Red bay

Persea borbonia

herb

Fragrant redbay leaves, used like bay leaves in soups and teas.

Origin

Southeastern United States

Where to find it

In marshes and coastal forests of the Southeast; a fungus, carried by an insect from Asia, has been decimating it since 2002.

Season (United States)

all year round · grows in your region

Preparation

The leaf is taken out before serving: like bay laurel, it stays tough, even cooked.

Molecules

In small amounts, not counted Lutein and zeaxanthin · Chlorophyll

Did you know?

A wild cousin of the avocado tree, it grows from the southeastern United States to the Bahamas, where it is also called swampbay.