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It is unlikely that today there is such a person who has never heard of a bay leaf. Even small children know well what “laurel” looks like, and diligently fish it out of soups. It is believed that if a bay leaf is caught in a dish, it means that news or a letter awaits you in the near future. This world-famous spice is very popular with housewives: it is an indispensable tool for preparing for the winter and is valued as an ingredient to improve the taste of culinary ideas. What if we remember history? Wreaths of laurel sprigs have adorned the heads of winners and victors since antiquity. By the way, the modern word laureate has the same roots. And it means “crowned with laurel.”
A bit of history
Many consider the Mediterranean to be the birthplace of these leaves, according to other sources – Asia Minor or the Balkan Peninsula. In ancient Greece, there is a myth that tells about the beautiful and unhappy love of Apollo and Daphne. It was Daphne who became the progenitor of the current laurel. Fleeing from Apollo, who was in love with her, the river nymph prayed to her father to save her from the hands of the unloved. God Peney took pity on his daughter and turned her into a laurel tree. Wounded in the heart, the beautiful Apollo wove a wreath from the leaves of this tree, and since then it has flaunted on his head. They also crowned the heads of the winners of the competitions held in honor of Apollo and the winners of the Olympic Games.
The ancient Greeks used fragrant laurel leaves to wash their hands and head, put them at the head of the bed to sleep better. In ancient Rome, it was considered a symbol of peace. The Romans firmly believed that the laurel wreath was able to protect against lightning strikes and ward off any evil. The famous philosopher and thinker Avicenna highly valued the healing properties of laurel and widely used them in practice to relieve joint pain, treat kidney stones and nervous system disorders. Many stable expressions have come from the laurel tree: “rest on laurels”, “crowned with laurel”, “reap laurels”, “laurel wreath” and others. The word “bachelor” is also directly related to this plant. Literally, it means “laurel berries”, and laurel, as you know, bears fruit in the fourth year.
Botanical description
Laurel is an evergreen subtropical tree, reaching a height of up to 15 m. The leaves are entire, alternate, with a short petiole. Dark green. They stand out with a specific spicy aroma. Small yellowish flowers form an umbrella-shaped inflorescence, which are collected in the axils of the leaves. Fruits mainly in late autumn (October-November). The fruits are dark blue in color and oblong ovoid in shape. Inside is a large bone. Leaves and fruits are used from the moment the tree begins to bear fruit, that is, four years after planting.
Chemical composition
Bay leaves contain essential oils rich in beneficial substances. They include:
- cineole;
- pinene;
- camphor;
- limonene;
- myrrh;
- linalool;
- organic acids.
In the fruits of laurel found:
- fatty oil (consists of glycerols of lauric and palmitic acids);
- starch;
- hydrocarbon laurane;
- slime;
- phytosterol;
- sugar.
How to choose
You will not pass by a quality bay leaf. It has a rich rich spicy aroma, this is its main difference. A good laurel has a uniform dark green color, without spots. But today the stores offer a wide selection of dry bay leaves in a variety of packages. At the same time, I would like to note that the dried plant retains absolutely all its useful properties, therefore, going to the market or to the supermarket is a purely individual decision and is conditioned only by desire. This will not affect the quality of the product in any way.
How to store
When buying ready-made bay leaves, pay attention to the expiration date indicated on the package. If it comes to an end, the product may taste bitter when used. It is better to store in a glass tightly closed. There are also vacuum packaging, which, after opening, are fastened with a special fastener for later storage.
Useful Properties
Bay leaf has long been known for its medicinal properties. It comes to the rescue with colds, runny nose, otitis, joint pain. It is used to prevent tuberculosis and increase immunity, to improve digestion and stimulate appetite. It is also very effective in diabetes. The substances in it significantly reduce and stabilize blood sugar levels. Laurel leaves are famous all over the world and are used in the cuisines of different nations due to their taste and bright aroma. Since the plant also has antiseptic effects, it is simply irreplaceable in marinades and brines. Sometimes it is added to drinks and jams.
Contraindications for use
Bay leaf is not recommended for:
- pregnancy;
- peptic ulcer disease;
- severe form of diabetes;
- constipation;
- poor blood clotting.
