Looking for a versatile plant to enhance your cooking? Look no further than Laurus nobilis, also known as Bay Laurel, Bay Leaf, Grecian Laurel, Laurel, Sweet Bay, or True Laurel. This aromatic evergreen tree or large shrub is native to the Mediterranean region, where it was used as a symbol of highest status in classical Greco-Roman culture. Today, however, it is more commonly known as a source of several popular herbs and one spice used in a wide variety of Mediterranean recipes. The most abundant essential oil found in laurel is cineole, also called eucalyptol. Dried laurel berries and pressed leaf oil can both be used as robust spices, and even the wood can be burnt for strong smoke flavoring. Besides its culinary uses, Bay Laurel has many other applications. In massage therapy, the essential oil of bay laurel is reputed to alleviate arthritis and rheumatism, while in aromatherapy, it is used to treat earaches and high blood pressure. It is also widely grown as an ornamental plant, used in topiary to create single erect stems with ball-shaped, box-shaped, or twisted crowns, or for low hedges. Whether you are a foodie, a gardener, or a health enthusiast, Laurus nobilis has something to offer.
