Bay Leaves?

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Ooh, that sounds nice. I've had pears with thyme, but never bay.

― Madchen, Monday, 9 April 2007 10:28 (seventeen years ago) link

what's the diff between california bay leaves and regular old bay leaves? I'm always puzzled when recipes call for cali

― m coleman, Monday, 9 April 2007 13:31 (seventeen years ago) link

California bay leaves (supposedly) are more herbaceous and harsher while turkish bay leaves are more floral and subtler. I bought an enormous amount of turkish ones about a year ago. I will never ever run out. Anyone needing one for comparison purposes, drop me a line with your address and I'll mail you one.

― Jaq, Wednesday, 11 April 2007 04:06 (seventeen years ago) link

yeah I'm stocked on turkish ones too. now with dried apricots, though: california >>> turkish, rich and fruitier at least at my local market.

― m coleman, Wednesday, 11 April 2007 10:33 (seventeen years ago) link

ONE? You'll go through all that trouble to mail ONE bay leaf? When you have thousands?

― Casuistry, Friday, 13 April 2007 04:07 (seventeen years ago) link

It's my new austerity campaign. Plus, this is the internets. Millions of folks could respond and then where would I be? I should have used the old "Only one offer per household. Void where prohibited. Enclose SASE for fastest response." line.

― Jaq, Friday, 13 April 2007 04:55 (seventeen years ago) link

Don't the bay leaves lose their potency after about a year or so?

I put all my spices in neatly labelled, uniform jars and put them in spice racks, but I think the sun is stealing their goodness. Some of them are ashen after a few months. It's a southern facing window, though the light is indirect.

― Jesse, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 03:33 (seventeen years ago) link

If you keep spices and dried herbs in a cool, dark place, they keep longer. Bay seems to stay pretty potent for several years when I keep it in a sealed glass jar in the pantry, as do whole spices like cloves, peppercorns, etc. Dried herbs like thyme and such seem to hang in there for 6-8 months.

― Jaq, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 13:05 (seventeen years ago) link

eight years pass...

this made me lol http://www.theawl.com/2016/03/the-vast-bay-leaf-conspiracy

― just sayin, Tuesday, 8 March 2016 00:59 (eight years ago) link

two weeks pass...

Haha this has been in my mind lately so I was excited when I saw there was a thread about it - which I don't remember we starting.

That was a good Awl piece and it linked to this http://www.seriouseats.com/2014/03/ask-the-food-lab-whats-the-point-of-bay-leaves.html.

I guess I'm a believer, but I'm going to try steeping a bay leaf in hot water asap.

― Je55e, Wednesday, 23 March 2016 13:43 (eight years ago) link

I made a pot of vegetable soup this past winter and forgot the bay leaves, and extended it with more of the same ingredients + 4-5 bay leaves -- very noticeable bay flavor. They're so cheap at my Atlanta source (1/2 gallon bag packed full for about a buck) that I can go as heavy as I like.

― Yoshimi P-We's Playhouse (WilliamC), Wednesday, 23 March 2016 14:02 (eight years ago) link

They're so much cheaper at the fancy bulk spice shops than at grocery stores! A jar of a dozen or so McCormick's bay leaves are priced at about $5, but about the same quantity weighed .10 lb and cost me $.26 at the spice store.

― Je55e, Wednesday, 23 March 2016 18:38 (eight years ago) link

Wait no - .10 OUNCE, not pound.

― Je55e, Wednesday, 23 March 2016 18:38 (eight years ago) link

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