Wholesale Bay leaf

01.
A Bit of Botany

a little botanical information on bay

description
Bay is an evergreen shrub often referred to as a small tree of the Lauraceae family. It has shiny oval leaves, pointed, with dark green on top with a lighter underside.

Flowers, which appear in clusters in the spring are yellow and are followed in female plants by small black or purple berries.

In the wild it can grow up to 60 feet tall, but cultivated outside its native habitat it only reaches 3-10 feet in height.

common names
& nomenclature
Bay Laurel's scientific name comes from the Latin Laurus meaning "verdant" and nobilis meaning noble, or of high rank.

Also known as:
bay laurel, grecian laurel, poet's laurel, sweet bay, bay tree, true laurel, and laurel

02.
Where in the World

habitat and range for bay

Bay leaf (or Bay laurel) is native to Asia Minor and areas around the Mediterranean.

03.
Cultivation & Harvesting

considerations for growing and harvesting bay

climate
Bay laurel requires mild climates and will only grow well year round outside if it has 4 hours of direct sunlight a day and if kept relatively cool. It does make an attractive container plant or houseplant.

soil
The soil should be rich and well-drained and allowed to dry out between watering, however it should receive a little extra water in the springtime.

growing
The plant can be propagated easily from cuttings.

harvesting
Harvest the leaves as needed once the tree is established. This is one herb that's better dried than fresh, as the fresh leaves are bitter.

preserving
Bay laurel leaves may be pressed to dry; properly dried leaves are bright olive green. Store them in a dark, cool, dry place in an airtight container.

take note!
This plant can be found in your grocery store as "bay leaves" and in your garden center as "laurel" or "bay laurel".

Always check the Latin name when buying plants, especially this one, as there are many "bays" and "laurels" out there, some that aren't remotely related to this herb. For example, Mountain Laurel Kalmia latifolia is poisonous while Bayberry Myrica pensylvanica has been used as a substitute for Bay laurel in cooking and has its own uses as well.

04.
The Rest of The Story

How to make bay leaf tea

How to make bay leaf tea

Making bay leaf tea is easy. In a small pot, add the bay leaves and water. Cover and boil over high heat. Once the water boils, lower the heat to medium-high and continue to boil for 3 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and let the tea steep for 4 minutes. For a variation, add a cinnamon stick to < make bay leaf and cinnamon tea. <

Health benefits and uses

Bay laurel leaves have been used for centuries as both a culinary herb and an aromatic botanical. Beyond their familiar role in soups and stews, bay leaves appear in traditional preparations that emphasize fragrance and ritual use rather than flavor alone.

Infusions and oils made from bay leaves continue to be used in traditional and handcrafted botanical products, particularly where aromatic herbs are desired.