Confused about bay leaf tea benefits? Here's all you need to know - 24 Mantra Organic

Bay leaf is a standard ingredient in many slow-cooking dishes such as pulao, biryani, stews, and soups. However, very few people use it to make tea. Organic bay leaf is a dense, aromatic herb full of nutrients that help in weight loss, aid digestion, lower stress, and prevent chronic diseases such as hypertension and type 2 diabetes [1].

If you don’t have the time or the patience to prepare these time-consuming preparations, then you can consider having bay leaf tea. There are multiple bay leaf tea benefits, which we will explore in this article, along with the recipe of bay leaf tea.

What are bay leaves?

Organic bay leaves come from the Laurel tree, an evergreen tree of the Lauraceae family. It contains around 2% of essential oil, which primarily contains cineole. Bay leaf has a smooth, velvety texture when fresh, while dried leaves have sharp edges and light green colour.

Nutritional value of bay leaf

Organic bay leaves are used in several different ways, including as a diuretic. That is because this herb is packed with essential vitamins and minerals as well as dietary fibre and folic acid. Below is the nutritional value of organic bay leaf.

Bay leaf tea benefits

Here are the top three bay leaf tea benefits

Benefit #1. Promotes general health

Since organic bay leaves are an excellent source of vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, it promotes general health and overall wellbeing [1].

Benefit #2. Reduces stress

Regularly having bay leaf can reduce stress levels and can be an effective, natural way to treat migraines. Researches are trying to conclusively prove how having bay leaves might be a natural treatment of brain disorders such as epilepsy [2].

Benefit #3. Aids digestion

One of the most common bay leaf tea benefits is the herb’s ability to digest food and calm indigestion [1]. Bay leaf contains enzymes that breakdown protein and increases metabolic rate.

Recipe for bay leaf tea

To realise bay leaf tea benefits, here is a simple, aromatic recipe:

Ingredients:

• 16 oz water
• 3 bay leaves
• Juice of 1 large or 2 small lemons

Method:

• Mix all the ingredients in a pot and bring to a boil
• Add honey or sugar, if required
• Let the mixture simmer for a couple of minutes
• Turn off the heat and strain the water in a cup

There you have it, a comforting beverage for any time of the day. The aroma that the leaves exhume is calming, while the essence of the spice makes it delicious.

Bay leaves side-effects

While we’ve discussed bay leaf tea benefits, some side effects cannot be overlooked. Organic bay leaf and its extract are generally safe for people. However, consuming the whole leaf by mouth is dangerous and unsafe. That is because the human body cannot digest bay leaf, and it can pierce the throat or intestinal lining.

Bay leaf is also believed to slow down the central nervous system and, therefore, its consumption should be stopped at least two weeks before any surgical procedure. Other side effects of bay leaves include redness of the skin or allergic reactions and diarrhoea if eaten in excess.

So there you go folks, that was our take on bay leaves tea and its benefits. Hope you found it helpful.

Try 24 Mantra Organic’s range of products and savour the taste of organic goodness.