Natural Bay Leaf - Darjeeling

Pure Natural “Bay Leaf”, From the beautiful mountains of Darjeeling, West Bengal. It is an evergreen spice and is hand plucked and naturally dried. The geographical location and the pollution free environment of Darjeeling gives bay leaf a distinct taste and strong aroma.

Bay Leaf comes from the laurel tree and is native to the Mediterranean. It is cultivated in Europe and Asia and is used in almost all the cuisines. Bay leaf is either fresh or dried and 1 dried bay leaf can be substituted with 2 fresh bay leaves, hence dried bay leaves are usually preferred more over the regular ones. It has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, antiviral, antifungal, anticholinergic, antimicrobial, anticonvulsant, medicinal properties etc. It is a rich source of vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, potassium, zinc, calcium and magnesium. It contains protein, carbohydrates, fat, folic acid and dietary fibers. It also contains flavonoids, tannins, eugenol, citric acid, steroids, alkaloids, triterpenoids and essential oils.

Bay Leaf is also known as “Tejpatta”. It is a nutrient dense spice and has numerous health benefits like: aids digestion, treats migraine, reduces anxiety, reduces fatigue, lowers cholesterol, prevents cancer, prevents kidney stones, treats seizures, manages blood sugar level, good for hair and skin, treats gas, treats joint pain, improves heart health, prevents insomnia, boosts immunity, heals wound, reduces stress, treats arthritis, treats headache, prevents cough, cold and flu etc. 

Bay Leaf is an aromatic leaf and is a key ingredient in Indian cooking. It is used to make tea, curries, soup, stews, marinades, desserts, biryani and rice preparations, salads, oils, cheeses, liquors etc. It is bitter in taste and is mostly used as seasoning only. It is the standard ingredient for Indian curries. It is used for making medicines and cosmetics. Even after cooking it remains very rigid and stiff and hence it should be removed before serving.

Bay Leaf should be stored in an airtight container and it will maintain its flavor for a longer time if stored in the freezer. There is no fixed proportion for its consumption but pregnant and breastfeeding ladies should consult a doctor before consuming it.