Bay leaf is familiar to each of us. A rare housewife does without it when preparing meat dishes. It is often added during cooking to soups, gravies, sauces. Lavrushka - as many people call it in everyday life. No, excuse me, this is not a lavrushka, but a laurel of the most noble origin. That is why its name is noble laurel! The winners of the Pythian Games were awarded with a wreath of laurel leaves for a reason, but as a symbol of future victories and unsurpassed skill. Laurel was considered a sacred tree; its wreaths decorated the heads of winners in ancient Greece. The laurel was dedicated to Apollo, a prophetic gift was attributed to the laurel: the priests ate it to find out the future (the laurel contains a small amount of potassium cyanide, and, as you know, poison in small quantities is almost a drug). Even Julius Caesar wore a laurel wreath as a symbol of his invincibility. On solemn occasions, all the people were crowned with laurel wreaths.

Laurel noble - low evergreen tree laurel family up to 8-10 m tall, but can also be a tree-like shrub. Sometimes in the forests there are trees up to 18 m tall. Tree trunk up to 40 cm in diameter with dark gray bark. The dense crown is usually pyramidal in shape. Leaves on short petioles, simple, alternate, leathery, shiny, entire, have an oblong shape, pointed upwards, and narrowed towards the base. They are dark green above and lighter below, with clearly visible pinnate venation, slightly wavy along the edge. They have a strong characteristic odour. Its homeland is Asia Minor and the Mediterranean. People have been growing laurel since ancient times, it was with the branches of this tree that emperors, heroes and athletes were crowned in ancient Greece and Rome. In the Middle Ages, laurel meant kindness and served as protection from evil and lightning.

Laurel noble: application and properties

In cooking. Bay leaf is indispensable for marinades, broths and jellied fish, sauces and soups, boiled meat. Bay leaf is laid at the rate of 1 leaf per 1 liter of liquid. It can be cooked together with the main product, but preferably not for very long. In the first dishes, the bay leaf is placed 5 minutes before readiness, in the second - 10 minutes. And don't forget to take it out afterwards. Laurel powder can be added to sauces when they have cooled to a warm state. Bay leaf goes well with other spices: sage, thyme, rosemary, cloves, coriander, basil, parsley, dill, pepper - hot and fragrant. IN Western Europe sometimes bay leaves are still added to desserts, drinks, jams and sweets. There are also regions on the territory of our country - for example, Kalmykia or Kuban, where they like to use it in sweet dishes.

You can store dry bay leaves for about a year, so when buying, carefully look at when it was released. It is better to buy fresh leaves - now it is quite affordable.

Application in traditional medicine

The medical properties of laurel have also been known since ancient times, because laurel has many useful properties:

1. It has an astringent and diuretic effect,

2. Improves digestion, improves appetite,

3.Suppress the development of tubercle bacillus,

4. Increase immunity.

5.It has wound healing properties,

6.Helps get rid of stomatitis,

7. Relieves toothache.

Folk recipes:

To heal wounds, a paste of crushed leaves is applied to burns and cuts.

To get rid of stomatitis, sometimes it is enough to chew a bay leaf.

Some experts recommend taking laurel for preventive purposes. You will feel stronger, it will become easier for you to breathe, you will be less tired. Dip 5 g of a leaf (about 15 leaves) in 300 g of water and boil for five minutes. This drink must be infused in a thermos for 3-4 hours, filtered and taken in small portions throughout the day, drinking all 300 g. On the second and third days, do the same. After a two-week break, repeat the course. Avoiding such a decoction is only for those who have a tendency to constipation.

During treatment diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis apply infusion of lavrushka: 30-40 leaves of laurel pour 0.5 liter of boiling water. Drink in the morning on an empty stomach and during the day before meals, 2 tablespoons 3-4 times a day.

For diabetes: pour 10 leaves with 3 cups of boiling water, leave for 3 hours. Drink half a glass 3 times a day. After 10-15 days, sugar will return to normal. Be sure to take a break for a couple of weeks.

With sinusitis, drops of bay oil help. You can buy them at the pharmacy or make your own. To do this: grind 30 grams of bay leaves, pour a glass of vegetable oil, leave for 5 days and strain. This oil is also used as a remedy for bedsores.

Useful and healing properties of bay leaf are used to treat tuberculosis: bay leaf improves the body's resistance to pathogenic bacteria, increases the body's immunity as a whole, and volatile aromatic substances of laurel inhibit the development of tubercle bacillus.

With scrofula, purulent diseases of the ears and scalp, they wash their hair with a decoction of bay leaves.

With sweating feet, it is advised to take bay baths. Before going to bed, throw 20-40 bay leaves into a basin of hot water and hold your feet in this infusion.

A decoction of bay leaves is also used as a preventive measure to increase immunity. Put 5 grams of bay leaves (approximately 15 pieces) in 300 g of water, bring to a boil and cook for 5 minutes, then insist in a thermos for 3-4 hours, strain and take all this volume 1 tablespoon during the day. The course of treatment is 3 days, after 2 weeks you can repeat it. Decoctions and infusions of bay leaves have an astringent effect, so their use can contribute to constipation. Therefore, along with the treatment with laurel drugs, it is recommended to eat more foods rich in fiber, beets and prunes are perfect for this.

For psoriasis: select 10 dry, healthy - without spots - leaves, pour 0.5 liters of boiling water in a thermos, leave for 2 hours. Take half a glass 3 times a day shortly before meals.

For arthritis and pain in the joints: pour 5 grams of crushed leaves with 1.5 cups of boiling water, close the lid and boil for 5 minutes, leave for 3 hours with the leaves in a thermos. Strain. Drink in small sips throughout the day (immediately impossible!). The course of treatment is 3 days. It won't cure the disease, but it will relieve the pain.

Laurel oil is used for rubbing with scabies, rheumatism, paralysis and tumors, and for colds - for inhalation. To obtain bay oil at home, powdered leaves are boiled in ghee.

Bay leaf was often used in antiquity as an antidote and disinfectant, as well as a means of increasing concentration and relieving insomnia. There is even a simple way to help calm young children: if the child does not fall asleep well and is naughty, you should put 2-3 bay leaves next to the crib - this usually works, and the children fall asleep quickly.

For pain in the ears. You can use an infusion of bay leaf - it perfectly relieves inflammation and pain. Pour 5 bay leaves with a glass of water, bring them to a boil and infuse, wrapped, for 2 hours. Then drip the infusion into the sore ear - 3 times a day, 3-4 drops, and at the same time drink it 3 tablespoons.

For joint pain. It is necessary to grind the bay leaf (5 g), pour it with boiling water (300 ml), and cook for 5 minutes over low heat. Pour the broth into a thermos, leave for 4 hours, then strain and drink for 12 hours, in small sips. The procedure is carried out within 3 days. At first glance, this treatment is almost the same as the method of strengthening immunity described above, but there are differences. The break in taking the decoction is not 2 weeks, but 3 days, and then the procedure is repeated.

Infusion of laurel leaves for paralysis and convulsions: insist 30 grams of crushed leaves for 7-8 days in a glass of linseed or sunflower oil in warm place. Strain, squeeze. Rub daily into paralyzed parts of the body, rub in convulsions.

With barley: take three large bay leaves and brew them in a cup of boiling water. Cover with a saucer and, when it cools down a bit, you can drink, not immediately, but little by little, until the infusion has cooled. Do this every hour, replacing the leaves with new ones. In total, you need to drink 6-7 cups a day, from morning to evening. During the night the barley will ripen, and by morning it will be gone.

Folk beauty recipes

- Toning lotion for the skin of the face and neck:

25 bay leaves pour ½ cup of water, bring to a boil, boil for 5 minutes, leave for 4 hours. Strain. Wipe this lotion on the face, neck and décolleté in the morning and evening. This lotion also lightens freckles and age spots. For oily skin, add 1 dessert spoon of vodka to the lotion.

- Bay leaf decoction for oily skin:

2 bay leaves pour 1/3 cup of water, let cool, strain and wipe your face.

If you do this in the morning and in the evening every day, then the pores will narrow, the oily sheen will disappear, the skin will become smooth and matte.

- Laurel oil:

Pour 2 leaves of laurel ¼ cup of vegetable oil, leave for 7 days in a cool dark place. Use to rub into dry skin of the face and hands to give them elasticity, softness and get rid of wrinkles.

Rinse the hair with a decoction of bay leaf to get rid of dandruff. A pack of bay leaves is brewed with 1 liter of boiling water, insisted for 1-2 hours, filtered and rinsed with hair. It is advisable not to squeeze them hard and let them dry naturally.

-Bay leaf for acne. Recipe number 1.

A homemade tonic based on bay leaf will allow you to carefully and effectively care for problem skin prone to acne.

To prepare it, a small glass container is tightly filled with bay leaves, you can use a glass or a small jar, and fill them to the top with hot water. After a few hours, the tonic is filtered.

By treating the skin with the resulting product daily, you can dry out inflammation, eliminate oily sheen and narrow enlarged pores.

In addition, for greater effectiveness, you can add a few drops of essential oil to the prepared tonic, which will help reduce inflammation on the skin. For this purpose, rosemary or tea tree essential oil is suitable.

- Bay leaf for acne. Recipe number 2.

This alcohol-infused lotion is more suitable for problematic skin, as well as skin that is excessively prone to oiliness.

To prepare it, bay leaves are carefully crushed in any way and, similarly to the first recipe, placed in a glass container. The crushed mass of bay leaf should fill half of the selected vessel. The selected container with bay leaf is completely filled with vodka.

Lotion insist on room temperature a few days (3-5 days), then filter. The prepared product is used for skin care every other day, it helps to cleanse the skin of rashes, eliminate age spots and even out skin tone.

Contraindications for use

Laurel is contraindicated in glomerulonephritis, a tendency to bleeding.

Doctors believe that it is undesirable to use bay leaf infusion for medicinal purposes in case of cholelithiasis, cholecystitis (although ethnoscience, on the contrary, recommends such treatment), pancreatitis, gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer.

However, it is worth saying that even with these diseases it is quite possible to take this infusion, only it must be cooled down, not warm, and 10-15 minutes after eating, so traditional medicine is still not mistaken.

You can not put too much bay leaf in dishes, as well as drink a lot of infusion or decoction - this can cause poisoning.

During pregnancy and lactation, acute diseases of the liver and kidneys, it should also be used in very small quantities.

Treatment of metabolic disorders

Diseases associated with metabolic disorders can be caused by insufficient synthesis of enzymes in the body, disturbances in the activity of the nervous and endocrine systems, malnutrition, pregnancy, feeding a child, etc.

Treatment should be carried out only after a comprehensive examination by specialists, and the use folk remedies must be agreed with them.

Recipe 1

20 g of laurel leaves are poured into 200 ml of boiling water, boiled over low heat for 20 minutes, cooled and filtered. Take 1 tablespoon 3 times a day before meals.

Recipe 2

1 tablespoon of rose hips, 1 tablespoon of red mountain ash, 1 bay leaf is crushed, poured into 600 ml of boiling water, insisted for 1.5 hours, then filtered. Infusion take a quarter cup 3-4 times a day 20 minutes before meals.

Heartburn treatment

Heartburn usually accompanies a number of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, so if it occurs, you should see a doctor. You can reduce discomfort with the help of folk remedies.

Recipe 1

1 teaspoon of chopped bay leaf and 1 teaspoon of oregano herb are poured into 400 ml of boiling water, insisted for 15 minutes, filtered. Infusion take 2 tablespoons 3 times a day before meals.

Recipe 2

2 teaspoons of St. John's wort, 2 teaspoons of chamomile and 1 teaspoon of chopped bay leaf pour 1 liter of boiling water, leave for 3 hours, filter. Take 1 tablespoon for recurring heartburn and pain in the stomach.

Recipe 3

1-2 fresh leaves of noble laurel are crushed, poured into 150 ml of boiling water, insisted for 15 minutes and filtered. A tablespoon of the prepared broth is mixed with 100 ml mineral water and taken for heartburn.

Recipe 4

1 crushed leaf of noble laurel, 1 tablespoon of St. Infusion is taken 100 ml 3 times a day.

Recipe 5

1 teaspoon of chopped bay leaf and 1 tablespoon of dry plantain leaves pour 300 ml of boiling water, leave for 1 hour and filter. Take 1 tablespoon of infusion 3 times a day.

Treatment of rheumatism

To reduce rheumatic pains, the essential oil of the noble laurel and the ointment from the leaves of this plant are used.

Recipe 1

1 teaspoon of laurel essential oil is mixed with 2 drops of clove essential oil. Used as an external rub.

Recipe 2

60 g of laurel leaves and 10 g of juniper needles are crushed in a mortar, mixed with 120 g of butter. The ointment is used for rubbing.

Recipe 3

30 g of fresh laurel leaves are crushed, poured into 200 ml of vegetable oil, insisted for 6 days and filtered. The oil is used for rubbing.

Treatment of gallstone disease

During the treatment of gallstone disease, it is recommended to follow a diet, in particular, avoid eating foods rich in cholesterol.

Food is best taken often, but in small portions. It is possible to alleviate attacks of hepatic colic with the help of remedies prepared from medicinal plants.

For several reasons. First, thanks to them, you can significantly reduce salt intake. Secondly, almost all spices and spices have medicinal properties.

Except medicinal properties, spices and spices have other useful qualities. For example, they can be stored for a long time.

Have you ever had a spice or spice go bad? Most likely not. Because, by by and large, spices and seasonings and do not spoil - in the usual sense of the word.

