# Does adding a bay leaf to a recipe really do anything? Anyone wanna go in on a jar with me?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-adding-a-bay-leaf-to-a-recipe-really-do-anything-anyone-wanna-go-in-on-a-jar-with-me/1026532>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Tags:** food-cooking\
**Created:** [January 10, 2026, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-adding-a-bay-leaf-to-a-recipe-really-do-anything-anyone-wanna-go-in-on-a-jar-with-me/1026532 "2026-01-10T14:25:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 16

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**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\
**Post date:** [January 10, 2026, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-adding-a-bay-leaf-to-a-recipe-really-do-anything-anyone-wanna-go-in-on-a-jar-with-me/1026532/16 "2026-01-10T18:27:31Z")

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I’ve offered up freshly pruned bay leaves in several threads here. Send me a PM, and I’ll pack up an envelope and mail it off to you (or anyone else who would use them). They’re super fragrant. A huge difference from the dried leaves. It’s hardly worth using the dried leaves.

> [@Do Bay Leaves even have a Flavor?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-bay-leaves-even-have-a-flavor/811090/6):
>
> That said one doper – and I apologize for forgetting who – sent me some fresh bay leaves from her tree in the backyard a number of years back. Those _definitely_ had an immediately identifiable smell and taste to them.

> [@Do Bay Leaves even have a Flavor?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-bay-leaves-even-have-a-flavor/811090/40):
>
> To everyone who’s asked for some fresh bay leaves, be sure to come back here and post your impressions once they arrive. Anybody else want some? Send me a pm with your address.

> [@Another Bay Leaf harvest. Anyone want some?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-bay-leaf-harvest-anyone-want-some/1010742):
>
> I have some bay leaf branches which got pruned after growing too close to the power line. Awhile back I offered up fresh bay leaves to anyone who wanted to try some. I thought I’d do it again while they’re still fresh. They’re typically used in stews and soups. They have a nice distinctive scent, unlike the dried leaves from the store. I use them in stews, chili, chowders and other soups, corned beef from scratch, cassoulet, stuff like that. Their scent remind me of bergamot, like in Earl Grey …

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