Editing Bay leaf (section)

=== Culinary ===
Bay leaf is typically used in cooking to flavor [[broth]]s, [[grain]]s, [[soup]]s, [[stew]]s and [[Stock (food)|stocks]]. It is typically removed before serving.<ref>{{Cite book |last=The Culinary Institute of America |author-link=The Culinary Institute of America |title=The Professional Chef |publisher=[[Wiley (publisher)|Wiley]] |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-470-42 135-2 |edition=9th |location=Hoboken, New Jersey |page=180}}</ref>

In Indian cuisine, bay laurel leaves are sometimes used in place of [[Cinnamomum tamala|Indian bay leaf]], although they have a different flavour. They are most often used in rice dishes like [[biryani]] and as an ingredient in [[garam masala]]. Bay  leaves are called {{lang|hi-Latn|tezpattā}} ({{lang|hi|तेज़पत्ता}}, in Hindi), Tejpātā (তেজপাতা) in Bengali, তেজ পাত in Assamese and usually rendered into English as Tej Patta.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Spence |first=Charles |date=2023 |title=Why cook with bay leaves? |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1878450X23001087 |journal=International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science |language=en |volume=33 |pages=100766 |doi=10.1016/j.ijgfs.2023.100766|doi-access=free }}</ref>

In the Philippines, dried bay laurel leaves are used in several Filipino dishes, such as [[menudo (stew)|menudo]], [[pares (food)|beef pares]], and [[philippine adobo|adobo]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ponseca |first=Nicole |title=I am a Filipino and this is how we cook |last2=Trinidad |first2=Miguel |date=2018 |publisher=Artisan |isbn=978-1-57965-767-3 |location=New York}}</ref> Bay leaves were used for flavouring by the ancient Greeks.<ref>[http://www.reshafim.org.il/ad/egypt/botany/trees.htm "Ancient Egyptian Plants: Trees" ''www.reshafim.org.il''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031195750/http://www.reshafim.org.il/ad/egypt/botany/trees.htm |date=2013-10-31 }} Retrieved October 29, 2013</ref> They are a fixture in the cooking of many European cuisines (particularly those of the [[Mediterranean cuisine|Mediterranean]]), as well as in the Americas. They are used in soups, stews, brines, meat, seafood, vegetable dishes, and sauces. The leaves also flavour many classic French and Italian dishes. The leaves are most often used whole (sometimes in a {{lang|fr|[[bouquet garni]]}}) and removed before serving (they can be abrasive in the digestive tract). [[Thai cuisine|Thai]] and [[Laotian cuisine]] employs bay leaf ({{langx|th|ใบกระวาน}}, {{lang|th-Latn|bai kra wān}}) in a few Arab-influenced dishes, notably [[massaman curry]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Tan |first=Hugh T. W.
|title=Herbs & Spices of Thailand |publisher=Marshall Cavendish |year=2005 |page=71 }}</ref>

Bay leaves can also be crushed or ground before cooking. Crushed bay leaves impart more fragrance than whole leaves, but are more difficult to remove and thus they are often used in a [[muslin]] bag or [[tea infuser]]. Ground bay laurel may be substituted for whole leaves and does not need to be removed, but it is much stronger.{{Cn|date=December 2024}}

To brew tea, bay leaves are best boiled for a brief period—typically 3 minutes—to prevent bitterness, as prolonged boiling may overpower the tea's flavour. Fresh bay leaves impart a stronger aroma, while dried leaves require longer steeping for a similar effect.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ottier-Hart |first=Rachael |date=2021-08-05 |title=How to Brew the Perfect Bay Leaf Tea (with VIDEO) {{!}} Classic Bakes |url=https://classicbakes.com/recipes/how-brew-perfect-bay-leaf-tea-video |url-status=live |access-date=2025-01-02 |website=ClassicBakes.com |language=en}}</ref>

Bay leaves are also used in the making of [[jerk chicken]] in the Caribbean Islands.<ref>{{Cite book |last=DeMers |first=John |title=Authentic Recipes from Jamaica |date=March 13, 2012 |publisher=Tuttle Publishing |language=en}}</ref> The bay leaves are soaked and placed on the cool side of the grill. Pimento sticks are placed on top of the leaves, and the chicken is placed on top and smoked. The leaves are also added whole to soups, stews, and other [[Caribbean]] dishes.<ref>{{cite news |title=Caribbean Currents: Bay leaf has a special place in Caribbean homes |url=https://www.phillytrib.com/caribbean-currents-bay-leaf-has-a-special-place-in-caribbean-homes/article_3c4b3cf4-78cc-5815-a605-81cabf356384.html |access-date=20 June 2024 |publisher=The Philadelphia Tribune |date=26 May 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Clarke |first1=Denise |title=5 Ways to Make the Best Jerk Chicken |url=https://jamaicans.com/5-ways-make-best-jerk-chicken/ |website=Jamaicans.com |publisher=Simbis Inc. |access-date=20 June 2024}}</ref>