They just lose their taste and aroma. They find in the pyramids pots with seeds and spices, untouched by time. However, we do not call for storing spices and spices for thousands of years, since they still have an expiration date. Do you want to know which one?

Here is some interesting information about how much and how to store spices and spices:

1. The standard shelf life of spices and spices is as follows - ground spices and their mixtures are stored from 1 month to 1 year, spicy herbs are stored from 1 to 2 years, whole seeds, roots are stored from 3 to 4 years, fruits (berries, nuts, etc.) .d.) are stored for 2 to 3 years.

2. Whole spices and spices retain their properties longer than ground ones. For example, whole black peppercorns can be stored for years, and the same ground pepper quickly loses its flavor (essential oils evaporate). And nutmeg is never stored ground, it is ground before use.

3. Most spices and spices are stored in hermetically sealed containers. To do this, it is convenient to use ceramic, glass or tin cans-boxes with tight-fitting lids.

4. Spices and spices should not be stored near the stove. From frequent temperature changes, they will quickly lose their useful properties and taste.

5. Spices and spices should not be stored in the light. In the sun, they also quickly lose their useful properties and taste. Therefore, spices and spices are usually stored in tight sealed containers in kitchen cabinets.

6. Take out spices and spices from jars with a dry spoon. Moisture can cause mold and make the product unusable in a short time.

Bay leaf

Bay leaf is one of the most popular spices. It is used in almost all hot soups, stews, marinades, gravies, sauces and pickles.

By the way, bay leaf gives an unusual pleasant taste to desserts.

For example. Try making pears in coconut flakes and gluten-free dark chocolate. Simple and fast.

Ingredients

Pears (4 pieces), 1 lemon, ginger, 100 grams of sugar, 100 grams of dark chocolate (or 100 grams of brown sugar if you can't stand chocolate) 1 bay leaf, 1-2 peppers (black peas), 1 cloves, water (approx. 1/2 liter), coconut flakes.

Cooking

Pour water into a saucepan. Add sugar, cloves, bay leaf, pepper and ginger slices. Bring to a boil and remove from heat. Peel the pears (do not cut the stalk), cut the core, cut off the base of the pear a little for stability, rub the pears with lemon slices, put the pears in a saucepan with syrup, cook over low heat for 10 minutes, remove from heat and leave the pears in the syrup until they cool completely .

The sauce is made with dark chocolate or brown sugar. Pour 100 ml of water into a small container. Bring water to a boil and add sugar (or dark chocolate). Stir until smooth and remove from heat. Remove the pears from the syrup, pour over the resulting sauce and sprinkle with coconut flakes. Dessert is ready!

What nutrients are found in bay leaves?

• Essential oils.
• Carbohydrates.
• Protein.
• Amino acids.
• Cellulose.
• Tannins.
• Vitamins: A, C, PP and B vitamins.
• Minerals: potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium, iron, selenium, zinc, manganese and phosphorus.

FOR REFERENCE. The calorie content of bay leaf is 313 kcal per 100 grams of product. Since bay leaves are added to dishes in very small amounts, you definitely shouldn’t be afraid of these calories. In addition, bay leaf contains substances that remove excess fluid from the body and improve metabolism. Therefore, it is used to cleanse the body and reduce weight.

Health benefits of bay leaf

Bay leaf has a positive effect on the functioning of the whole organism and has a large number of useful properties.

Bay leaf:

• increases immunity and body resistance to many diseases;
• reduces the risk of developing malignant tumors;
• improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, increases appetite, stimulates the activity of the intestines and helps to cleanse it of decay products;
• improves metabolism, has a slight diuretic and choleretic effect, promotes the removal of excess fluid, toxins and toxins from the body;
• tones up nervous system, increases efficiency, improves memory and helps to quickly cope with stress, depression and insomnia;
• beneficial effect on work of cardio-vascular system, normalizes blood pressure and helps to normalize cholesterol levels.

IMPORTANT

• It is necessary to use bay leaf so that it does not lose its beneficial properties and taste qualities. Put bay leaves in soups 5 minutes before readiness, and in stews 10-15 minutes before readiness. After cooking, the bay leaf must be removed.
• Bay leaf goes well with rosemary, parsley, dill, cloves, basil, pepper.
• The shelf life of bay leaves is not more than one year. After that, it starts to taste bitter and loses its aroma.
• How to choose a bay leaf? Opt for whole bay leaves over powdered spice.
• How to store bay leaf? In hermetic packaging in a dry, dark, cool place where there is no frequent temperature difference.

Man discovered spices in antiquity - about five thousand years ago. Until now, the cuisine of each country has its own spices that give dishes and drinks an individual taste. In every nationality there are certain spices - they treat many diseases.

History of spices

The history of spices dates back to the time of the Sumerian era, since the mention of them was discovered in ancient manuscripts. They were used for more than just cooking. In ancient Egypt, they embalmed the dead pharaohs. The mass trade in spices, which played a huge role in the development of the world economy, also began with Egypt. Since the Middle Ages, Europe has learned about them.

They were brought there by caravans from Asia and Africa. The road was difficult and was accompanied by huge risks, which is why they sometimes cost more than gold there. The most popular at that time were such as ginger, black pepper, cumin, cloves. It is safe to say that spices have changed the political course of development in the history of mankind in almost all countries on the planet.

At one time, Portugal, Spain, England, Holland fought for dominance over India, the Malukki Islands, Ceylon and other states where such valuable spices grew. The right to control the spice trade gave the state power, prestige and power. In addition, the development of ancient Chinese medicine until today cannot be imagined without the use of spices. Ancient almanacs about their medicinal properties are stored in China.

Until now, the secrets of some Chinese medicines made on the basis of spices have not yet been revealed. The healing properties of spices helped the famous Hippocrates cure many diseases. The use of spices for medicinal purposes is an art that has been studied since antiquity. Many peoples of the world have devoted themselves to this teaching. In many countries, spices are still considered mandatory at any celebrations.

Before buying spices in the store, you should carefully study the composition that is written on the package. Modern technologies allow today to create artificial nutritional supplements, which completely have a taste and smell identical to natural spices.

Spices

Spices are either vegetable or non-vegetable. Non-vegetable spices include soda, sugar, yeast, vinegar. Salt occupies a dominant place in cooking - without it, human food would be bland and tasteless. Spices of plant origin, and it can be leaves, seeds, stems, and roots of plants, have the second name "spices".

Many of them are used only in dried form, and some are used fresh. When dried, some plants enhance the beneficial properties or change the aroma and taste. There are little-known spices, and only knowledgeable people can use them. If in the right proportions they are useful, then an overdose of them can cause serious harm to the body.

And there are well-known, popular ones, without which not a single housewife can do in the kitchen. Below are the most famous titles spices, as well as their useful properties and qualities. Of course, it is impossible to describe all of them here, since there is a huge variety of spices in the world. About more exotic species - in the next article, which will talk about their useful, and in some species, even magical properties. So, popular spices:

In India, no dish is prepared without the addition of spices. In Indian culture, they are considered sacred. Indian filmmakers even made a film dedicated to the magical properties of spices - "Princess of Spice". The film gained popularity thanks to a colorful and informative plot even in our country.

Names of spices and their properties. Garlic is one of the ancient representatives of spices. It was used five thousand years ago. The ancient Egyptians ate it and believed that it gives strength. In the tomb of Tutankhamun, archaeologists found his fragments. Its homeland is considered to be Central Asia. It has antibacterial properties, strengthens the immune system. Allicin contained in garlic helps to lower blood cholesterol. It has the ability to dilate blood vessels and thereby reduce pressure.

Until today, it is widely used for cooking. Red pepper is a legendary plant. The Spanish ladies decorated their headdresses with it, the Indian tribes defeated the conquistadors with it. Its homeland is Mexico. And Europe discovered it thanks to the ship's doctor Columbus. Red pepper has a pungent taste.

It has the ability to cleanse blood vessels, stimulates metabolism, and has anti-cancer properties. Many people use it fresh, and for example, in Korean cuisine they use ground red pepper. Clove - this spice is obtained from the clove tree, using its unopened buds. Indonesia is considered her homeland.

It is currently grown in India, China, Guinea, Madagascar and the Philippines. Clove oil is made from it, which is used in cosmetology, in the treatment of the common cold, bronchitis and other colds. It contains a large amount of essential oil. These drops are added to hot water and inhaled. Cloves are widely used in cooking - pickling, baking.

It has a strong pleasant aroma, and it also contains tannins. Black peppercorns are the unripe, dried fruits of an evergreen vine that grows only in the tropics. India is considered to be the birthplace of black pepper. This is one of the most popular spices today, which is present on every table in the house. It has a spicy taste, but not as hot as red pepper. It has a strong aroma.

Usually it is used in the preparation of meat and fish dishes. It is added to various salads and marinades. Black pepper has the ability to increase appetite, lowers the acidity of the stomach, and improves immunity. Its oil is used for massage against cellulite. Nutmeg is the fruit of giant tropical trees. It is native to the Moluccas and Indonesia. It is also a popular spice and is used all over the world. It is very fragrant, but if you grind it, then nutmeg quickly loses its smell. It is widely used in cooking, cosmetology and traditional medicine.

With the help of it, impotence is treated, it has stimulating and tonic properties. Bay leaf - this type of spice is obtained from an evergreen subtropical shrub. Asia is considered its homeland. It is the most ancient spice that has been known since the first century AD. The ancient Greeks made wreaths of laurel and put them on the heads of the Olympian heroes.

It was believed that the bay leaf has magical properties. It is widely used in cooking and medicine. Canning is unimaginable without it. It has a diuretic, strengthens the immune system, removes free radicals from the body. In cosmetology, it is used as a decoction for rinsing hair, for skin rejuvenation.

Knowledge of qualities and healing properties each individual spice can be used not only for cooking delicious meals but also treat some diseases. Moreover, unlike medication, treatment with spices does not side effects does no harm to the body. But before you start using them for medicinal purposes, you should study their properties in detail. In their use, the same principle applies as elsewhere - everything is good in moderation!

As a child, I always rejoiced when a bay leaf fell into my plate. “To the letter,” grandmother said affectionately. To receive a letter then was a real event. Now, in the era of the ubiquitous Internet, you no longer know where to go from spam. And the letters were different back then. But the bay leaf has remained the same and is not going to give up its positions in the plates. And the properties of his predictor, like those of peppercorns, remained the same.

Photo Gettyimages

Leaf for happiness

Around the bay leaf in general there are many legends, signs and superstitions. Did you know, for example, that if you put it under your pillow, then your sleep will be calm and sound? And if you hang a bouquet over the door, then there will always be prosperity in the house. Rub it in your hands, dreaming at this moment about the cherished - everything will certainly come true.

This plant has been a symbol of the triumph of strength, perseverance and determination since the time of the first Olympic Games. It was the laurel wreath that adorned the head of the winners. Therefore, if a bay leaf from a large pot of soup ends up in your plate, be sure it means something.

Once in a plate, lavrushka really portends the news. It can come to you in any available way - by e-mail, in the form of SMS, paper letter, phone call, gossip, news in conversation with a colleague, girlfriend, mother.

And if you are more careful, you can even determine the degree of mood of the upcoming message. Did you see the leaf before you started eating? This is cool. Take out and throw away. The message will be joyful.

Found in a plate halfway through? Then the news, perhaps, will be with a slight shade of sadness or neutral, so to speak, introductory, so that conclusions can be made and corrected their behavior.

But if you didn’t notice the lavrushka and sent it to your mouth, and even chewed it, it means to be in trouble. However, this outcome is very easy to avoid: just fish out the bay leaf from the pan when the dish is ready. And then all the news will go exclusively to you. And they will be good.

Photo Gettyimages

Pepper magic

Black pepper is the second most popular seasoning after salt. He certainly is in every home, ground or peas. It can be added almost everywhere - even in soup, even in salads. But the abilities of black pepper are not limited to cooking alone. There are also magical properties.

The main one is to neutralize negative energy, as well as protect your home from ill-wishers. Agree, real magic! Rumor has it that in ancient times people used it as a cure for cowardice, as they were sure that it gives courage in any situation, and also adds courage and excitement to life, revives passion and interest in everything around a person. All you need is to put an odd number of peas in a bag made of natural fabric and carry it with you.

However, like any phenomenon, there is another side to the "black pepper magic". Like salt, it cannot be spilled. And if it happened so inadvertently, then, according to signs, this is a quarrel. But, like everything with the same salt, everything is fixable. On the crumbled pepper, you need to run your index finger crosswise, imagining that you cross out a future nuisance.

Even if you are a big fan of this spice, use it carefully, as a large amount of black pepper in food can provoke conflicts in a family or couple, the intensity of which will depend on the strength of your love for pepper.

The fact is that, according to astrology, the planet Mars patronizes black pepper, endowing it with the qualities of the elements of fire. Therefore, where black pepper is always hot and even hot.

Laurel is an evergreen plant whose leaves are used as a spice. Laurel has been known to mankind for many millennia. For ancient people, it had a sacred meaning and was considered an attribute of the gods. In other languages, the name of this plant sounds like this:

• German - Gewürzlorbeer, Loorbeerbaum;
• English - sweet bay, bay laurel;
• French - laurier.

Appearance

Laurel is a shrub or tree, reaching 15 meters in height. The crown of the plant most often has the shape of a pyramid. The leaves are leathery, oblong pointed at the ends. A characteristic feature of the plant: the upper side of the leaf is dark and glossy, and the lower side is light and matte. The inflorescences are small, white-yellow, collected at the base of the leaves in fluffy balls. The fruits are small, blue-black berries with one large seed.

