Bay Leaf: packed with nutrients

Article: Christina Harnois
Photography: Christian Wilmes

The eastern Caribbean nation of Saint Lucia has all the tropical beauty that one would expect from an island that offers beaches, mountains, volcanos (the world’s only drive through volcano) and lush rain forest.

I find tropical climates inspiring for the soul and this was no exception. The fresh ocean winds and the sandy heat that sticks to the skin makes me feel invigorated, ready to explore and discover new things.

Herbal medicine is alive and well in the west indies and is passed down from generation to generation. The charming cocoa skinned creole madame in the market helped me to discover the different herbs and spices; the uses of which are not what you would expect…

Bay Leaf aka bwa den ‘bois d’inde’

The humble bay leaf is packed with nutrients such as vitamin A, magnesium, manganese, potassium and iron.

In Saint Lucia, Bay Leaf tea is suggested as a remedy for colds and flu symptoms as it helps to clear congestion. It also has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and is said to be useful in regulating blood sugar levels, so is great for those living with diabetes.

The simplest way to get the benefits and enjoy the flavour is to make Bay Leaf Tea. You can also make a more concentrated decoction and add to a warm bath to help ease achy muscles or use as a post shampoo hair rise for a healthy dandruff free scalp.

BAY LEAF TEA
4-5 bay leaves
1 cinnamon stick 
1 litre of water 
Boil for 20 minutes to extract all the goodness.

We will be sharing some of the fresh spices, ingredients and herbal remedies commonly used in Saint Lucia exclusively for SoEdited, in our mission to become SoWell. 
​