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Laurus nobilis

Bay laurel

Generally recognised as safe

Other names: Bay leaf, Sweet bay

A Mediterranean tree with aromatic leaves; the plant of Apollo in antiquity.

An evergreen tree with glossy leathery leaves and small yellowish flowers; the dried leaves (bay leaves) are a classic culinary spice and in antiquity the symbol of victory.

Family
Lauraceae
Plant type
Evergreen tree
What the safety levels mean (expand legend)
  • Generally recognised as safe. Often a common herb with reasonable harvest and use; still read the specific warnings on the card.
  • Information. Primarily informational — details in the text and warnings below matter most.
  • Caution. Needs extra care (dose, duration, sensitive groups, interactions).
  • Risky. Significant risks — verify sources, contraindications and professional guidance.
  • Not for home experimentation. Not suitable to experiment with at home without knowledge and certainty.
  • High risk for internal use. Particular risk with internal use (e.g. alkaloids); avoid prolonged or irresponsible dosing.
  • Not specified. Level not filled in yet — rely on individual warnings and links below.
Bay laurel — plant habitus (Wikimedia Commons).

Photograph on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Plant habit

Quick overview

A practical summary; details are in the sections below.

Safety grade
Generally recognised as safe details
Scientific sources on the card
Yes — sources are listed with claims Science section
When and what to harvest
  • Leaf — January–December
Full harvest section
Processing methods

Culinary use, Herbal infusion (tea), Herbal oil, Incense / smoke offering

All methods and recipes on the card
Topics and symptoms

Ancestors and memory, Bloating & gas, Digestion…

Topics section, Symptoms overview

Identification and mix-ups

Evergreen aromatic shrub to tree in Lauraceae. Leaves alternate, simple, leathery, lanceolate to elliptic, with a wavy (undulate) margin and a pronounced spicy aroma when crushed. Flowers small, pale yellow, dioecious, in axillary clusters; fruit a small black berry; bark smooth.

Possible mix-ups and risks

SAFETY-CRITICAL. Bay laurel is dangerously confused with poisonous plants: cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) — it contains cyanogenic glycosides releasing hydrogen cyanide; it is told apart by its finely SERRATED leaf margin, glossier broader leaves and an almond/marzipan smell when crushed (bay smells spicy and has an undulate, non-serrated margin). Also oleander (Nerium oleander) — highly toxic (the cardiac glycoside oleandrin); it has narrow lanceolate leaves in pairs or whorls of three with entire margins and showy pink/white flowers, lacking any culinary aroma. Confusion can be fatal.

Similar herbs

No related herbs are linked yet.

Topics and symptoms

More topics are in the symptoms and topics overview.

Sources

Geographic occurrence

No occurrence data yet.

Harvest

  • LeafJanuary–December

    year-round

    Region: Greece

    Notes: Glossy leathery leaves from mature trees; essential-oil content peaks in late summer.

Storage

  • Drying(Leaf)

    Whole dried leaves keep 1–2 years in an airtight jar; after a year the scent fades but the leaves stay usable. Fresh leaves 2 weeks in the fridge; they are sharper and more bitter than dried.

    Light:
    Out of light; the leaves pale in light.
    Moisture:
    Protect from moisture.

Processing methods on this herb card

  • Culinary use(Leaf)Suitability: High suitability

    Cooking, baking, seasoning as food — general category without therapeutic claims.

    Full method description (from the catalogue)

    Culinary use covers herbs as ingredients in dishes, drinks, or spice mixes. This overview does not evaluate medicinal effects — only reminds you about species intent, allergies, and heat treatment where needed (e.g. some fruits or plant parts).

    Combining with alcohol, sugar, or long cooking changes outcomes; verify culinary sources.

    Traditional context for this method: yes·Scientific context for this method: no

    Fasolada — Greek bean soup with bay leaf

    About 45 minBeginnerScience profile

    Open recipe →

  • Herbal infusion (tea)(Leaf)Suitability: Medium suitability

    Infusion or brief extraction in hot water; usually without long boiling.

    Full method description (from the catalogue)

    Here, herbal tea is prepared as an infusion: pour freshly boiling water over dried herbs or a herbal blend and steep for at least 5 minutes. BfR gives this as a hygiene rule, not a medicinal dose. Follow the specific product instructions, including a longer steeping time when stated. This rule for herbal infusions is not a general preparation guide for true tea (Camellia sinensis). Temperature, steep time, and the herb-to-water ratio change both flavour and what dissolves into the liquid.

    Compared with a decoction, heat exposure is shorter and gentler; tender leaves and flowers are often better as an infusion than with prolonged simmering. For each herb, always follow the plant card for suitable plant part, preparation, and safety notes — general rules never replace species-level judgement.

    Traditional context for this method: yes·Scientific context for this method: yes

  • Herbal oil(Leaf)Suitability: Medium suitability

    Macerating herbs in a vegetable oil (cold or with gentle heat).

    Full method description (from the catalogue)

    Herbal oil is made by steeping dried or fresh material in oil (e.g. olive, sunflower) over time, sometimes with gentle warming. The result is not steam-distilled essential oil — it is a different extract type and usage (often topical or culinary per recipe).

    Temperature, light, and material moisture affect shelf life; rancid oil must be discarded.

    Traditional context for this method: yes·Scientific context for this method: no

  • Incense / smoke offering(Leaf)Suitability: Medium suitability

    Burning or heating aromatic plant material (smoke, steam).

    Full method description (from the catalogue)

    Incense may be dried herb, resin blends, or preparations on charcoal. The effect is sensory and cultural; smoke can irritate airways in sensitive people.

    Ventilate the space; use non-flammable bases and heat-safe vessels.

    Traditional context for this method: yes·Scientific context for this method: no

Traditional / spiritual use

Kept separate from science — entries are cultural or symbolic, not medical advice.

  • Daphne — the nymph who became the tree of victors

    Symbolism

    Spiritual useMythologyRitualSymbolism

    According to Ovid the nymph Daphne, fleeing Apollo, turned into a laurel and the god made a wreath of its leaves; hence the victors' wreaths of the Pythian Games at Delphi and of Roman triumphators, and the words laureate and baccalaureate (bacca laurea, laurel berry). The Pythia at Delphi by tradition chewed laurel leaves and burned them before prophesying; laurel was meant to guard the house against lightning and evil. In Greek the tree is still called dafni. A record of myth and symbolism.

    Form:
    Apollo's tree, the victor's wreath, the Delphic oracle
    Claim strength:
    Tradition
    Source note:
    Ovid, Metamorphoses I, 452–567 (Daphne); Pausanias X (Delphi); Alejo-Armijo A et al. (2017), Nat Prod Commun 12:743–757 (historical introduction).

Scientific notes

Each claim lists a study type and a source (URL or DOI) where available. Dose notes from the literature are informational only.

How to read evidence strength and study type labels

Labels summarise how the catalogue entry is tagged — they are not a medical verdict on efficacy. For every row, read the summary, limitations and source link.

Evidence strength

Evidence level not specified
The author did not grade the record; judge from the summary, limitations and source link.
Narrative / orientational literature
Descriptive or expert literature without controlled group comparison — context rather than proof of effect.
Weak evidence
Study or conclusion with major methodological limits; treat only as a pointer for further reading.
Preliminary findings
First or smaller studies — interesting direction, not the final word on efficacy or safety.
Moderate strength of evidence
Moderate strength by study design; sample and context limits still apply.
Stronger evidence
Stronger design or consistency of results within the study's stated limits.
Review article
A review summarises multiple sources; quality depends on review method and field.

Study type

Narrative / expert text
Expert text or overview without a classical study design.
In vitro study
Cell culture or test-tube experiment — does not show an effect in the body.
Animal study
Animal model — transfer to humans is not automatic.
Observational study
Observing groups without random treatment assignment; confounding is possible.
Clinical trial
Human clinical trial; sample size and control group matter.
Randomised controlled trial
Randomised controlled trials are among the stronger designs when well conducted.
Review study
A review aggregates multiple papers — quality depends on selection rules.
Systematic review
Systematic review with explicit search and selection methodology.
Meta-analysis
Statistical pooling of studies; outcome depends on input data and heterogeneity.
Regulatory assessment / monograph (EMA, WHO…)
Regulatory body summary for a herbal product — different context from a single RCT; often about products, not home tea.
Expert monograph (herbal preparations)
Structured literature summary for a plant or drug — quality depends on author and edition year.

  • The EMA HMPC monograph for bay laurel leaf describes traditional use for mild dyspeptic complaints and a feeling of fullness after meals.

    Review articleRegulatory assessment / monograph (EMA, WHO…)Year: 2011

    Preparation form in the study: infusion

    Active compound / focus: essential oil (1,8-cineole, linalool)

    Limitations: The document covers defined preparations, not ordinary culinary use; caution with the concentrated essential oil.

    Dose note (from literature): See the PDF for approved preparations.

    EMA HMPC: Lauri folium

  • The review summarises the composition of laurel leaves and fruit (an oil with 1,8-cineole, linalool and eugenol; sesquiterpene lactones costunolide and dehydrocostus lactone; flavonoids) and laboratory and animal data on antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and hypoglycaemic activity; clinical trials are few.

    Narrative / orientational literatureReview studyYear: 2017

    Limitations: Mostly preclinical data; oil composition varies with origin.

    Alejo-Armijo A, Altarejos J, Salido S — Natural Product Communications

    Phytochemicals and Biological Activities of Laurel Tree (Laurus nobilis)

    DOI: 10.1177/1934578X1701200519

Images

The main photo is in the card header. More images will appear here when available.

Safety

What the warning types mean

The type on each warning helps group themes — it does not replace the separate severity badge.

Internal use
Risks from swallowing, extracts, duration of use or concentration for internal use.
Interactions / medicines
Possible effect on medicines or concurrent treatment — check sources and a professional.
Raw plant parts
Raw, unripe or poorly prepared plant parts can be dangerous.
Toxins and regulation
Toxic constituents or regulated compounds (e.g. in distillates).
Contact with the plant
Skin or mucosa irritation from contact with fresh plant or sap.
Allergy
Allergic reactions, often linked to family sensitisation.
Harvesting and contamination
Contamination, species mix-ups or harvesting from unsuitable places.
  • High doses and pregnancyLow severitypregnancy

    Culinary use of bay leaves is safe; the concentrated essential oil is not recommended in pregnancy.