Fresh California Bay Laurel leaves Pesticide free Organic 100% Natural 60 pc.
This listing is for Fresh California Bay Laurel leaves Pesticide free Organic 100% Natural 60 pieces. from my land in the Sierra Foothills. You will get 60 freshly picked leaves, each leaf is about 2″-3.5″ long, and they won’t be harvested till order is placed/paid for. Make sure to remove the leaves from the bag as soon as you get them. Info on drying/storing them below. NOTE as some buyers might be confused about this type of Bay Leaf: This is not traditional bay leaf Bay laurel (Laurus nobilis, Lauraceae) that you’d buy in the grocery store. This listing is for the California bay laurel leaf. The leaf of the California bay tree (Umbellularia californica, Lauraceae), also known as California laurel, Oregon myrtle, and pepperwood. CA Bay Laurel leaves can be used as a spice LIKE culinary bay leaves. It should not be confused with the true bay leaves used for flavoring. CA Bay can be used as a substitute for bay leaves, but less can be used as the flavor is more robust. How to dry bay leaves at home: Fresh bay leaves have a lighter, more floral flavor, and can keep fresh in the fridge for weeks. If you have more than need, dry the rest. Air drying is the best way to preserve their fragrant and flavorful essential oils. It will take about 15 days, or you can use a dehydrator to shorten the time. Air-drying: Lay paper towel on to a cookie sheet, spread out leaves so they are not touching, this will help with even drying. Place cookie sheet in warm dry room, with good ventilation, and no direct sunlight. The direct sunlight could cause them to wilt and brown. Check leaves after a week, and flip them over. Let them dry for 1 more week. If they still have dark green spots or are soft, they might need another 3-4 days. Dehydrator: Rinse the bay leaves, and gently rub the leaves to remove any dust/debris. Shake off as much of the water as you can, pat with paper towel. Let them dry fully for an hour or two. Set dehydrator to 42°C. Arrange leave in a single layer, with no leaves overlapping or touching. Let them dry for 1-4 hours, checking on them every hour. You are looking for a brittle/crispy feel, before they should be removed. Once they are removed, let them cool down for about an hour then store. Storing: Store in air tight zip-bag or mason jar. Dried bay leaves can be stored in a sealed container in a cool, dry, and dark spot, such as the spice cabinet or pantry; they will last up to two years before losing their aroma. You can also store the sealed dried bay leaves in the freezer, which will help the bay leaf retain its flavor and floral potency. Edible Uses: Its aromatic leaves can be used as a spice like culinary bay leaves, giving a spicy, peppery, bittering flavor to soups and stews. The leaves have many medicinal uses and are valued for their beneficial effect upon the digestive system. The strong aroma of the leaves can occasionally cause headaches in certain people. Benefits of the burning the bay leaf in your house are : Anxiety relief : A chemical in the leaves when burnt gives rise to smoke, which when inhaled calms the body and mind. Some of the chemicals in bay leaves such as pinene, cineol, and elemicin fight feelings of tiredness.Reduction of inflammation: It acts as a natural anti-inflammatory agent and can help with joint pain…Meditation: If you are one who practices meditation and finds it difficult to concentrate then instead of incense try burning some bay leaves. Already it helps in easing the fatigue and keeping the mind alert and calm. In many religious places bay leaves are burnt to encourage mindful meditation.Cautions with burning Bay Leaves: Do not burn large piles of itIf burning in home, make sure it is not burned by an open window. Wind could carry embers to a different location in your home and could cause fire. Do not burn near smoke detector.Keep an eye on Children and pets when burning bay leaves. Never leave burning leaves/embers unattended.Make sure the embers are fully extinguished once leave is burned down/out. Other uses: Bay leaves can also be used scattered in a pantry to repel meal moths, flies, and cockroaches. The essential oil can be usable as an insect repellent. CA Bay basic info: California bay laurels are broad-leaved evergreen trees with rounded, oblong, or pyramidal (pyramid-shaped) crowns. They are in the same family as avocados—the Lauraceae. Young trees have smooth bark, but as they age, the bark turns flaky and scaly. The most noticeable feature of this tree isn’t its looks, but its aroma.The early settlers of the West gave this species the nickname “pepperwood,” because when the thick, dark green leaves are crushed, they give off a scent like pepper. In fact, parts of California bay laurels have been used by American Indian tribes for hundreds of years as food seasoning. Dried leaves are still used today to add flavor to meals, (common ingredient in soups, stews, or braised meats.) although some people are severely allergic to the spicy oils in the leaves. The information provided is for educational purposes only. You should always research the uses of plant items and allergens. How you use it is up to you. No returns on any FRESH items I offer, as in: Manzanita Fresh cut Branches, or Fresh Herbs/Spices. These items are offered FRESH, and will not be fresh once returned. Main Info:~Check out my store for more great deals!~Please make payment within 3 days of purchase. ~I can’t guarantee smoke free items. I get my items from many different places. Shipping details:~I combine shipping!~ ~I do accept returns, contact me within 14 days after receiving the item, buyer pays return shipping cost. If there is ANY problem you might have, please inform me and let’s try to resolve before leaving feedback. No returns on any FRESH items I offer, as in: Manzanita Fresh cut Branches, or Fresh Herbs/Spices. These items are offered FRESH, and will not be fresh once returned. ~I can not Mixed Media items with non Media items at Media mail rates. If you want me to combine Media items with non Media, I will still do so, but the shipping rates might be higher than expected. ~I sell a lot of Media items. Media Mail is very cheap, but very slow shipping time. (Usually up to 2 weeks) I use media mail to save you money. If you want faster shipping, and it is not an option on your invoice, message me BEFORE you pay, I will add one. ~S/H fees include a small percent to cover gas, packing supplies & tracking for your item. I do try to keep my fees as low as possible. ~ Books are packaged in a bubble mailer, a thin plastic mailer or box if order is larger than what mailer can hold. The shipping prices are according to their weight. If you want extra packaging that increases the weight of your item or cost of packing supplies beyond what I have listed, you will be charged that extra on your invoice. ~ All other items will be packed in what I feel is the cheapest and safest way to send them.