Bay Leaf Powder

The bay leaf is an aromatic leaf commonly used in cooking. They are a fixture in the cooking of many European cuisines (particularly those of the Mediterranean), as well as in the Americas. They are used in soups, stews, brines, meat, seafood, vegetable dishes, and sauces. It can be used whole or in a dried or ground form. If eaten whole, bay leaves are pungent and have a sharp, bitter taste. Crushed bay leaves impart more fragrance than whole leaves, but are more difficult to remove. When dried the aroma is herbal, slightly floral, and somewhat similar to oregano and thyme. Myrcene, a component of many essential oils used in perfumery, can be extracted from the bay leaf.