The bay laurel, Laurus nobilis, also known as the common bay laurel, belongs to the Lauraceae family. It is a very ancient, hardy shrub (it survived the Quaternary ice ages) and is believed to be native to Asia Minor, although it has been naturalised throughout the Mediterranean Basin for a very long time.
Laurus is thought to derive from the Latin aur, meaning “gold,” associated with the sun and Apollo. The Greeks called it Daphnê, after the nymph pursued by Apollo who was transformed into a laurel tree; an allegory of dawn pursued by the sun. Laurus may also derive from Laus, meaning “praise.” Indeed, those deemed worthy of praise were crowned with laurel. This practice spread from antiquity into the Middle Ages, when young doctors were crowned with a laurel wreath adorned with berries, the bacca laurea, hence the origin of the word “baccalaureate.” As it is an evergreen shrub, known as semper virens (“evergreen”), the laurel has become a symbol of immortality, especially since the tree is rot-resistant.
Growing 2 to 10m tall, depending on its environment, the noble laurel has an elongated crown, and its bark, more or less smooth, is dark in color, almost black. Its stiff branches are upright and bear lanceolate, alternate, slightly leathery leaves with wavy edges. They are dark green on the upper surface and lighter on the underside. They give off an aromatic scent when crushed. It is a dioecious species, meaning that the laurel bears either male or female flowers. The flowers, which appear from March to May, are white and are grouped in clusters of 4 to 5 in small umbels. In the fall, the fruits, which are green, oval-shaped drupes, turn black-purple when ripe, typically in mid-fall. Each drupe contains a single seed. Bay laurel fruits are highly prized by birds. A vegetable oil is also extracted from these fruits, which is used to make the famous Aleppo soap.
The laurel prefers well-drained, rich soil, sunny locations, and protection from cold winds. It does not tolerate excess water, but it does withstand drought and sea spray well. Hardy, it withstands temperatures below -12°C, and even if it appears frozen, its suckering roots sprout anew in the spring. Highly tolerant of pruning, it is thus suitable for creating laurel hedges.
Bay leaves can be harvested year-round since the plant is semper virens; that said, the best time is in the morning during summer, as the summer sun allows the leaves to develop their aroma. When dried, they retain their flavor for quite a long time and are used in the famous herb bundle. The berries are harvested when they have turned black.
