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Benefits Of Using Dried Bay Leaves

By Janelle Burnett


The use of dried bay leaves is not limited to a single purpose only. The other common names given this leaf are unlimited but the most common is bay leaf because it is derived from that tree. This ingredient is used worldwide in medicines, international cuisine and also in many beauty and health treatments.

When it comes to cooking bay leaf is used in many different ways. Its used to flavor curries, marinade meat or vegetables and sometimes used for making pickles. South Asian cuisine is very fond of this aromatic ingredient. Apart from that the medicinal uses of this ingredient are endless as well.

Although fresh bay leaves have their own distinctive taste but they go bad very quickly therefore its better to preserve them naturally and use the dried ones more often. They are quite easy to store you just need to let the fresh ones dry for a day or two in a cool dry place or under direct sunlight and then store them in air tight jar or other bottles.

Just like cardamoms and cloves, this leaf has a very strong flavor therefore it must be used in very small quantities because otherwise it may over power the whole taste of the dish. Whether it is Indian, Italian, Thai or English cuisine it acts as a key ingredient in almost all of them. Most common dishes that are enhanced with this ingredient include curries, rice and other roast dishes. An advise is to remove any leaves before serving the food because its quite bitter and unpleasant in taste.

History shows that the use of this leaf in culinary dishes dates back to the beginning of nineteenth century. It not only brings a different taste to the food but also it is very rich in essential vitamins, manganese and iron. Apart from that, there are various medicinal benefits associated with its use.

The medicinal purposes associated with it range from controlling blood sugar level to curing indigestion problems if they occur. The use of bay leaf infused oil can help to cure back pain, sprains and other body aches. Wasp or bee stings can be treated with the help of this ingredient to a great extent.

You can use it as a bouquet garni which is a bunch of dry herbs that are tied together within a piece of cloth and then added to any dish while its preparation to add that aroma. Rice, curries and sauces can all be infused with bouquet garni if you prefer.

In short, it can be said that dried bay leaves have range of different culinary as well as medicinal uses. Observations reveal that it has been used all around the world and its used to fulfill unlimited purposes. Its good to have this ingredient in your cupboard if you want to take advantage of its health benefits.




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