MEANINGS & LEGENDS OF FLOWERS - B Family: Lauraceae Common Names: ~Bay Laurel~ ~Bay Tree~ ~Roman Laurel~ ~Sweet Bay Bay leaves come from the evergreen Laurel tree. The leaves are waxy and oval-shaped. The flowers are greenish yellow in color and grow in small umbrels. The tree is pyramid shaped. It's scienticfic name ~Laurus~ means ~praise~ and ~nobilis~ means ~famous or notable.~ In ancient Greece it was a symbol of glory and poets, heroes, were crowned with laurel wreaths and crowns were worn as medals. A poet laureate is an accomplished poet, and the term ~Poet Laureate~ came about because of this custom. Winning athletes and leaders were crowned with bay. In Rome, generals celebrating victory wore the costume of Jupiter including the laurel on their heads. News of battle victories were sent wrapped in laurel leaves. The Roman poet, Ovid, retold the story of the Greek nymph, Daphne, who was transformed into a laurel tree by her father, Peneus, so that she could avoid the amorous pursuit of the god, Apollo.

Thereafter, Apollo wore a wreath of laurel to show his love for Daphne and extended protection to anyone bearing bay, the symbol of his beloved. Bay being hung over the door of the sick to protect them, which in turn led to the garlanding of newly qualified doctors with bay as a symbol of protection and success known as bacca laureus ~laurel berry~ which gave the term baccalaureate, a University degree. Bay has many magical properties. Prophets used to hold laurel boughs when foretelling the future. It was believed to ward off lightening and evil magic, to protect emperors and warriors, and to destroy harmful bacteria. The Roman emperor Tiberius always wore a laurel wreath during electrical storms. It has been associated with immortality, physical and moral cleansing. The Greeks believed it protected them against spirits. Roman merchants used a laurel branch to bless their goods. It also has narcotic properties. Bay was eaten by the Pythian priestess before taking her seat in the sacred shrine at the Oracle of Delphi. She would be asked a question and her utterances would be reduced to verse and edited by the prophets.

Bay leaves are placed beneath the pillow to induce prophetic dreams. It is a protection and purification herb and is worn as an amulet to ward off negativity and evil. If a bay tree is planted near the home it will protect its inhabitants against sickness. To ensure that a love will stay, the couple should break off a twig from the tree, then break this in two, each keeping a half. Wishes are written on bay leaves which are then burned to make them come true. The leaves can be picked all year round and are now used mainly in the kitchen. It is the only one of its genus used in cooking. In the language of flowers, the laurel stands for glory. Powers: Healing, Protection, Psychic Powers, Purification, and Strength Family: Campanulaceae Common Names: ~Jie Geng~ ~Chinese Bellflower~ Japanese call it the ~Turkish balloon flowers,~ not because they come from Turkey, but because the flowers look like the dwelling place of the Turks. The petals curve out as if in defense, the flower is thought of as a young lady that cannot be offended. Balloon Flower is used in traditional chinese medicine and is also used as an expectorant.

The roots of this plant are edible and used in Korean cuisine. Balloon flower stands for unchanging love, honesty and obedience Basil Ocimum Basilicum Family: Lamiacea Common Names: ~Our Herb~ ~Witches Herb~ ~St. Josephwort~ ~Sweet Basil~ ~Common Basil~ ~Garden Basil~ Chinese Name: ~ Luole~ Sanskrit name: ~Tulsi~ ~Arjaka~ in ancient Sanskrit Basil was known as the herb of kings in ancient times. Its name is derived from the Greek word ~basileus~ meaning ~king.~ Basil is a tasty herb, originally from India. It is sacred to the Hindu God Vishnu, since it is supposed to be his wife Lakshmi in disguise. It is regarded as a protective plant and as a benificent spirit. A basil leaf on the body of a dead Hindu was his assurance of reaching Paradise. To the ancient Greeks, it symbolized hate and misfortune. Alexander the Great sent it back to Greece not long before his death, and because of this and the riots that broke out after his death, the Greeks associated basil with hate and misfortune and it was known as a devil's plant.

According to folklore, there was a woman who gave birth to a tiny and thin boy. She prayed God to make him healthy. God answered her prayer and when the boy grew up he fell in love with a girl, his mother didn't approve of. The girl asked the boy to kill his mother so that they could get married. The boy killed his mother, took her heart in his hand and went to meet his future wife. On his way he dropped his mother's heart and it was then he realized that he had made a mistake. But it was too late because God changed him into a dwarf elder at the edge of the road and his mother into a flower called Sweet Basil, used by the priests to bless the young just married couples. The story of Isabella, has been told by Boccaccio, Keats, and Hunt, in tale, poem and picture. She was a maid of Messina who, left to her own resources by her brothers found solace in the company of Lorenzo, the manager of their enterprises. The brothers wishing to avoid a scandal, finally killed Lorenzo. They told their sister that Lorenzo had been sent on a long journey, but when months passed, she asked when he would return.

Her brothers did not give her an appropriate answer and knowing that something was wrong Isabella cried and called on her lover to return. Lorenzo's ghost appeared in her sleep and told her where she could find his body and disappeared. Frightened she awoke and fled to the scene of the tragedy, where she found Lorenzo. She was scared to move the corpse to holy ground so with a knife she removed the head, and put it in a great pot, folded in linen cloth, and covered it with earth. She then planted some basil of Salerno and guarded the plant that sprung from her lover's flesh. Tended with love and care, the plant grew strong and filled the room with sweetness. Her home-staying and the pallor of weeping led the brothers to wonder, and, thinking to cure her of a mental malady, they took away the plant. She cried unceasingly for its return, but her brothers spilt the pot to see if she had hidden anything beneath its root. They found the mouldering head which, by its fair and curling hair, they recognized as Lorenzo's. Realizing that the murder had been discovered, they buried it and fled to Naples.

Isabella died broken hearted, lamenting her pot of basil. In the West Indies, basil is soaked in water and scattered around shops to attract buyers and good luck. An old belief said that basil attracted scorpions. Many people were convinced that basil bred foul creatures or other noxious animals. The Greeks and Romans believed that you had to curse and yell while you were planting basil seeds, to get a good crop. Even today, there is a French idiom for raving, ~semer le basilic~ meaning ~sowing the basil.~ The Greeks also associated basil with poverty, and in paintings poverty was depicted as a old woman in rags with a pot of basil beside her. In Italy, it stood for love and was called ~Kiss me, Nicholas~ while in Greece it meant hate. A sprig given to a man meant ~Be wary, someone is plotting against you.~ According to Jewish lore, sprigs of basil held in the hand gave strength when fasting. It was planted on graves in ancient Persia and Malaysia, and Egyptian women scattered the flowers over the resting places of the dead. In Spain, a pot of basil on the windowsill indicated a house of ill repute.

