurel leaves, or bay laurel, they are also sometimes called sweet bay or true laurel.
What is the bitter taste of bay leaves?
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. They contain approximately 2 percent essential oil, the principal component of which is cineole.
How tall is a sweet bay tree?
Native to the Mediterranean region, sweet bay is an attractive evergreen tree that can reach as many as 18 metres (60 feet) in height. Male and female flowers are borne separately on individual trees. The thick leathery leaves are roughly…. spice and herb.
What are bay leaves?
Back to Top. Bay leaves are a fragrant leaf from the laurel tree used as an herb. Bay leaves are available whole—either fresh or dried—or ground into a powder. The leaves are added to slow-cooked recipes, such as soups, sauces, and stews, and are removed before serving the dish. They have a floral and herbal scent reminiscent ...
Where do bay leaves come from?
Bay leaves come from the bay laurel plant, an evergreen shrub that grows slowly in warm climates. The plants are grown for ornamental use and dried and used in cooking. The thick and leathery leaves are elongated with pointy ends. Most often, recipes call for dried bay leaves, which have a slightly stronger scent than fresh.
How long do bay leaves last?
Fresh bay leaves can be placed in a sealed zip-top bag and stored in the refrigerator where they will last for a week or two. Dried bay leaves can be stored in a sealed container in a cool, dry, and dark spot, such as the spice cabinet or pantry; they will last up to two years before losing their aroma. You can also store the sealed dried bay leaves in the freezer, which will help the bay leaf retain its flavor and floral potency.
What are the benefits of eating bay leaves?
Benefits of Bay Leaves. Cooking with bay leaves adds flavor without adding extra sodium, fat, or calories. If ground bay leaf is used, small amounts of vitamins A, C, and B6, as well as iron, calcium, and manganese may be consumed. 1 .
What are the different types of bay leaves?
Varieties of Bay Leaves. There are two main varieties of culinary bay leaves: Turkish (or Mediterranean) bay leaves and California bay leaves. The Turkish variety is the most common, with a more subtle flavor compared to California bay leaves, which have more potency and a slightly mint taste. They are distinguishable by the shape ...
What is the meaning of bay leaves?
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.
Can you cut a bay leaf in half?
Simply add the whole dried leaf to the recipe and take out once the dish is finished cooking. If using the fresh, California bay leaves, add half of the amount called for (which may mean tearing a leaf in half).
What is a bay leaf?
Pleasantly aromatic bay leaf or bay-laurel is one of the well-recognized culinary leaf-spices in use since the earliest times. In the legends, bay laurel is depicted as the tree of the Sun god, under the celestial sign of Leo. Botanically, bay tree belongs to the family of Lauraceae, in the genus; Laurus. It is thought to have originated in Asia ...
What does bay leaf symbolize?
Health benefits of bay leaf. Bay leaf was prized highly by the Greeks and the Romans, who believed that the herb symbolizes wisdom, peace, and protection. Bay leaf was prized highly by the Greeks and the Romans, who believed that the herb symbolizes wisdom, peace, and protection. The spice contains many important plant-derived chemical compounds, ...
How much vitamin A is in bay leaves?
Bay leaves are an excellent source of vitamin-A; contain 6185 IU or 206% of recommended daily levels per 100 g. Vitamin-A is a natural antioxidant and is essential for normal eyesight. It is also required for maintaining mucosa and skin health.
How long do bay leaves last?
Scientific name: Laurus nobilis. Laurel's thick and leathery leaves feature elliptic shape, shiny, dark-green, and measure about 3-4 inches in length. Bay leaves give off a pleasing and sweet aroma when added to the recipes. Wilted and dried leaves indeed are strongly aromatic and can be stored for months.
What is Bay Laurel used for?
The leaf added to flavor fried-rice, biriyani, chutneys, etc. Bay Laurel is also an essential ingredient in many classic sauces such as bread sauce, tomato sauce, and béchamel.
How much ascorbic acid is in fresh leaves?
Furthermore, its fresh leaves and herb parts are superb in folic acid; contain about 180 mg or 45% of daily-recommended values per 100 g.
What are the vitamins in leafy spice?
This leafy spice is an excellent source of minerals like copper, potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, selenium, zinc, and magnesium.
What is the best medicine for bay leaf?
Some sedative medications include clonazepam (Klonopin), lorazepam (Ativan), phenobarbital ( Donnatal), zolpidem (Ambien), and others. The appropriate dose of bay leaf depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions.
How long before surgery can you stop bay leaf?
Stop using bay leaf as a medicine at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Is bay leaf extract safe for breast feeding?
When applied to the skin: Bay leaf extract is POSSIBLY SAFE when used in cosmetics . It might cause allergic reactions in some people. Special Precautions and Warnings. Pregnancy and breast -feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if bay leaf is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding.
Is bay leaf extract safe?
