Bay Leaves | Whole Dried Bay Laurel, Laurus nobilis

What Are Bay Leaves?

Bay leaves are the dried leaves of the bay laurel (Laurus nobilis), an evergreen tree native to the Mediterranean. In ancient Greece and Rome, wreaths of laurel crowned victors, poets and emperors, which is where the words laureate and baccalaureate come from.

The leaves are thick, glossy and oval, and they are dried whole. Dried bay leaves have a warm, herbal and slightly floral aroma with notes of pine, eucalyptus and clove. Their flavor develops slowly during long cooking and adds a quiet depth that is missed when it is left out.

Bay leaves are essential in kitchens around the world. They go into soups, stews, chili, bean dishes, tomato sauces, ragu, curries and biryani, rice and risotto, stocks and court bouillon, pot roasts, pickles, brines and marinades. In French cooking, bay is part of the classic bouquet garni, and in Turkey and Greece it flavors grilled fish and meat skewers.

Please note that this is Mediterranean bay laurel, sometimes called Turkish bay. California bay leaves come from a different tree with a much stronger flavor.

Our bay leaves contain only whole dried Laurus nobilis leaves with nothing added. They are sold by weight, from small packs to bulk.