My partner has just bought me a bay tree (Laural Nobilis) from morrisons supermarket . Is it edible?

Question

The attached label states "Warning garden plants not suitable for human consumption" Can i use these leaves in my cookery??

Answer 1

Yes definitely. but wait for a least 2-3 weeks before picking up the leaves as the tree may have been sprayed with some chemicals.
We all must learn that herbs don't grow in packet or bottles on supermarket shelves but on trees, grass, plants in fields or wild....We are too much conditioned by the advertisements.

Answer 2

I wonder why it says that. Have the leaves been sprayed with something ot make them more glossy? Or an insecticide? Or fungicide.
What is the point of a bay tree if you can't eat it, but there might be a reason. I#d give it a year or two, just in case.

Answer 3

You will be perfectly Ok if you use the leaves to flavour your foods. You are not supposed to eat the leaf, but just to pop it in a casserole, or italian foods etc.

On the Royal Horticultural Society site it is plant of the month, and you can read for your self that it is OK.

http://www.rhs.org.uk/WhatsOn/gardens/hydehall/archive/hydehallpom04dec.asp

Answer 4

The italians use this leaf like there's no tomorrow,. it adds an amazingly fragrant flavour to ALL sorts of foods,.. lasagnes, soups, hot-pots/casseroles, stews, roasts,.. basically it can be added to literally any savoury food you want it in. Best thing to do though is to air-dry the leaves so they're free of all moisture, (and thus a little bit brittle/crumbly), then store them in an air-tight glass jar out of strong light,... use say 4 for a big lasagne or 2 for a pot of fresh soup. Add DURING cooking, and take out just before serving or simply serve with them IN but don't eat them, they're purely for adding a GORGEOUS flavour to food.
Go enjoy! :)
Link below - forget the sales bits if you're not interested, but it'll tell you how to use them in cooking etc etc with a few recipes to try out. Hope this helps. :)

Answer 5

The leaves of the laurel nobilis actually ARE bay leaves. The same spice that you would buy in the supermarket. However, as with bay leaves you use them to flavor sauces and such, but do not actually ingest them. Bay leaves are inedible. Feel free to use in sauces though.

Answer 6

I bought one like that too. It says that it's not edible but I've been using it in cooking for 3 years with no ill effects. If you want reassurance why not call the supermarket.

Answer 7

Yes, though you should dry the leaves before using them. Harvest only the young paler leaves and hang to dry in a brown paper bag until almost desicated then add to soups, stews and curries.

Answer 8

you can use the whole leaves in sauces and soups just pick them out before you eat. you can also use crumbled up ones in a tea ball with pickling spices or cloves or star anise or anything you want to get the flavor from without having the pieces floating in what you're cooking.

Answer 9

edible undies are fat free silly. Theyre part of a well balanced diet

Answer 10

Go ahead. I heard it improves your IQ.