Used since Roman times, when it symbolize victory and greatness and was used to crown emperors, poets, and writers, the bay leaves is a compulsory ingredient in all European and Mediterranean cooking for flavoring stocks, sauces, soups , pickles , preserves, meats and vegetables.
The term baccalaureate and bachelor for academic degrees is derived from baccalaures (laurel berry), because of the ancient Greek and Roman practice of honoring scholars and poets with garlands of bay branches.
The Roman generals crowned themselves with bay leaves when they returned home victorious from battles. The soldiers added the leaves to their baths to sooths fatigue and injuries.
In Biblical times, during the Roman Empire and also in the Middle Ages, people associated bay leaves with goodness and saw it as a protection against evil.
Ancient history of bay leaves