A smaller species of basil, bush basil, was used in Italy as a love token and in Crete represented ~love washed with tears~ a concept best illustrated by the story of Isabella and the Pot of Basil. Basil is said to have the powers for Exorcism, Flying, Love, Protection, and Wealth. The scent of fresh basil is known to cause sympathy between two people. It is added to love incenses and sachets, and the fresh basil leaves are rubbed against the skin as a kind of natural love perfume. Basil brings wealth to those who carry it in their pockets. It is used to attract customers to a place of business by placing some in the cash register or on the doors. To insure that your mate remains true, sprinkle basil powder over his or her heart while they are asleep, and fidelity will bless your relationship. Basil given as a gift brings good luck to a new home. In Ayurvedic medicine, basil is known as ~Tulsi~ and the juice is widely used. In India, basil is the most sacred plant, next to the lotus. It is a popular culinary herb.

Haitian merchants often sprinkle their stores with a composition made of this fragrant herb soaked in water to get rid of bad luck and attract buyers. � Beans Phaseolus vulgaris L. Family: Leguminaceae Common Names: ~Green Bean~ ~Kidney Bean~ ~Navy Bean~ ~Pinto Bean~ ~Snap Bean~ ~String Bean~ ~Wax Bean~ Scattering bean flowers is thought to placate demons in many countries particularly in the Far East, it is associated with death and the spirits of the dead. If one bean in a row should come up white instead of green, an English tradition associates this occurrence with death. Broad beans were thought to possess the soul of the dead, and when in flower it was believed that accidents were more likely to happen. The bean would grow upside-down during a leap year. The shape of the bean was associated with death and ghosts. Scattering some around the outside of the house would stave of such attentions for 12 months. Broad beans have also been associated with forecasting the future. An European belief was that three beans should be prepared in different ways to produce an outcome and then hidden on Midsummer Eve for the enquirer to find.

The untouched bean indicated wealth, the half-peeled bean indicated a comfortable life, whilst the third fully peeled bean indicated poverty. The future was revealed by which bean was found first. Phaseolus vulgaris ~Kidney bean~ is indigenous to the Americas, being unknown to the rest of the world before Columbus. These beans were used as trade goods by Native American tribes from Canada to South America, with each tribe having its own names and folklore for the beans. On 3 days of the year, the Roman head of the household went through a ritual ceremony of spitting beans out of his mouth to rid his home of evil spirits. This custom carried over to the Middle Ages, where spitting a mouthful of beans in a witch's face was considered to negate her powers. Beans were thought to be a potent deterrent against evil. The There is a legend concerning the philosopher/mathematician Pythagoras and a bean field. He believed that some souls, when leaving their bodies, became beans, so he refused to eat them. When there were enemies pursuing him, believing that he was a magician who needed to be put to death, he ran until he came to a bean field.

Since he thought that the vines had souls hanging upon them which he did not want to trample, he instead stood still and allowed himself to be killed. Since 200 BC, tofu ~bean curd~ has been cooked into a soup to treat colds. Bergamot Monarda spp. Family: Rustaceae Common Names: ~Oswego~ ~Oswego Tea~ ~Bee Balm~ ~Red Bee Balm~ ~Beebalm~ ~Scarlet Bee Balm~ ~American Bee Balm~ ~Monarda~ ~Monarda Didyma~ ~Scarlet Monarda~ ~Gold Melissa~ ~Indian Nettle~ ~Red Bergamot~ Native to North America, its named after the 16th century Spanish physician, Nicholas Monardez, who first discovered it in 1569. It was called Oswego (or Otsego) tea by early American settlers because of its use by the Oswego Indians. It was grown by the Shakers in the late 1700s in their settlement near Oswego.

The Shakers were among America's great herbalists; they valued bergamot not only for tea and culinary uses, but for its medicinal virtues.The Native Americans passed their knowledge of the plant to the colonists, and John Bartram of Philadelphia, sent seeds to England in the mid-1700s. Bergamot or bee balm is a part of American history; it is a source of tea which was a popular substitute for the imported variety amongst the mid-Atlantic patriots in the wake of the Boston Tea Party. The entire plant has a strong fragrance similar to citrus. The scent is suitable for use in potpourris and other scented mixtures. Bergamot flowers are edible and can be used in salads. The leaves can be used to flavor apple jelly, fruit cups, and salads. The blossoms provide the flavoring for the famous Earl Grey tea. Betony Stachys betonica (BENTH.), Betonica officinalis (LINN.) Family N.O.

Labiatae Common Names: ~Purple Betony~ ~Wood Betony~ ~Texas Betony~ ~Lamb's Ears~ ~Hedge Nettle~ ~Woundwort~ ~Lousewort~ ~Bishop's Wort~ Betony is the original herb of magic discovered by Chiron the Centaur. Named after Beronice, a woman healed by Christ, it was believed to cure all ills, of the body and soul. It was also a powerful protection against witchcraft and sorcery. Betony was used in amulets, planted in churchyards and sown around houses. The common name was first ~Vettonica,~ from the Vettones (people of Spain). The name of the genus, Stachys, is a Greek word, signifying ~a spike,~ from the mode of flowering. It is a woodland plant found throughout England and was held in high repute not only in the Middle Ages, but also by the Greeks. An old Italian proverb, ~Sell your coat and buy Betony,~ and ~He has as many virtues as Betony,~ a saying of the Spaniards, show that great value was placed on its remedial properties.

Antonius Musa, chief physician to the Emperor Augustus, wrote a long treatise, showing that betony was a cure for fortyseven diseases. There were many superstitions about this plant. According to one, was that serpents would fight and kill each other if placed within a ring composed of it; and others declared that even wild beasts recognized its efficacy and used it if wounded, and that stags, if wounded with a dart, would search out Betony, and eating it, be cured. During the Middle Ages betony was grown in monastery gardens and was believed to ward off a host of evils, including mad dogs. It is used in magic for purification of body and soul before rituals, love, when making love advances or when trying to mend lovers' quarrels, ill health, ill fortune. It is also used to combat drunkenness. The Druids used it for magical purposes as they believed that it had the power to expel evil spirits, nightmares, and despair. It was burned at Midsummer Solstice for purification and protection. Sprinkle near all doors and windows to form a protective barrier. If troubled by nightmares, fill a small cloth pillow and place it under your regular pillow.

Bird-Of-Paradise Family: Strelitziaceae Common Names:~Crane's Bill~ ~Crane's Flower~ Strelitzia is named after actual birds-of-paradise, which are the most beautiful birds in the world, with brightly coloured plumage and fanlike tails. However, some believe that it was named after England's Queen Charlotte, who was born Charlotte Mecklenber-Strelitz. This exotic flower is native to the Cape of Good Hope region of South Africa. Blackberry Rubus fruticosus Family: Rosaceae Common Names: ~Bramble~ ~Bumble-Kite~ ~Bramble-Kite~ ~Bly~ ~Brameberry~ ~Scaldhead~ ~Brambleberry~ BrambleAllegheny Blackberry~ ~ Brameberry~ Brummel~ ~Common Blackberry~ ~European Blackberry~ ~Scaldhead~ ~Rubus fruticosus~ ~Cloudberry~ ~Dewberry~ ~Goutberry~ ~High Blackberry~ ~Piao~ ~Thimbleberry~ ~Wild Western Thimbleberries~ Blackberries originated from Europe. They are a noxious weed throughout NSW.

The name is derived from ~brambel~ or ~brymbyl,~ signifying ~prickly.~ Far back during the days of Jonathan, he upbraided the men of Shechem for their ingratitude to his father's house, relating to them the parable of the trees choosing a king, the bramble being finally elected, after the olive, fig-tree and vine had refused the dignity. Blackberry was considered to be a holy plant as well as one of the earliest foods known to man. In the Highlands it was called it the ~Blessed Bramble.~ Evil spirits could be kept off by a wreath of bramble, rowan and ivy. Blackberry is a symbol of remorse and is associated with alleviating several illnesses. The ancient Greeks used them as a remedy for gout and in England the leaves are used in as a remedy for burns and scalds. It is also associated with the Devil in France and England.

In France it was thought that the colour of the fruit resulted from when the Devil spat on it, whilst in England it was thought that picking fruit after 11th October ~Olde Michaelmas Day~ would bring bad luck as the Devil was believed to have fallen into a thicket and had left a curse on the thorns which had hurt him. Blackberry is also known as ~Scaldhead~ either from producing the eruption known as scaldhead in children who eat the fruit to excess or from the curative effects of the leaves and berries in this malady of the scalp, or from the remedial effects of the leaves, when applied externally to scalds. Creeping under a Bramble-bush was a charm against rheumatism, boils, blackheads, etc. Blackberries were supposed to give protection against all ~evil runes,~ if gathered at the right time of the moon. The whole plant was used as a medicine. Brambles of blackberry were planted around graves to prevent the dead from rising as ghosts. Legend has it that Christ used bramble to drive the moneychangers from the temple. Children were at one time passed through a blackberry arch as a cure for rickets.

The flowers and fruit were used to remedy venomous bites. The young shoots, eaten as a salad. Blood Flower Asclepias curassavica Family: Asclepiadaceae Has clusters of ten or so orange-red flowers. The genus name is derived from the Greek god of medicine, ~Asklepios.~ This plant can be used to induce vomiting and to expel worms. Blood Root Sanguinaria Candensis Family: Papaveraceae Common Names: ~Indian Paint~ ~Tetterwort~ ~Red Pucoon~ ~Red Root~ ~Paucon~ ~Coon Root~ ~Snakebite~ ~Sweet Slumber~ ~Indian Plant~ ~Indian Red Paint~ ~Pauson~ ~Red Paint Root~ ~Sanguinaria~ The first blossoms arise from the dead leaves and brown brush. The petals of are pure white in color. The juice of the bloodroot - an orange-red - never stains the blossoms but is a potent dye that it will stain anything else that it touches. The Indians used the juice mixed with animal fat to paint their faces. It was also used to dye baskets, decorate weapons and implements, and color clothing. Colonists used the plant to dye cloth.

It was widely used among the Algonkian nations as a blood purifier. Calling the plant ~Puccoon~ or ~Paucon,~ a name that refers to the red juice, some tribes used it to treat cramps, stop vomiting, induce abortions, and even as an insect repellent. A bachelor of the Ponca tribe would rub a piece of the root as a love charm on the palm of his hand, then scheme to shake hands with the woman he desired to marry. After shaking hands, the girl would be found willing to marry him in 5-6 days. Indians and later white men used it to relieve coughs and sore throats. The juice on the skin may cause an allergic reaction similar to that of poison ivy. Modern herbals warn that the plant is so strong that it should not be used without medical supervision. An overdose can kill a man. Bluebonnet Family: Fabaceae Common Names: ~Buffalo Clover~ ~Wolf flower~ The Texas State Flower is the Bluebonnet. Named for its color and resemblance to a woman's sunbonnet, the bluebonnet became the official state flower of Texas on March 7, 1901.

It can be found in fields and along the roadsides throughout central and south Texas. The Mexicans refer to it as ~el conejo,~ the Spanish word for it is ~Jackrabbit.~ There is a tale from the Comanche Nation that explains how this beautiful flower was gifted to the Comanche, yet it is also a fine tribute to a people who knew the meaning of self-sacrifice and survival. There was a little girl, She-Who-Is-Alone, whose heart is as big as Texas and whose spirit is as beautiful as the bluebonnet. She-Who-Is-Alone lived with the Comanche. Their land was suffering from a drought an no matter what the dancers did, there were still no rains. The shaman told the people that the Great Spirits believed that the people had become too selfish and for the rains to return, the Comanche had to offer a burnt sacrifice to the Great Spirits, of their most valued possession. The people wanted to give the offering but each one was sure that his bow or her blanket was not what the Great Spirits wanted. She-Who-Is-Alone knew exactly that the Great Spirits expected the doll she loved so dearly.

That night after everyone went to sleep, she went to the fire and offered her doll as a sacrifice. When the ashes cooled, she scattered them to the four corners of the earth. When the tribe arose the next morning, the hillside was covered with blue flowers, a sign of forgiveness from the Great Spirits. As they offered their thanks, the rains came and healed the earth. Indians wove fascinating folk tales around them. The early-day Spanish priests gathered the seeds and grew them around their missions. This practice gave rise to the myth that the padres had brought the plant from Spain, but this is not true since the two predominant species of bluebonnets are found growing naturally only in Texas and at no other location in the world. Historian Jack Maguire wrote, that "The bluebonnet is to Texas what the shamrock is to Ireland, the cherry blossom to Japan, the lily to France, the rose to England and the tulip to Holland." The Texas Legislature adopted several resolutions relating to bluebonnets. ~Bluebonnets,~ written by Julia D. Booth and Lora C. Crockett, became the State Flower Song on March 21, 1933.

