Bay Leaf or Laurel Leaf has dried leaves or an evergreen shrub, rarely a tree attaining a height of 15 to twenty meters. The upper portion of the leaf is bald and glossy, green, and also the lower surface is dull olive to brown with an eminent rib and veins. The aroma of the squeezed leaves is delicate & fragrant and therefore the taste is aromatic and bitter. the dimensions of the leaves is starting from 2.5 to 7.5 cms long and 1.6 to 2.5 cms in width . The form is concise and narrow to a degree at the base and tip of the leaves.
It is a native of the Mediterranean region and grows widely in scrubland woods in Europe and California. It’s widely cultivated in Europe, America, and Arabian countries. it’s not cultivated as a commercial crop in India.
Bay leaves are used for flavor in soups, stews, meat, fish, confectionaries, and sauce. Both leaves and fruits possess aromatic, restorative, and narcotic properties. The required oil from the leaves is additionally used for spice and flavoring purposes. it’s a larger part in conventional medicines of different countries. it’s key properties of anti-microbial, anti-fungal, hypoglycaemic, anti-ulcerogenic properties.