Bay Leaf

Laurel (Laurus nobilis) is a plant of the Lauraceae family.

Laurel leaves and berries contain different percentages of an essential oil, made up of geraniol, cineole, eugenol, terpineol, phellandrene, eucalyptol, pinene, with aperitif properties, i.e. appetite stimulants, digestive and carminative properties.

The Greeks thought that its leaves had the power to transmit the gift of divination, to ward off bad luck and contagious diseases. In Delphi, seat of Apollo's oracle, the priests of the god and the pythia chewed or burned bay leaves to establish communication with the gods and slept on "mattresses" made of layers of its twigs, to encourage premonitory dreams.

The diffusion and wide use of it in Sicilian cuisine have led the laurel to be included in the list of traditional Italian agri-food products (P.A.T), and by the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies (Mipaaf) as a typical Sicilian product.