My Grandma just sent a brown bag full of locally grown bay leaf. So, let`s talk about Bay Leaf for Day 7 of 13 Days of Spices. A series where we cover 13 different spices over 13 days from December 8 – 20.

Bay Leaf is a staple ingredient in my family`s kitchen. We use it in savory and sweet cooking – in rice and beans, stewed beans/peas, cocoa tea, cornmeal pudding, and bush tea.

Bay Leaf (Laurus nobilis) are thin dark leaves that are green in color and has a slight glossy feel when fresh. Once, the dried bay leaves have an aromatic and strong smell. You can find bay trees in many Caribbean islands included Jamaica and St.Croix – as bay leaf grows in tropical climates.

I use one bay leaf in a pot of beans/peas or in a pot of cocoa tea. You can also find a leaf in my cornmeal pudding.

American Bay Leaf should be avoided for cooking uses. They are better suited from decorative uses.

Health Benefits of Bay Leaf

Antiseptic properties

May relieve gas – I pot one bay leaf in my pot of beans to remove any gasses that may form from cooking beans/peas.

May have antibacterial and antifungal properties.

Household Uses for Bay Leaf

Bay Leaves may repel insects such as roaches and fleas. Repels mice.

Leave a comment of how you use bay leaf and your guess for tomorrow spice? Hint: it come from an orange fruit.