I would like to focus on the fact that the plant stimulates the contraction of the muscles of the uterus, which can lead to miscarriage or involuntary abortion. Therefore, pregnant women should never use infusions and decoctions of laurel.
But in any other case, the use of bay leaves as a medicine should only occur after consulting a doctor.
Use in cooking
Bay leaf is perhaps the oldest and most widely used spice in the world. It is used both fresh and dried. Sometimes found in powdered form. When preparing soups and broths, Lavrushka is laid about 5 minutes before the end of cooking in order to maximize the aroma and remove bitterness. You can’t eat bay leaves, so before serving, you should remove them from the plate. Spice can be put in the second dishes from the very beginning of stewing. Bay leaf is very often used for the preparation of marinades and brines, for pickling, smoking and canning. In general, bay leaf is used in almost all dishes. Previously, it was even put in jams and briquettes with sweets to scare away insects. It is also included in spice mixes: Provence herbs (bouquet garni), curry, suneli hops and others. The essential oils included in its composition are widely used in confectionery and liquor production.
Application in medicine
In medicine, laurel leaves began to be used many centuries ago, and it was its medicinal properties that were valued before culinary ones. Hippocrates advised using them to alleviate labor pains, and ar-Razi, a no less famous Arab doctor, recommended them for facial nervous tics. Now laurel is very common in folk medicine. Decoctions, infusions, oils and ointments are widely used in the treatment. Laurel leaves are characterized by antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects, have a diuretic and sedative effect. Increase the body’s resistance to disease, promote wound healing and improve digestion. Bay leaves are valued for their ability to stabilize blood sugar levels, and also have antiseptic and antibacterial properties. Often, especially for children, it is recommended to use decoctions and bay oil for allergies or skin rashes. You just need to wipe the inflamed places with a prepared remedy, or add it to the bath when bathing the baby.
bay leaf for joints
For neuralgia and arthritis, it is recommended to use leaf oil or ointment from the fruit of the tree.
They need to be rubbed into the affected areas at least three times a day.
With diabetes mellitus
For treatment, both dry and fresh leaves of the plant are used.
Rinse a glass container with boiling water and throw about 10 leaves there. Pour in 3 cups of boiling water and close the lid tightly. Insist for 4 hours.
You need to take the medicine three times a day (about 100 grams) half an hour before meals.
Bay leaf bath
Boil about 100 grams of leaves for 5 minutes in 1 liter of water, let it brew for 15 minutes, then pour into the prepared bath along with the leaves.
Use in cosmetology
Laurel is used as a folk remedy in the manufacture of tonics, to get rid of dandruff, acne, age spots and sebaceous deposits on the skin. The lotion is quite easy to make and very effective to use. Pour about 20-25 leaves with water (about half a glass), boil a little and leave for about 4 hours. With the resulting decoction, dermatologists advise wiping the skin of the face daily. For oily skin, you can add a little vodka to the lotion (about a dessert spoon). After a while, with regular use, you can see improvements: the skin will become matte, smooth and silky.
With dandruff, an infusion of bay leaves can also help. To do this, pour one package of lavrushka with a liter of boiling water and insist for 2 hours. After washing, rinse your head with this decoction and let your hair dry without thermal exposure.
The magical properties of laurel
Since ancient times, people have endowed laurel with magical properties. It was used by young girls to maintain youth and beauty, many rituals were aimed at fulfilling desires, cleansing the house of evil, good luck and attracting money. Some still sincerely believe in the power of this miraculous plant and use it from the evil eye and damage, as a talisman from troubles and failures.
Conclusions
The leaves of the laurel tree have been highly valued since ancient times for a reason. Their magical properties will appeal not only to lovers of traditional medicine, but also to the most sophisticated gourmets. Of course, most of all, bay leaves are common in cooking. There he is simply irreplaceable. No cook can do without it. With its bright aroma and spicy taste, it will decorate any dish. Its healing properties are so extensive that they are used in almost any field of medicine and cosmetology. Although it is worth remembering that it is dangerous for pregnant women, for patients suffering from frequent constipation and with poor blood clotting. The use of decoctions or infusions with it can lead to adverse effects, so they should be used only after consulting a doctor. Bay leaf in the historical era has always crowned the winners, emperors and kings bowed their heads before it, and now cooks all over the world bow their heads.