The Chappell Hill Bluebonnet Festival was named the official bluebonnet festival in Texas on May 7, 1997. That same day, the Legislature declared Ennis as the official Bluebonnet Trail of Texas and named it the Bluebonnet City of Texas. A pink bluebonnet, is a symbol for the struggle to survive and a memory of those who died so that Texas could be free. Borage Borago officinalis Family: Boraginaceae Borage originated in the Middle East and was associated with bravery. The ancient Celtic warriors drank borage-flavored wine for courage. The people believed that borage imparted a sense of well-being, and the Roman scholar Pliny considered it to be an antidepressant. The five-pointed brilliant blue flowers were once favorite subjects in needlework. Cucumber flavored leaves are used to flavor cool drinks, salads, and soups. Both leaves and flowers can be used fresh and dried for eating. Can also be added to drinks such as Pimms or Gin & Tonic. Bouvardia Bay leaves add an important something, but what? - Houston Chronicle Bay leaves add an important something, but what?

Fresh ones off the tree make you a bay leaver When the French first said je ne sais quoi, they might've been trying to describe the bay leaf's unusual flavor. But that shouldn't stop you from using laurel in new and unexpected ways. PEGGY GRODINSKY, Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle Published 6:30 am, Wednesday, January 25, 2006 Ask people to describe the taste of bay -- even a group of renowned herbalists -- and they may come up short. "It's hard to describe," said a momentarily stumped Bill Varney of Fredericksburg Herb Farm. "Gosh." "It's just another layer of flavor," said Champions resident Mary Versfelt , longtime member of the Herb Society of America and a cooking teacher who specializes in herbs. "I can't quite put my finger on it." The question elicited answers as wide-ranging as spicy, herbal, fennellike, pungent, subtle, balsamic, bittersweet and butterscotchy. "Maybe it's all a hoax," a friend suggested.

"Maybe we could just as well put a magnolia leaf in our stews." No doubt you've tasted bay in court bouillon, pickling spice, crab boil, gumbo. For years, I have dutifully added a single dried leaf (or, when I was feeling daring, two) to my pot roast, spaghetti sauce and chicken stock. Truth be told, I hadn't a clue what it did -- but, as a colleague said, "It wouldn't be that dish without it." In the kitchen (and elsewhere) we often do things because our mothers did. Then I moved to Houston, and my friendly neighbors mentioned they had a bay laurel tree and invited me to use the leaves. One day they even came over with a bagful. As fast as you could say "bouquet garni" (the classic French mix of parsley, thyme and bay leaf used to flavor soup, stocks and stews), I was off and cooking. Bay trees, I learned, grow slowly but happily in Houston. The glossy leaves can be harvested year-round. A dozen trees once grew in Hermann Park's herb garden, planted by well-known herbalist and author Madalene Hill .

Alas, most have succumbed to aphids or scale, the prime challenges for would-be growers here. "Pesky scale insects seem to like bay as much as the cooks do," Hill wrote in Southern Herb Growing. But ask around. You may be surprised at the tree's popularity, and a generous neighbor may be willing to supply your kitchen, too. That would make you among the lucky few. Only three years ago, I remember copy-editing a recipe in a national magazine that called for fresh bay leaves. "Very difficult to find," I penciled in, adding, "I don't think I've ever seen them." These days, fresh bay leaves are increasingly available in upscale markets. I found fresh bay leaves at Central Market and Whole Foods. But take care: Fresh bay leaves sold in markets often are California bay, NOT the same as traditional bay leaves. Among the reasons the taste of bay can be hard to pinpoint is that it often works as a "blending herb," according to Lois Sutton , Houston resident and education chair of the Herb Society of America. Blending herbs, she continued, "seem to bring together the flavor of other things. Parsley is a great blending herb. Dill can be a blending herb.

Instead of all these discordant tastes, it seems to bring them together into a smooth flavor." Picture your spice cabinet as an orchestra. Bay is the viola. Unlike the showier violin (think cinnamon), it's an instrument few listeners can distinguish, and it rarely gets to play the melody. But without it, the orchestra's sound would be less complex. Bay is also categorized as a "simmering herb," meaning that it's typically added to a dish early in the cooking process and simmers or infuses in liquid so that its flavor emerges. Remember to remove the whole leaves before you eat the dish. Their sharp edges can perforate your insides. Fresh bay leaves add yet another dimension. "When they are fresh, they have a much different flavor profile," said Jerry Traunfeld, chef of the James Beard Award-winning Herbfarm Restaurant in Seattle and author of books on herbal cooking. He's got a tree in his backyard. "They are much more complex. They have a kind of sweet, nutmegy flavor to them." Ethan Milkes , owner of Generation Farms, went further: "The difference in flavor is night and day . . . It's like fresh orange juice versus frozen." I soon found myself using fresh bay leaves with abandon.

Formerly a Nervous Nellie clutching a single dried leaf, I now throw fresh leaves into cream and milk to make infused custards, rice puddings and ice cream. I scatter them liberally around chicken and under fish. I grind several into a fine powder and add it to corn-muffin batter. Happily, I find support for my profligacy from an expert. "Fresh bay has the most marvelous flavor. It's just unbelievable. We use lots of it," said Gwen Barclay , Madalene Hill's daughter, food director at the International Festival Institute at Round Top and an herbalist of high repute. "We feel that if you are cooking a stew and you put just one bay leaf in it, you are wasting that bay leaf." She recommends five or six for a pot of stew. Infusing fresh bay into a sweet custard, incidentally, is a revelation. Bay leaf ice cream, a hit at the office, is a creamy, subtle and entirely unexpected discovery that I will certainly add to my repertoire. And the sweetness of winter squash is set off beautifully by a bay-infused brown butter.

That milk, cream and bay have an affinity for one another is also brought to mind by this anecdote from culinary historian and Houston resident Alice Arndt , author of Seasoning Savvy. "The cows got in from the pasture behind us one day, and they loved that bay leaf tree," she said. "I say tree, but it's really a bush. They nipped it down. They must have eaten a good foot off the top of the bush. People who got that milk may have been saying, 'This is the best milk we've ever had.' " Given bay's long history, it's surprising how little we Americans know about it. Bay laurel has been in our collective kitchen for thousands of years. It has also entered our language -- baccalaureate (from "crowned with laurel"), poet laureate, resting on one's laurels. It's part of our mythology and poetry. Apollo loved the nymph Daphne. She didn't feel the same. Her father "saved" her from the god's hot pursuit by turning her into a bay laurel tree.

