Skip to content
Organic Bay Leaves
Specifications (Tap to open):
Category:
Shelf Life:
Country of Origin:
Allergen Information (Tap to open):
We take your health and safety very seriously. If you have any allergen inquiries please Contact Us.
If an allergen is present in the product, it will be clearly declared in the ingredients.
"May Contain" statement NEW FOR 2025 (Progressive rollout):
- In 2025 we will be progressively updating our labels and product pictures with our new label that now include a "May Contain" statement.
- The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) dictates that "Cross-contamination statements may be declared by food manufacturers and importers".
- That said, we hold ourselves to much higher standards than the CFIA and Health Canada rules oblige. Most companies do not and you will only rarely see "May Contain" statements.
- If there is a remote chance that there might be cross-contamination of a priority allergen, we will declare it on the product label in the form of a "May Contain" statement.
- A "May Contain" statement does not mean that the allergen is present in the product, it is simple a precautionary measure we take to stay the most transparent possible.
- If an allergen is present in the product, it will be clearly declared in the ingredients.
- For example our Quebec made flours come from a mill that makes both oat and wheat flours. Since both allergens are present in the mill we automatically declare the possibility of cross-contamination even if all precautionary measures are taken.
- Only priority allergens are declared in the "May Contain" statement, which are:
- Cereals & Grains: Triticale, Barley, Oats, Rye, Wheat.
- Tree Nuts: Almonds, Brazil Nuts, Cashews, Hazelnuts, Macadamia Nuts, Pecans, Pine Nuts, Pistachios, Walnuts.
- Peanuts
- Sesame
- Eggs
- Milk
- Soy
- Mustard
- Fish
- Seafood: Crustaceans, Molluscs.
- Sulphites
- Priority allergens are decided by government agencies and health boards. To read more on the subject see "Common food allergens - Priority allergens" published by the CFIA.
- Full CFIA cross-contamination statement explanation "Food allergen cross-contamination (or precautionary) statements".
Our organic whole bay leaves also called laurel leaf are small aromatic leaves of the sweet bay tree "Laurus nobilis". These pungent little leaves have a long history of culinary use. Bay trees have been cultivated from ancient times; its leaves constituted the wreaths of laurel that crowned victorious athletes in ancient Greece.
Dried bay leaves have a delicate, warm aroma similar to oregano and thyme, whereas fresh bay leaves have a notably bitter and sharp taste, and pungent aroma. That's why bay leaves are one of the few herbs that are generally preferred dried, rather than fresh. If you really want to know what a bay leaf tastes like, put some in some hot water and let it simmer. After five minutes, give it a taste and you should get hints of menthol and eucalyptus as the chemical eugenol is released (one of the major aromatic compounds in a bay leaf). It should also taste quite sharp and bitter. Leave it for longer, about an hour, and you'll notice the flavour and aroma changes. The heat breaks down the minty flavour, making it more mellow. Creating more of a tea-like aroma. That's why bay leaves are commonly infused into water, broths or stocks to unlock their pleasant smell, while lending an earthy richness to soups, stews, and sauces. So on their own they may not taste great, but they play an important supporting role in recipes. When used correctly, bay leaves can help amplify a dish, drawing out the flavours of the other ingredients, or deepen existing flavours, giving your plate balance.
Bay leaves are used extensively in the Mediterranean, Middle East, India and Europe. They're also frequently used in French cooking, particularly in the well-known French bouquet garni, a classic herb mixture used to flavour soups, stocks and casseroles. Americans appreciate the bay leaf too, especially in chilli and gumbo (a heavily seasoned, savoury stew and the official state cuisine of Louisiana).
General Storage Tips:
