Bay Watch

I love bay. Fresh Bay leaves crushed in the hand create one of my favourite natural aromas.

I have a large Bay shrub outside my kitchen door that has to be aggressively cut back once a year to stop it turning into a Bay tree. But I love having easy access to such a beautiful aromat for cooking and it forms the centrepiece of my small herb garden of chives, rosemary, thyme, sage and a few other goodies.

You get a sense of the Bay's long history and value to society when you see that its scientific name is Laurus nobilis - the noble Laurel (and yes, coincidentally, that is a Laurel and Hardy tee shirt). In classical Greek legend, Daphne managed to escape from Apollo's unwanted amorous advances by pleading with her father, the river god Ladonas, to transform her into a Laurel bush - another name for Bay. Apollo was so astounded by the tree’s beauty that he claimed the Laurel as his own and dedicated it to rewarding the highest achievements of Greek civilisation. And so, a Bay leaf crown came to denote rank and status and was worn by statesmen and emperors, poets and philosophers. The leaves were made into wreaths and used to crown military heroes. The various Caesars must have smelled lovely. 

Even today, depictions of Laurel wreaths can still be seen in regimental insignia and police badges of rank. 

Bay was used for many centuries as a medicinal herb. It was claimed that teas, creams and tinctures made using the leaves would cure skin rashes, rheumatoid arthritis, and even ear infections. Some research suggests that Bay may have a positive effect on blood glucose as well as triglyceride and cholesterol levels. And Bay leaves contain antioxidants, flavonoids, alkaloids, anthocyanins and flavones. 

On the folklore side of things, Bay was seen as a protective plant and could be used against all manner of natural and manmade disasters. It was believed that lightning would not strike where the herb was planted. This belief persisted for centuries and 16th and 17th century peasants used Bay wreaths to protect against witchcraft and the Devil. That said, witches weren't averse to using the 'Wishing Leaf', as they called it, to cast spells. They would write an intention upon a leaf and then burn it. And, when placed under the pillow, a Bay leaf was supposed to induce prophetic dreams. 

But it's as a flavouring that it most excels and it's one component of the popular French herbes de Provence. But do use the right Bay leaf. Some wild species, such as California bay (Umbellularia californica), Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia), Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) and West Indian Bay (Pimento racemosa) are toxic. 

 I'll stick to using the one in my garden.