As 19th-century American author Thomas Bulfinch depicted it, "He caught at love and filled his arms with bays." Try cooking with fresh bay, and you may find yourself thinking it wasn't a bad trade-off. BAY-SCENTED CHICKEN WITH FIGS 4 ripe figs or 8 dried figs soaked in 1/2 cup red wine for 30 minutes 1 1/2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 1 teaspoon honey 4 tablespoons dry red wine 1/2 cup chicken stock 1/2 cup Elitses or Niçoise olives, pitted Rub chicken with olive oil and half the salt and pepper. Sprinkle with bay leaves, cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight. Heat oven to 325 degrees. Melt butter in a flameproof baking dish over low heat. Add chicken, bay leaves and 2 tablespoons water. Cover and simmer 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to oven and bake about 40 minutes, basting occasionally, until the chicken is cooked. If butter begins to brown, add more water. Meanwhile, trim stems from figs. Halve fresh figs or quarter dried ones.

Arrange in a baking dish with 3 tablespoons water (or the leftover soaking liquid) and bake fresh figs for 20 minutes, dried for 10. Transfer chicken to a platter and keep warm. Discard bay leaves. Add the vinegar to the dish and reduce the cooking liquid to about 1/4 cup by rapid boiling. Add the honey, wine and stock. Reduce until slightly thickened. Add the olives and figs and heat to warm. Pour the sauce over the chicken. Makes 4 servings. PURÉED ACORN SQUASH WITH BAY-INFUSED BROWN BUTTER Chef Jerry Traunfeld of Herbfarm Restaurant in Seattle deserves credit for this idea. Resist the temptation to add other ingredients to the purée; they'll mask the subtle butterscotch flavor of the bay butter. 2 acorn squash 6 large fresh bay leaves 8 large egg yolks 2/3 cup sugar Pinch salt Place the milk and cream in a large, heavy saucepan with the bay leaves and bring just to a boil. (Be careful or it will boil over and dirty your stove.) Let the mixture infuse in the refrigerator, covered, for 2 hours or overnight.

Bring the milk back to just under a boil. Combine the yolks, sugar and salt in a medium bowl and whisk until smooth. Gradually pour about one-third of the hot milk mixture into the eggs to temper them. Then stir the egg mixture into the cream mixture over medium-low heat, stirring all the while. Continue to cook until the custard coats the back of a wooden spoon, about 5 minutes. Do not let the mixture boil or you will get scrambled eggs. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve. Refrigerate, covered, at least 4 hours. Freeze the bay leaf custard in an ice-cream maker, according to the manufacturer's instructions. Makes 1 1/2 quarts. Bay Leaf / News / agrohoby AgroEva is in the market with its newface Description Bay leaf is the dried aromatic leaf of the laurel or bay which is known as Laurus nobilis in botanical terms. These are widely used for garnishing in soups, sauces, stews and as a seasoning for fish, meat and poultry. It is often used as a pickling spice. It is oval, pointed and smooth, 2.5 to 8 cm long.

When fresh, the leaves are shiny and dark green on top, with a lighter underside. When dried, the leaf turns a matte olive green. It feels warm and pungent when broken and its aromatic oils are released. It has a slightly bitter in flavour and is a powerful redolent The dried leaves should be whole and olive green. The brown leaves lack flavour. The leaves may be used whole, crushed or ground in cooking. Kept away from light in airtight containers, the whole leaves retain their flavour for two years. Other Names The English term bay leaf (Middle English baye, Old French baie) derives from Latin bacca “berry”, meaning originally the fruits. The other names used to refer to the leaves across the globe are as follows:- Apollo’s Bay Leaf, Bay, Bay Laurel, Grecian Laurel, Indian Bay, Laurel, Nobel Laurel, Poet’s Laurel, Roman Laurel, Royal Laurel, Sweet Bay, Sweet Laurel, Wreath Laurel French: feuille de laurier, laurier franc German: Lorbeerblatt Itlaian: foglia di alloro, lauro Spanish: hoja de laurel Varieties Bay leaves are native to the Mediterranean.

Early Greeks and Romans attributed magical properties to the laurel leaf and it has long been a symbol of honor, celebration and triumph, as in "winning your laurels." Apart from this original variety today we know of the following other types:- Turkish bay leaves are 1- to 2-inch-long oval leaves. These leaves are known for their more subtle flavor compared to the other kinds. California bay leaf - The leaf of the California bay tree/Umbellularia californica, also known as 'California laurel', 'Oregon myrtle', and 'pepperwood', is similar to the Mediterranean bay but just happens to has a much more potent and sturdy taste Indian bay leaf is popularly called tej pat/tejpat/tejpata. It is the leaf of the Cinnamomum tejpata/malabathrum tree. This variety is quite akin to the aroma and flavour of the cinnamon bark, but gentler. In matters of looks, these leaves are similar to the other bay leaves but in terms of use in cooking are a little different, having an scent and tang more nearer to that of Cassia.

It is inaccurately called a bay leaf as it is of a different genus (though the same family) as the bay laurel Indonesian bay leaf/Indonesian laurel/salam leaf/ is of Syzygium polyanthum. It is used more than often in dry form although the fresh one gives the "right" flavor. The leaf used in certain soups or steamed preparations. Like Indian bay leaf, it is also an inaccurate name because, unlike bay leaf, the plant belongs to Myrtaceae Legend According to legend the Delphi oracle chewed bay leaves or sniffed the smoke of burning leaves to promote her visionary trances. Bay, or laurel, was famed in ancient Greece and Rome. Emperors, heroes and poets wore wreaths of laurel leaves. The Greek word for laurel is dhafni, named for the myth of the nymph Daphne, who waschanged into a laurel tree by Gaea, who transformed her to help her escape Apollo’s attempted rape. Apollo made the tree sacred and thus it became a symbol of honour.

