Originally from the Mediterranean, bay leaves are the fragrant leaves of an evergreen shrub in the Laurel family. Bay leaves have been used in cooking and traditional medicine for 1000 years, all over the world. Grown in Turkey, The Spice Lab's dried organic bay leaves will add a delicate, herbal flavor and depth to your dishes. The Spice Lab's Chef Fiona uses Organic Hand Select Bay Leaf in Coq au Vin, Chicken Noodle Soup and Slow-Cooked Spicy Citrus Mojo Pork. When including organic bay leaves, add leaves at the beginning of your cooking as they will release more flavor into your dish the longer they simmer. For this reason, bay leaves are perfectly paired with slow-cooked dishes such as pot roast, seafood stews, hearty chili, savory vegetable soups and beans cooked from dry. No time for slow cooking? Add a bay leaf to your water for mashed potatoes or rice. Top a baking sheet of fresh asparagus or carrots with a couple bay leaves before roasting them. Toss a bay leaf into your bechamel sauce for moussaka, gratins or lasagna. Check out traditional Caribbean, French and Greek recipes for more inspiration. Remember, fresh bay leaves have a very strong methanol taste that can overpower the other flavors in a dish. Therefore, dried bay leaves are preferred in most recipes. It is also lovely when infused into sweet custards and ice creams. Whole bay leaves, though edible, are not digestible, so remove them before enjoying your delicious creations. A pantry staple, Organic Hand Select Bay Leaf makes a great anytime gift for gourmet chefs and beginners alike. Packed in an SQF-certified facility in the USA, this premium USDA certified organic keto herb is kosher, non-GMO, gluten-free and paleo friendly. It was farmed all-naturally and is pathogen-free.