Kinds

The genus Laurel has only three types of plants:

• noble- the most common type, it is he who is most often used in cooking;
• Azorean- the stems of this plant are covered with a short, soft pile.
• Indian- it can be recognized by the smell of cinnamon and by three longitudinal stripes on the leaves.

Where does it grow?

Asia Minor is considered the birthplace of the laurel tree. Now this plant is common in almost all countries of the Mediterranean basin. On the territory of Russia, laurel can be found in Krasnodar Territory and on the Crimean peninsula. This plant prefers to settle in a mild, subtropical climate, close to the sea coast.

blank

Harvesting bay leaves usually occurs on an industrial scale. Raw materials are harvested twice a year, from mid-November to mid-February. The leaves are cut along with the branches. At the same time, they act very carefully so that the tree can recover after pruning and after a while give a new crop. Cut branches are collected in heaps and dried in a warm, well-ventilated area. Then the leaves are separated, placed in bags and sent for sale.

Where and how to choose?

Bay leaf is perhaps one of the most popular spices in our country, so you can buy it in almost any grocery store. If you buy a spice in the market, pay attention to the condition of the leaf - there should be no dark spots on its surface. Their presence means that the leaves were collected from a diseased plant. It is better that the packaging is vacuum. Otherwise, the bay leaf should be transferred to a glass jar.

Sheet

Bay leaf is a condiment that is dried laurel leaves. Bay leaf gives dishes a spicy, slightly bitter taste. Fresh bay leaves can also be added to food, however, it should be borne in mind that they have a much richer taste and aroma, so if you make a mistake in the dosage, the taste of the dish will not change for the better.

In addition to cooking, this spice can be used in other areas, including medicine and cosmetology. Bay leaf is characterized a high percentage content of nutrients and therefore has a beneficial effect on the state of the body.

Characteristic

• dark green color;
• sweet, resinous aroma;
• tart-spicy taste.

Nutritional value and calories

You can learn more information about the beneficial properties of bay leaf from the video.

Chemical composition

Beneficial features bay leaves are due to the high content of essential oil, which gives a spicy aroma. Laurel contains:

• tannins;
• macro- and microelements - sodium, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium;
• vitamins - A, C and B6;
• fatty and organic acids - caproic, acetic and valerian.

Due to the high content of phytoncides, bay leaf is a strong natural antibiotic.

Beneficial features

• has an anesthetic effect;
• has a disinfecting effect;
• relieves inflammation;
• normalizes the work of the digestive tract;
• improves appetite;
• has an antiviral effect;
• tones;
• calms the nervous system;
• accelerates wound healing.

Harm

Like any other spice, bay leaf can not only benefit, but also harm the body. Yes, use a large number bay leaf often leads to constipation. In addition, in people with individual intolerance, even from the mere presence of bay leaves in food, signs of a food allergy may appear.

Contraindications

• pregnancy;
• childhood;
• lactation period;
• kidney failure;
• reduced blood clotting;
• amyloid degeneration.

Oil

Essential oil laurel has been used since ancient times to treat a variety of diseases. This drug was recommended by the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates - to relieve muscle spasms. Today, laurel oil is used:

• in medicine - for colds, gastrointestinal diseases and skin inflammations;
• in cosmetology - for the care of oily skin and scalp;
• in aromatherapy - to fight viruses and to find peace of mind.

Laurel essential oil has a rich, spicy aroma with a hint of camphor.

Application

In cooking

• bay leaf is used in canning vegetables, meat and fish;
• add this spice to sweet dishes - jams, canned fruits and compotes;
• bay leaf is used to flavor alcoholic beverages, most often liqueurs;
• spicy sauces and dressings are prepared on the basis of bay leaf;
• bay leaves are added to soups and stews;
• this spice goes well with legumes and cereals;
• bay leaf is used in the production of sausages;
• both whole and chopped bay leaves can be added to dishes.

Pears in muscat wine

Cut one medium-sized beet into slices and place in a saucepan. Pour two glasses of nutmeg, add 1 tbsp. l. sugar, 2 tsp. lemon juice, 2 bay leaves and a cinnamon stick. Stirring constantly, wait for the wine to boil.

When the sugar is completely dissolved, put 3 peeled and halved pears into the pan. Cook, stirring, until the pears soften and the liquid reaches the consistency of a thick syrup.

Put the pears on a plate and pour over the syrup, after removing the bay leaf and cinnamon from the pan. Serve the dish after cooling.

Canned stewed meat

300 grams of any meat cut into small pieces. 8 medium potatoes cut into 4 pieces.