The association with honour and glory continue today; we have poet laureates (Apollo was the God of poets), and bacca-laureate means “laurel berries” which signifies the completion of a bachelor degree. Doctors were also crowned with laurel which was considered a cure-all. Triumphant athletes of ancient Greece were awarded laurel garlands and was given to winners at Olympic games since 776 BC. Today, grand prix winners are bedecked with laurel wreaths. It was also believed that the laurel provided safety from the deities responsible for thunder and lightning. The Emperor Tiberius always wore a laurel wreath during thunderstorms. Psalms 37:35 illustrates the esteem held for the mighty plant in Biblical times: "I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree." Romans considered the bay tree a symbol of glory as well as protection from thunderstorms. Nero believed bay trees purified the air and Roman victors would wipe the blood from their swords with the leaves. In Shakespeare's time superstition held that when bay trees died, disaster was sure to follow Culinary Use Overuse of this herb can make a dish bitter.

Fresh bay leaves are seldom available in markets. Dried bay leaves, which have a fraction of the flavor of fresh, can be found in supermarkets. Store dried bay leaves airtight in a cool, dark place for up to 6 months. In India the Bay laurel tree originates in the South slopes of the Himalayas. The bay leaves have essential oil from the leaves containing cinnamic aldehyde and traces of eugenol as its main constituents. Even though the bay leaves are native to the Mediterranean, they have given wondrous flavor and scent to the Indian cuisine. Indian bay leaves belong to a tree which is related to cinnamon. They are tough three- veined leaves and are very popular in Northern India, but are little known in other parts of the country. The reason for the popularity of bay leaves in Northern India is that Mughals influenced North Indian cuisine which adopted this flavour. In the Imperial Mughal cuisine, the bay leaves were used frequently in biryanis and kormas. Thus they formed the essential part of the mostly used blend of spices.

描述 月桂叶是被称为劳勒斯鳙在植物学方面的桂树或海湾的芳香干叶。这些被广泛用于配菜的汤，酱汁，炖菜和作为调料的鱼，肉和家禽。它经常被用作酸洗香料。 它是椭圆形，尖而光滑，2.5〜8厘米长。当新鲜，叶子有光泽和深绿色之上，用打火机底部。干燥时，将叶子变成了磨砂橄榄绿色。感觉温暖和刺鼻的打破，其芳香油被释放的时候。它有一个略带苦涩的味道，是一个功能强大的芳香干燥的叶子应该是整体和橄榄绿。棕色的叶子缺乏味道。叶片可用于整体，在烹调压碎或研磨。避光密闭容器中，整个叶片保持其风味两年。 英文术语月桂叶（中英文霸业，古法语湾）源自拉丁语浆果“浆果”，意思是最初的成果。是用来指在全球范围内的叶片的另一名称如下： - 阿波罗湾叶，海湾，湾桂冠，月桂树，印度湾，月桂树，诺贝尔桂冠诗人的桂冠，罗马桂冠，皇家桂冠

，甜湾，甜月桂，桂冠花环 法国：叶形De Laurier酒店，劳里埃法郎 月桂叶是原产于地中海。早期的希腊人和罗马人由于魔法属性的月桂叶，它一直是荣誉，庆典和胜利的象征，如“你赢得桂冠。”除了今天这个原始品种，我们知道下面的其他类型的： - 土耳其月桂叶是1 - 2英寸长的椭圆形叶子。这些叶子是众所周知的更微妙的味道比其他种类。 加州月桂叶 - 加州海湾树/ Umbellularia丫，也被称为“加州月桂”，“俄勒冈州桃金娘'，和'pepperwood'的叶类似于地中海海湾，但恰好有一个更加强大和坚固味道 印度月桂叶是俗称TEJ拍拍/ tejpat/ tejpata。它是樟tejpata/ malabathrum树的叶子。该品种是相当类似的肉桂的香气和味道，但温和。在外观的问题，这些叶子是类似于其他月桂叶，但在使用烹饪方面有一点不同，具有香味，唐更接近那决明。这是不准确的称为月桂叶，因为它

是一个不同属的（虽然同一家族）作为海湾桂冠 印尼月桂叶/印尼月桂/萨拉姆叶/蒲桃是滇南的。它是用于多常常以干的形式虽然新鲜1给出了“右”的味道。在某些汤或清蒸制剂中使用的叶子。像印度月桂叶，这也是不准确的名称，因为它不同于月桂叶，该厂属于桃金娘科 传说 相传德尔福甲骨文咀嚼月桂叶或嗅到烧他的烟叶，以促进她的有远见的恍惚。海湾，或桂树，是著名的古希腊和罗马。帝王将相，英雄和诗人穿月桂叶的花圈。 希腊字的桂冠是dhafni，命名为若虫达芙妮，谁是盖亚，谁改变了她，帮助她逃脱阿波罗的强奸未遂变成了月桂树的神话。阿波罗所作的树神圣的，因而它成为荣誉的象征。与尊贵，荣耀协会今天继续;我们有诗人获得者（阿波罗是诗人的神），和浆果桂冠的意思是“月桂树果实”，这标志着完成学士学位。

医生们还戴上了桂冠这被认为是一种万灵药。古希腊的胜利的运动员被授予桂冠花环，并给获奖者自公元前776年奥运会。今天，大奖赛获奖装饰与桂树花圈。也有人认为，从月桂树负责雷电之神所提供的安全性。皇帝提比略总是在雷雨天气穿着桂冠。 诗篇37:35说明保持在圣经时代的强大工厂的推崇：“我见过恶人大有势力，好像一根青翠树。” 罗马人认为海湾树荣耀的象征，以及保护雷暴。尼禄认为海湾树木净化空气和罗马胜利者将擦拭鲜血从他们的剑与树叶。在莎士比亚时代的迷信认为在海湾树木死亡，灾难是一定要遵循 烹饪使用 这种药物的过度使用可以使菜苦。新鲜月桂叶很少提供市场。干月桂叶，其中有新鲜的味道的一小部分，可以在超市找到。店干海湾长达6个月离开密闭在阴凉，避光的地方。 在印度，海湾桂树起源于喜马拉雅山南坡。月桂叶有精油含有肉桂醛和丁香酚的痕迹为主要成分的树叶。尽管

月桂叶是原产于地中海，他们给了奇妙的味道和香味的印度美食。印度月桂叶属于树这与肉桂。他们是艰难的三脉叶和很受欢迎，在印度北部，但在全国其他地区都小有名气。究其原因，月桂叶在印度北部的普及是莫卧儿影响而采用了这种味道的北印度料理。在莫卧儿帝国的美食，月桂叶是在biryanis和kormas经常使用。因此，他们形成了主要用于混合香料的重要组成部分。 وصف ورق الغار هو ورقة العطرية المجففة من الغار أو الخليج والذي يعرف باسم نوبيليس ورس من حيث النباتية.

