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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that bay leaves are utterly pointless?

49 replies

Gone2far · 27/10/2019 19:31

I've even got a bay tree FFS, so that I can pick a bay leaf when the recipe I'm doing requires it. But, really, have they ANY taste? I've just done a risotto with thyme and a bay leaf. I can taste the thyme, but have no idea of what the bay leaf has added to the mix. Have I got rubbish taste buds, or are they a waste of time?

OP posts:
PopeHalloweerious · 27/10/2019 19:33

www.theawl.com/2016/03/the-vast-bay-leaf-conspiracy/

milliefiori · 27/10/2019 19:34

They vary. I have one that has the most wonderful, delicately scented leaves, whereas some just taste of dust or nothing.

PopeHalloweerious · 27/10/2019 19:34

They smell of bubble gum to me (if you break one up and give it a good sniff), but googling suggests I'm the only person who thinks this...
Or perhaps my bay tree is a bubblegum tree...

bridgetreilly · 27/10/2019 19:34

Nooo!!! I love the taste of bay. There are some recipes where it is clearly overshadowed, but in something subtle, it's delicious.

VerbenaGirl · 27/10/2019 19:35

I love the flavour of a bay leaf!

Original poster
Gone2far · 27/10/2019 19:38

I love that - but how did you have it so soon? are you a fellow 'bay leaves are bullshit'?

OP posts:
SpamChaudFroid · 27/10/2019 19:44

Nooo, they add a smoky bitterness! Some leaves are better than others, (I wonder what makes a good bay leaf?).

I think they take a long time to release flavour, so better suited to things like ragus.

Noflora · 27/10/2019 19:46

We have a large bay shrub in the garden. The new leaves taste of nothing, the old ones from last season are very flavoured and need only half the amount stated in recipes. Bechamel/stew/red cabbage are lesser without bay.

PopeHalloweerious · 27/10/2019 20:40

Haha! Kind of - it's something I wondered myself and had googled about the flavour, and found the article a few months ago.
Or possibly I was googling 'Old Bay', which is an American seasoning mix that I wanted to find out what it tastes like...

myolivetree · 28/10/2019 11:00

Always wondered this. Going down to sniff. 🍃

Time40 · 28/10/2019 11:05

Yes, you are BU! Bay leaves, in my opinion, are absolutely essential in a spag bol sauce. It's just not the same without them. You need a half-teaspoon of sugar to take the bitterness off, though.

cardamoncoffee · 28/10/2019 11:12

Depending on the age of the tree and how new the foilage is, bay leaves need to be boiled in a stock before you notice the difference.

tillytrotter1 · 28/10/2019 11:13

I was once told that dried bay leaves are better than fresh-off-the-tree ones for flavour. Yesterday I inadvertantly found the one I'd lost when eating my spag bol!

havingtochangeusernameagain · 28/10/2019 11:29

We have a bay tree in the garden, I have used bay leaves and I have no idea why I've used them! No flavour at all. Clearly, I am missing something big.

isthismylifenow · 28/10/2019 11:34

I think you need to dry the leaves rather than use them straight off the tree.

I use them the lot, but I always bought the dried ones. When we lived in a previous house a neighbour gave me a branch of leaves and told me to hang it before I use it.

So that might be why they are not giving out any flavour to the meal.

ByeByeMissAmericanPie · 28/10/2019 11:36

Usually when a recipe calls for fresh herbs, they can suggest you use half the quantity as dried herbs. Maybe use 2 fresh bay leaves instead?

They have quite a subtle taste. I have made Bay Leaf Ice cream which goes really well with poached pears.

I love them!

LaurieSchafferIsAllBitterNow · 28/10/2019 11:39

i don't really believe in bay leaves either....I just smell dusty dry leaf if I sniff them and I have sniffed other leaves too

I have some kaffir lime leaves too, dusty dry leaf in a rounder shape
and have even taken to smelling fallen leaves in a bid to find a smell, but no...it's all dry dead crispy leaf aroma.

I put them in things to vex dh, he always ends up with the "stuff" in his dinner, bay leaf, bones, cardamon in the rice, clove in the apple pie...all ends up on his plate, no matter who dishes up :o

minisoksmakehardwork · 28/10/2019 12:10

I put dried leaves in my stew. It just does not taste the same without. Which is why I have a bay tree to cut and dry my own leaves. Hi

RockinHippy · 28/10/2019 12:14

You want the old tough leaves & I've no idea if the ornamental Bay trees are even meant to be flavourful & there's deferent types of bay more suitable for cooking.

Bay is amazing stuff for keeping bugs at bay though.

YetAnotherSpartacus · 28/10/2019 12:14

I use fresh! But I use twice the amount and also cut and crush them to release the oil.

OneTerrificMouse · 28/10/2019 12:21

I used to be Head Gardener a few years back, and we had a bay that was knockout. I harvested them regularly for the kitchen, used to bring them home and pop hundreds in the dehydrator and take them back the next day. I was mid dehydrate when i left so i had some at home still, and am still using them...they still give an amazing taste to anything they are cooked in. I tear them in half though as the flavour doesn't release as much if you put them in whole. Plus I want to eek out the batch for another year or so.

My own bay, is nice enough but it is no match for the one at work. you definitely need to use older leaves.

OverthinkingThis · 28/10/2019 12:21

YABU - you need to dry them first and put 2 or 3 in early on during the cooking process to get decent flavour. They're fab in slow cooker food, especially spag bol and chicken casserole

OneTerrificMouse · 28/10/2019 12:22

The bay that is near where I park my car, when they prune it back and leave the leaves all over the road; smells of absolutely nothing.

You really do need to have the right variety.

DrVonPatak · 28/10/2019 12:24

They can't be over watered and need to be dried first to bring out the essential oils.

Straycats · 28/10/2019 12:30

Presently have prepped and put into oven BBC's Beef and Vegetable Casserole, which has Bay and Thyme leaves from my garden, whole family are nuts over. I add extra Bay and Thyme leaves, can't wait for it this evening.😊