Dried Bay Leaves

Shop Hand Picked Dried Bay Leaves For Cooking

Commonly used in soups, stocks, braises, Demi glacé and more dried bay leaf is a kitchen staple for almost all savory classic cooking. The leaves are added in the cooking process to impart their aromatic and flavor properties. The use of Turkish bay leaf adds depth and complexity to many dishes making this dried herb a must have in any kitchen panty.

First used commonly in Mediterranean cuisine, due to its native origin where it once flourished around the Mediterranean Basin. The essential oils of the laurel leaf provide immense flavor when used properly. As a young cook, attending culinary school, I was first introduced to bay leaves for classical French cooking. The leaves were used by adding to soups or in unison with other spices and herbs called a Bouquet Garni, or Sacet d'Épices (Spice Sachet).

Why do you need to buy bay leaves for cooking

Hand picked Turkish bay leaves are a truly essential ingredient but do not take our word for it. Try making a chicken or turkey stock without bay leaf. The stock will work out but the result will be rather heavy and quite flat. Often lacking the dimension and depth that the bay leaf brings to the liquid.

 

Even some variations of Indian Garam Marsala use bay leaf.

Fresh bay leaves or dried bay leaves what is the difference?

Most fresh bay leaves in the United States come from bay trees grown in California. Though these not the same as those from the mediterranean. California bay leaves comes from the Umbellularia californica, it is a member of the Lauraceae family but true bay leaves come from Laurus nobilis.

While the Californian variety does have a slightly similar flavor profile it is often stronger and can get bitter when left in the cooking process too long. . Both varieties of bay leaves are practical in cooking but subtle complexity the dried Turkish version provide is one that cannot be duplicated.

 

Facts about Slofoodgroup Bay Leaves

Ingredients: Hand Selected Whole Bay Leaves

Flavor profile: herbal, a touch of eucalyptus, sweet

Shelf life: 36 months

Storage: Store in a cool dry area in tightly close container

Country of origin: Turkey