وتستخدم على نطاق واسع هذه للزينة في الحساء والصلصات، يطبخ وباعتبارها توابل للأسماك واللحوم والدواجن. وغالبا ما يستعمل كتوابل التخليل. فمن البيضاوي، أشار وسلس، 2،5-8 سم طويلة. عندما الطازجة، وأوراق خضراء لامعة وداكنة على القمة، مع السفلي أخف وزنا. عندما جفت، ورقة خضراء لامع يتحول الزيتون. تشعر أنها دافئة ونفاذة عندما كسر ويتم الافراج الزيوت العطرية. لديها مرارة قليلا في نكهة وهو عابق قوية وينبغي أن تكون الأوراق المجففة الخضراء كلها والزيتون. الأوراق البني تفتقر نكهة. ويمكن استخدام الأوراق كلها، وسحقت أو الأرض في الطبخ.

أبقى بعيدا عن الضوء في أوعية محكمة الإغلاق، ويترك كله الاحتفاظ مذاقها لمدة عامين. أسماء أخرى ورقة الغار المصطلح الانكليزي (الشرق baye الإنجليزية، الفرنسية باي قديم) مشتقة من اللاتينية توتة العليق "التوت"، وهذا يعني في الأصل الثمار. أسماء أخرى تستخدم للإشارة إلى الأوراق في جميع أنحاء العالم هي كما يلي: - أبولو خليج ليف، خليج، خليج الغار، لوريل اغريقي، خليج الهندي، لوريل، نوبل لوريل، لوريل الشاعر News Bay Leaf Crystal Glass Tableware ï¿½ A Song of Crystal In the light of a variety and availability of glass items, glass ware is still appreciated by plenty people, especially when it comes to cut glass. The cut glass produces a long, lingering and musical tune when you put your finger at the cut-glass edge. So, in Japan the craftsmen make unique musical instruments.

A crystal violin, completely transparent, is estimated for fifty thousand USD. Crystal glass tableware is not so much expensive though it is able to produce the charming, unique and so brittle music providing it is properly cared. Popular Articles Bay Leaf Sunday, 03 January 2010 The bay tree is native to Asia Minor, from where it spread to the Mediterranean and then to other countries with similar climates. Bay leaf is the general name for leaves of evergreen sub-tropical bush that grows in Albania, France, Greece, Spain and other warm countries with the marine climate. As we remember from Roman history, poets, emperors and heroes wore wreaths of laurel leaves. The Greek word for laurel stands for dhafni, named for the myth of the nymph Daphne, who was turned into a laurel tree by Gaea, who changed her to help her escape from Apollo. The tree became the symbol of honor which is still continued today; we have poet laureates while bacca-laureate means «laurel berries» to mean the completion of a bachelor degree. Doctors were also crowned with laurel leaves to consider a cure-all.

Triumphant athletes living in ancient Greece were also awarded with laurel garlands which are given to Olympic Games winners since 776 BC. Yet, today, grand prix winners are festooned with laurel wreaths. The leaves of this aromatic tree are used in cooking for many centuries by many cultures to give the dishes the unique aroma and taste. The scientific name for this tree is Laurus nobilis L. or bay laurel. Being the relict plant that grew in the tertiary periods, the bay laurel lives till 400 years. The trunk of the bay tree is smooth with dark-grey rind, and the thick-branched crown is dark-green, coriaceous, mere, rigid, alternate, bare, smooth-edged leaves often of oval or lanceolate shape. The leaves are dark-green on the top, and the color is lighter in the bottom. The typical taste of the bay leaf is given thanks to the aromatic oil contained in the leaves, bitter taste and tanning agents. And the bay leaf has specific bitter taste and weak spicy aroma. Bay leaves are picked up in November to February, and after the leaves are dried in the shadow in thin layers.

The quality bay leaf is the one that is appropriately dried, while the leaves are safe, elastic and of light-green color. Grayish shade on the bay leaf is not allowed, and it happens because the leaves were wrongly dried. If dried properly, the bay leaf retains all useful properties after they are dried unlike many other plants. The bay leaves dried are kept in the place away from the direct sunlight, in air-proof container or the closed package. Aroma and taste of bay leaves are still wholesome and fresh within two years providing the drying process was made properly. Matte green or olive leaves are the sign of proper dry and storage. If the bay leaves get darker with brown tints, it is the sign that the leaves were stored for a long time and flavors reduced. The bitter taste of the bay leaf is quite specific, and experienced cooks recommend that you use this seasoning carefully in the small portions. The bay leaf is put into the dish 10 to 15 minutes before it is ready, and then it is removed before you serve the table. The bay leaves may be used as ground leaves or crushed in a powder.

Te bay leaf is commonly used when cooking sour dishes, borsch, soups, roasting meat, cooking fish and stewing mushrooms. The bay leaf is very often used in preservation purposes. The bay leaf gives the aromatic and favorable taste to pickles, sauces, bouquets garnis, and stews. When preserving the vegetables, one to two small leaves are enough for a single jar. Bay leaf is also used to salting herring and pickling of vegetables. The wholesome feature of the bay leaf is that it is a good appetizer and digester. On the top of it, the bay leaf contains phytoncids that are favorable for the immune system. Also the bay leaf is widely practiced as a folk remedy with the purpose to purify the organism, and clear it from waste and salts. Thanks to such a cleaning, a person feels better and the chronic fatigue fades. The extract of the bay leaf helps to remove pains in joints and significantly improves the health status of the person with the diabetes mellitus, helping the body process insulin more efficiently, which leads to lower blood sugar levels. Thanks to the high concentration of tanning agents, the bay leaf helps to get rid of high foot perspiring.

To achieve this, you need to take a foot baths two to three times a week adding some extract of bay leaf. The aroma substances containing in the bay leaf are believed to inhibit development of the tubercle bacillus. Its aroma is a good means to remove moth, and various pests. The cooks often add the bay leaf into the jars with cereals or other food stuff to protect from other pests. Bay Laurel - Witchipedia Witchipedia See Also General Information Bay is an evergreen shrub (often referred to as a small tree) native to Asia Minor and areas around the Mediterranean. It has shiny oval leaves, pointed with dark green on top with a lighter underside. Flowers, which appear in clusters in the spring are yellow and are followed in female plants by small black or purple berries. In the wild it can grow up to 60 feet tall, but cultivated outside its native habitat it only reaches 3-10 feet in height. This plant can be found in your grocery store as "bay leaves" and in your garden center as "laurel" or "bay laurel".