Pour vegetable oil into a deep frying pan and heat. Fry the meat over high heat until golden brown. Then lay out the potatoes and pour water so that the contents of the pan are half covered.

Add salt and pepper to taste, put 1-2 bay leaves. Cook over low heat for 35-45 minutes, adding water if necessary.

In medicine

Laurel leaves are valued not only as a spicy food supplement, but also as a source of nutrients that help to cope with a variety of diseases, including:

• ARI and SARS;
• fungal infections;
• respiratory diseases;
• barley;
• stomatitis;
• insect bites;
• appetite disorders;
• chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• food poisoning;
• hypertension;
• the initial stage of diabetes;
• inflammation of the joints;
• painful menstruation;
• psoriasis.

Folk recipes

• With lesions of the oral mucosa, should be chewed 2-3 per day on a bay leaf (preferably fresh), until the inflamed areas heal.
• For insect bites, you should prepare a slurry of fresh bay leaves (you can just chew them) and apply to the affected area, securing with a bandage.

Infusion

• To relieve spasmodic pain, chop 5 grams of bay leaves, pour into a thermos and pour 300 ml of boiling water into it. Infuse for 3 hours, then drain into a clean container through a sieve. You need to drink the infusion during the day, several sips. The course usually lasts no more than 2 days.
• For the treatment of psoriasis put a few large bay leaves in a thermos, pour 2 cups of boiling water and close tightly. After 2.5 hours, pour the infusion into another container. Drink half a glass of infusion half an hour before meals, 3 times a day - until the symptoms disappear.

Decoction

A decoction of laurel leaves is a healing remedy that will help to cope with a variety of diseases, which we will discuss in more detail below.

Traditionally, a bay leaf decoction is prepared as follows:

• 12-13 leaves are placed in a saucepan, pour 1.5 cups of cold water.
• Bring the water to a boil and boil the bay leaf for 4-6 minutes. Next, the broth is poured into a thermos.
• After a few hours, the infused broth is passed through a sieve and poured into a clean container.

Dosage and duration of administration depends on the type and severity of the disease.

To relieve joint pain, you should prepare the following decoction of bay leaves:

• Put 5 grams of spice in a small saucepan and pour 300 ml of cold water.
• Cover with a lid and wait until it boils. Boil the decoction for 4-6 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the heat, wrap in a towel and leave for 4 hours. Filter the infused broth.

Drink the drug should be all day, at regular intervals. The course of treatment lasts 3 days, during which you need to exclude from the diet meat products And alcoholic drinks. Repeat the next course after 7 days, then after a week, after 3 months and after a year.

In cosmetology

• tonic based on bay leaf helps to get rid of acne for a long time;
• alcohol infusion of laurel leaves effectively fights problems associated with excessive oily skin;
• bay leaf mask olive oil moisturizes and nourishes dry skin;
• ointment based on bay leaf and a mixture of oils is an effective remedy for relieving skin inflammation;
• decoction of bay leaf strengthens hair;
• laurel essential oil cleanses the scalp from dandruff.

At home

The spicy smell of bay leaves repels moths and cockroaches, however, fresh rather than dried leaves do this task much more effectively.

cultivation

At home, you can grow a fairly large - up to 2 meters - laurel bush, but you will have to make some effort.

• For growing laurel, only a room with plenty of sunlight is suitable. In summer, it is advisable to take out a pot with a plant on Fresh air. The most suitable temperature for laurel in the summer is from 20 to 26 degrees. IN winter months Laurel needs coolness. Make sure that the temperature in the room where the laurel stands in winter does not rise above 15 degrees and does not fall below 5.
• Laurel tree needs abundant watering. In summer, the plant can be watered 2 times a day - as the topsoil dries. Every day, the bay tree needs to be sprayed (or install a humidifier in the room).
• Laurel does not need to be transplanted very often. He does well in a pot, so make sure that the new pot is only a couple of centimeters larger than the old one.
• Once a month, the soil in a pot can be fed with fertilizer from a mixture of turf, humus, peat and sand.
• The bay tree can be cut to any shape. Best time for pruning - the end of summer.
• Laurel can be propagated by seeds, cuttings or by dividing the bush.

• The beautiful Italian names Laura and Lorenzo have their roots in the name of a laurel tree. The old Russian names Lavr and Lavrenty have the same origin.
• Legends and myths ancient greece And ancient rome are full of references to the laurel tree. Laurel wreaths adorned the heads of prominent artists, whose patron was Apollo. The nymph Daphne, beloved of Apollo, turned into a laurel tree.
• At different times, the laurel was considered a symbol of purity, power and eternal life.
• The laurel wreath can be seen on the coat of arms of Brazil.