Bay leaf
Bay leaf suppliers and sourcing guide
Bay leaf is the dried leaf of the bay laurel tree, Laurus nobilis, an evergreen native to the Mediterranean; Turkey supplies most of the world's traded leaf. Leaves are hand- or machine-picked, dried and graded by size, color and breakage, then sold whole, crushed or ground. It is not the same as West Indian bay (Pimenta racemosa), whose oil is a separate ingredient, or California bay (Umbellularia californica).
- Also known as
- Laurus nobilis · Bay laurel · Sweet bay · Laurel leaf · Turkish bay leaf
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of bay leaf
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Whole, hand-selected
Intact, uniformly green leaves graded by size and freedom from breakage, used whole in soups, brines and retail jars.
Whole, standard
Machine-sorted leaf with more breakage and color variation, used where leaves are removed after cooking.
Crushed or cut
Broken leaf for pickling spice, seasoning blends and teas.
Ground
Powder for dry rubs and seasoning blends, often steam-treated.
Sweet bay oil
Steam-distilled leaf oil for liquid flavors, sold separately from West Indian bay oil.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- Identity and grade
- Macroscopic check of leaf species, color, size and broken leaf percentage, plus stems and extraneous matter.
- Volatile oil
- Volatile oil by steam distillation (for example ASTA method 5.0), which tracks flavor strength.
- Moisture and ash
- Moisture plus total and acid-insoluble ash; high acid-insoluble ash points to soil or sand.
- Microbiology
- Total plate count, yeast and mold, coliforms, E. coli and Salmonella; results depend heavily on whether the lot was steam-treated or otherwise reduced in microbial load.
- Pesticide residues
- Multi-residue screen by GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS, reported against the limits of the destination market.
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Store sealed in lined bags or drums in a cool, dry, dark area off the floor, away from strong odors; heat and light drive off volatile oil and fade the green color. Shelf life is set by the supplier's specification, and older stock is usually retested for volatile oil, moisture and micro before use.
Lots and expiry dates
Leaf color, size and broken-leaf content swing with harvest season and grading, which matters for whole-leaf retail packs. Record grade, volatile oil and treatment per lot, and keep a retained sample of whole-leaf lots for visual comparison.
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
21 CFR 182.10 lists bay (Laurus nobilis) among spices and other natural seasonings and flavorings that are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for their intended use.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)21 CFR 182.20 lists bay leaves (Laurus nobilis) and, separately, bay (myrcia oil) from Pimenta racemosa among essential oils, oleoresins (solvent-free) and natural extractives that are GRAS for their intended use.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)FDA's Compliance Policy Guide 525.750 describes bay leaves as the dried leaves of Laurus nobilis, with quality measured by volatile oil, total and acid insoluble ash, moisture and freedom from stems.
Source: fda.gov (opens in a new tab)
This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Bay leaf suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking bay leaf suppliers now
Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.
Sell bay leaf? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of bay leaf can brands buy?
Common forms include whole, hand-selected, whole, standard, crushed or cut, ground and sweet bay oil. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for bay leaf include?
Expect identity and grade, volatile oil, moisture and ash, microbiology and pesticide residues, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should bay leaf be stored?
Store sealed in lined bags or drums in a cool, dry, dark area off the floor, away from strong odors; heat and light drive off volatile oil and fade the green color. Shelf life is set by the supplier's specification, and older stock is usually retested for volatile oil, moisture and micro before use.
What is the regulatory status of bay leaf?
21 CFR 182.10 lists bay (Laurus nobilis) among spices and other natural seasonings and flavorings that are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for their intended use. 21 CFR 182.20 lists bay leaves (Laurus nobilis) and, separately, bay (myrcia oil) from Pimenta racemosa among essential oils, oleoresins (solvent-free) and natural extractives that are GRAS for their intended use. FDA's Compliance Policy Guide 525.750 describes bay leaves as the dried leaves of Laurus nobilis, with quality measured by volatile oil, total and acid insoluble ash, moisture and freedom from stems.
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