Taking the whole, intact leaf by mouth is LIKELY UNSAFE. The leaf can't be digested, so it remains intact while passing through the digestive system. This means it can become lodged in the throat or pierce the lining of the intestines. When applied to the skin: Bay leaf extract is POSSIBLY SAFE when used in cosmetics.
Is bay leaf oil safe to eat?
When taken by mouth: Bay leaf and bay leaf oil is LIKELY SAFE for most people in food amounts. Ground bay leaf is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth in medicinal amounts, short-term. But, if you cook with whole bay leaf, be sure to remove it before eating the food. Taking the whole, intact leaf by mouth is LIKELY UNSAFE.
Does bay leaf tea help with cholesterol?
It may also improve cholesterol levels. Abnormal levels of cholesterol or blood fats (dyslipidemia). Early research shows that drinking tea made from bay leaves each day for 10 days might slightly increase good cholesterol levels (high-density lipoprotein, or HDL).
Is bay leaf safe for cancer?
Bay leaf can also be unsafe if the entire leaf is taken by mouth.
Why is the bay leaf called the bay leaf?
The bay laurel leaf is also called the Turkish bay leaf because the tree it comes from naturally grows in the Mediterranean. Sometimes people use the term "bay leaf" to refer to other varieties of leaves from similar trees.
What are the different types of bay leaves?
The following are the varieties of bay leaves used to flavor food and the scientific names of the trees they come from: 1 California bay leaf, Umbellularia californica 2 Indian bay leaf, Cinnamomum tamala 3 Indonesian bay leaf, Syzygium polyanthum 4 Mexican bay leaf, Litsea glaucescens 5 West Indian bay leaf, Pimenta Racemosa 6 Turkish bay leaf, Laurus nobilis
What is the name of the leaf that grows on the leaves of the Turkish bay tree?
Turkish bay leaf, Laurus nobilis. This article focuses only on the more commonly used bay laurel leaf from the Laurus nobilis. Since the other types of bay leaves come from other tree species, they have slightly different flavors and nutritional properties.
What does a bay leaf taste like?
Bay leaves add a complex flavor to dishes, and are a key staple in many soups and sauces. When dried, they taste like a subtly bitter combination of mint and spice. Generally, the term "bay leaf" refers to the laurel leaf, a small leaf from the sweet bay tree. The scientific name of this tree is the Laurus nobilis.
How to prepare bay leaves for cooking?
How to Prepare Bay Leaves. Most commonly, people cook with bay leaves by placing full, dried leaves inside a dish before cooking so that the food absorbs their flavor . Unfortunately, this method of preparation isn't the most nutritious because people do not typically eat whole bay leaves.
How many calories are in a tablespoon of bay leaves?
Nutrients from bay leaves are more likely to be absorbed when the crushed form is used in cooking. A tablespoon of crushed bay leaves contains: Calories: 5.6. Protein: Less than 1 gram. Fat: Less than 1 gram. Carbohydrates: 1 gram.
Do bay leaves slow the growth of breast cancer cells?
Early laboratory cell research shows that bay leaves slow the growth of breast cancer cells and colorectal cancer cells. Further studies are needed to understand how effective bay leaves are at helping cancer patients.
Overview
Uses
In Indian cuisine, bay laurel leaves are sometimes used in place of Indian bay leaf, although they have a different flavour. They are most often used in rice dishes like biryani and as an ingredient in garam masala. Bay (laurel) leaves are called tezpattā (तेज़पत्ता, in Hindi) and তেজ পাত in Assamese.
In the Philippines, dried bay laurel leaves are used in several Filipino dishes, such as menudo, bee…
Sources
Bay leaves come from several plants, such as:
• Bay laurel (Laurus nobilis, Lauraceae). Fresh or dried bay leaves are used in cooking for their distinctive flavour and fragrance. The leaves should be removed from the cooked food before eating (see safety section below). The leaves are often used to flavour soups, stews, braises and pâtés in many countries. The fresh leaves are very mild and do not develop their full flavour unti…
Chemical constituents
The leaves contain about 1.3% essential oils (ol. lauri folii), consisting of 45% eucalyptol, 12% other terpenes, 8-12% terpinyl acetate, 3–4% sesquiterpenes, 3% methyleugenol, and other α- and β-pinenes, phellandrene, linalool, geraniol, terpineol, and also contain lauric acid.
Taste and aroma
If eaten whole, bay leaves are pungent and have a sharp, bitter taste. As with many spices and flavourings, the fragrance of the bay leaf is more noticeable than its taste. When the leaf is dried, the aroma is herbal, slightly floral, and somewhat similar to oregano and thyme. Myrcene, a component of many essential oils used in perfumery, can be extracted from the bay leaf. They also contain eugenol.
Safety
Some members of the laurel family, as well as the unrelated but visually similar mountain laurel and cherry laurel, have leaves that are poisonous to humans and livestock. 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. This is not true; bay leaves may be eaten without toxic effect. However, they remain unpleasantl…