Herb
Bay Leaf
The stiff, aromatic leaf that quietly deepens a pot of soup while traditionally lending a hand to digestion.
🌱 What it is
Bay leaf comes from the bay laurel tree and is simmered whole into soups, stews, and sauces for its deep, savory aroma, then removed before serving.
✨ How it may help
- May help support comfortable digestion
- May help support steady, balanced blood sugar
- May help support a warm, settled stomach after eating
- May help support the flavor and enjoyment of simple meals
🥄 How to use it
Add a bay leaf or two while simmering soups and stews, or steep a crushed leaf in hot water for 10 minutes as a tea; remove the whole leaf before eating.
🥗 Nutrition
Per 1 leaf, crumbled (0.6 g) · about 2 calories
- Vitamin A
- Iron
- Manganese
- Vitamin C
Source: USDA FoodData Central
⚖️ Caution
Always remove whole bay leaves before eating — they stay sharp and stiff and can cut or lodge in the throat; keep to culinary amounts, especially in pregnancy or with diabetes medication.
🍃 A note from nature
It's a quiet marvel that a single stiff leaf, simmered slowly, can soften an entire pot into something warm and comforting.