My friends have bought a standard bay tree and the label (which they have now lost) said not to eat the leaf. while my friend takes bay leaves out after the meal has finished cooking my question is....is there a type of bay which can not be eaten/used in cooking?
Posts
Wikipedia says not (look at the section entitled "Safety":
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_leaf
Thanks. Will let them know.
If they are the leaves of Laurus nobilis they are barely 'edible' because they stay tough when cooked, that's why people take them out. But you can buy them in small pieces and they stay in.
Confusion arises because this plant is sometimes called Bay Laurel, goodness knows why. There is also a plant known as Cherry Laurel, which is poisonous. Just make sure you've got the right plant.
In the sticks near Peterborough
Thanks nutcutlet......I think that was probably what was at the back of MY mind but couldn't drag it to the front. I'll see if they can remember anything on the label that didn't just say "Bay".
Katy
If it was just Bay, it should be the right one and is the most likely for a lollipop. Maybe they mis-read what was there. You could post a photo here to make sure if you have doubts. They look quite different to anyone who knows the plants
In the sticks near Peterborough
Just a thought ... could the plant have been treated with a pesticide by the growers/sellers? That's the only logical reason I can think of why Laurus nobilis shouldn't be used in cooking.
If your friends can find the label perhaps they can contact the grower and find out?
Otherwise if they're of relatively sturdy consititution I wouldn't hesitate to use a leaf or two in my stocks and soups.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Hi all,
Sorry to take so long to get back to you. I will suggest the pesticide theory. We are beginning to think it might be as simple as the growers worrying that the public might lack common sense and will try to eat the raw leaf and then sue the growers....
Thanks again for your help.
Katy
Or perhaps they want to sell two plants ... a lollipop standard one for the ornamental garden and an untrained one for the herb garden to use in the kitchen
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Hmmmm......sneaky.
Marketing strategy ...
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.