Always check the Latin name when buying plants, especially this one, as there are many "bays" and "laurels" out there, some that aren't remotely related to this one. For example, Mountain Laurel Kalmia latifolia is poisonous while Bayberry Myrica pensylvanica has been used as a substitute for Bay laurel in cooking and has its own magical uses as well. History and Folklore Bay Laurel's scientific name comes from the Latin Laurus meaning "verdant" and nobilis meaning noble, or of high rank. The Greek word for Bay is dhafni, after the nymph Daphne who was changed into a bay laurel tree by Gaea (or her father Peneus , or herself, depending on who's telling the story) to protect her from the unwanted advances of Apollo . The tree is sacred to Apollo and it is said that the Oracle at Delphi chewed the leaves and inhaled the smoke when seeking visions. It is also associated with honor and glory and kings, heroes, triumphant athletes, poets and other great men and women were crowned with it to signify their greatness in both ancient Greece and Rome.

Garlands of bay laurel were traditionally bestowed upon the winners of the Pythian games in Greece and later the Olympic games (prior to the change, olive leaves were used). Today, grand prix winners are given wreathes of laurel. The world laureate as in poet laureate and baccalaureate (lit "laurel berry") and the term "to rest on one's laurels" are additional reminders of the high status of this tree. Laurel wreaths were worn for their protective properties. They were believed to protect against the anger of sky Gods and the Emperor Tiberius always wore laurel during thunderstorms to prevent his being struck by lightening. Doctors also wore laurel as it was considered helpful in curing nearly everything. Propagation Bay laurel requires mild climates and will only grow well outside year round in zones 8-10. It does make an attractive container plant, however, and doesn't get too big. Folklore says that growing bay laurel as a houseplant will protect your home from lightening strikes and disease. It must have 4 hours of direct sunlight a day and be kept relatively cool.

The soil should be rich and well-drained and allowed to dry out between watering, but should receive a little extra water in the springtime. Bugs don't seem to bother this plant too much. It makes an excellent hedge and responds well to pruning. The plant can be propagated easily from cuttings. Harvesting & Storage Harvest the leaves as needed once the tree is established. This is one herb that's better dried than fresh, as the fresh leaves are much more bitter. They may be pressed to dry as you would press flowers. Properly dried leaves are bright olive green. Store them in darkness in an airtight container. Throw them out after two years, or when they turn brown, whichever comes first. Magical Attributes Laurel is sacred to Apollo and is an appropriate decoration for any altar to him. Its spicy fragrance, and association with the sun makes it appropriate for any festival of the sun. Bay laurel is also associated with Aesclepius , Ceres , Zeus , Fides , Hermes and Cerridwen . It is considered masculine , and is ruled by Leo , the sun and the element of fire .

Bay leaves can be used to asperge a space, object or person in preparation or as part of any ritual, a branch of many leaves may be used in a group situation. Bay leaves may be added to any spell or potion designed to enhance psychic ability and is a great addition to a psychic dream pillow . Laurel wreaths may be worn by healers during healing ceremonies and while treating the sick in order to increase the positive healing energy and protect against negative energy that may be hanging around the sick room. Bay leaf can also be burned in the sick room after the illness has passed to purify it and drive out any residual sickness vibes. Bay leaf is exceptionally useful as a fumigant during banish ing and exorcism rites, especially those involving poltergeist s. Mixed with sandlewood , it is useful for breaking curse s. When you finally get rid of that roommate, ex-spouse or family member who you thought would never leave, sweep their footsteps out the door with a broom and then fumigate the house with bay to ensure they won't return. Even if you aren't really happy about them going, if you know it's best for everyone, cleanse the home of their presence for closure.

Bay laurel may be carried to protect against any number of misfortunes and to bring luck in athletic competitions. To ensure that you will see your lover again, and neither of you will be tempted to infidelity, go together to a bay laurel tree and pluck a leaf, break it in half and each keep one half. It is said that if you write a wish on a dried bay leaf and then burn it and your wish will come true. Household Use Bay leaf is very aromatic and holds it shape and fragrance well when dried making it a nice addition to many potpourris, wreaths and other herbal crafts. It blends well in aromatherapy combination with bergamot , cedar , lemon , rosemary , and patchouli . It can also be added to sachets to keep moths out of your closets. A bay leaf dropped in a bag of flour may also help keep bugs out of that. It is also a useful addition to shampoos and is recommended for hair loss, dandruff and greasy hair. Healing Attributes Bay laurel has verified bactericidal and fungicidal properties. The essential oil can be added to massage oils for arthritis and muscle aches and pains.

It can also be added to salves for bruises, itching and other mild skin irritations. A poultice of the leaves and berries, simmered till soft, can be placed on the chest to relieve head and chest colds. A tea made of the leaves and/or berries aids in digestion, helps to rid the body of impurities and makes a good general health tonic. It is particularly helpful to women who are having trouble urinating after childbirth. Pregnant women, however, should not use bay laurel beyond the little bit we might use in cooking. Tea can also be used to calm nerves. Adding bay laurel to your bath tea aids with vaginal infections, perineal healing after childbirth and urinary tract infections. Never never ever use the essential oil internally except under the watchful eye of an experienced practitioner. Culinary Use Bay leaf is a popular culinary herb. It is slightly bitter and strongly aromatic. It shouldn't be eaten whole, however, as the leaf has sharp edges that can cut your mouth, it doesn't chew up well and can cause choking. Instead, add it to soups, stews, roasts, sauces and other dishes that simmer for awhile and remove it just before serving or add to a bouquet garni.

This allows the flavor to infuse into to the dish. For a stronger flavor, the leaf can be crushed and added to dishes. It also makes a good pickling spice. Laurel berries have a robust flavor all their own and can be used to flavor meats and sauces. While most herbs should be added at the end of cooking for the best effect, bay imparts the best flavor when simmered for a long time. The leaf should be removed before serving. Additional Notes There are many plants that are called laurel or bay that are not. The California bay tree Umbellularia californica is not the same plant, but has a similar flavor and can be used just like common bay laurel in many cases. It is also called California laurel, Oregon myrtle or pepperwood. Indian bay leaf Cinnamomum tejpata looks quite similar, but tastes more like cinnamon. West Indian Bay leaf is allspice . Some similarly named plants are poisonous and should not be used under any circumstances. Mountain laurel, Kalmia latifolia, is one of these. Always check the botanical name of any plant you use and never use one you aren't absolutely sure isn't exactly what you want. See Also

Question: The bay leaf plant originated what term of glory or repute?
Answer: Laureate