History of bay or laurel leaf

The bay, Laurus nobilis L., is indigenous to Asia Minor and the Mediterranean basin, and its dried aromatic leaves are used as a culinary herb.

The motherland of bay is Asia Minor and the Balkan Peninsular. It was distributed throughout the Mediterranean by people over 2000 years ago and was familiar to ancient Greek and Roman civilization.

In ancient Greece, the winners of the Olympic Games were decorated with bay leaf wreaths and these leaves became an immortal symbol of victory and courage.

When physicians completed their studies, they were crowned with laurel branches called baca lauris, which later became baccalaureates.

The English word ‘bay’ is derived from the Latin baca, berry, originally applied to the berries of the bay tree, not the leaves.

During Middle Ages it was fashionable at dinners to boil bay leavss with orange peels for use in finger bowls.
History of bay or laurel leaf

Ancient history of bay leaves

Bay leaves are bitter and sweet in taste. Bay leaves come from the ancient Mediterranean bay laurel tree, and are one of the most widely used culinary herbs on Europe and North America.

Used since Roman times, when it symbolize victory and greatness and was used to crown emperors, poets, and writers, the bay leaves is a compulsory ingredient in all European and Mediterranean cooking for flavoring stocks, sauces, soups , pickles , preserves, meats and vegetables.

The term baccalaureate and bachelor for academic degrees is derived from baccalaures (laurel berry), because of the ancient Greek and Roman practice of honoring scholars and poets with garlands of bay branches.

The Roman generals crowned themselves with bay leaves when they returned home victorious from battles. The soldiers added the leaves to their baths to sooths fatigue and injuries.

In Biblical times, during the Roman Empire and also in the Middle Ages, people associated bay leaves with goodness and saw it as a protection against evil.
Ancient history of bay leaves