Bay Leaf

cooking · herbs · Mediterranean

Adds mystery flavor. Bay leaves come from the bay laurel tree and give dishes a subtle, warm taste that's hard to describe but definitely makes food taste better. People have been using them for thousands of years.

You remove it first. Bay leaves are almost always taken out of the pot before you eat because they're tough and pointy. It's like a flavor helper that does its job and then leaves the party.

From Mediterranean warmth. Bay laurel trees grow best in warm, sunny places around the Mediterranean Sea. These trees are evergreen and can live for a very long time, sometimes over a hundred years.

Works in many dishes. Cooks toss bay leaves into soups, stews, rice dishes, and even sauces to make them taste richer and more complex. One or two leaves is usually all you need.

More than just flavor. Bay leaves have actually been used in medicine and ceremonies throughout history because people believed they had special powers. Ancient Greeks used them to crown winners and heroes.