Tag: Edible bay leaf

For years, the myth that bay leaves are poisonous has persisted, largely due to confusion with toxic look-alike plants. While the genuine Sweet Bay ($Laurus nobilis$) is used widely in cuisine, asking "is Sweet Bay edible?" requires a careful look at identification and preparation methods.

While commonly used in cooking, not all 'laurel' leaves are safe for consumption, and some are highly toxic. Knowing the difference is critical, so can I eat bay laurel safely? The key lies in correctly identifying the true culinary bay leaf, *Laurus nobilis*.