Do bay leaves actually taste like anything or are they just a placebo spice

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bay leaves?
	conspiracy by Big Spice to sell flavorless leaves
	essential staple of subcontinental cuisine
	goku

Entropic: patriarchy sucks

I am open to well-researched opinions on either side of this controversial topic.

# ? Oct 20, 2017 02:03

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# ? Apr 26, 2024 12:55

Manifisto

excuse me, here in byob we do not tolerate anti-big-spice propaganda

*vainly tries to jam shut kitchen cabinet overflowing with sacks of spice; handwritten note from Wilbur McCormick flutters past, reading "thanks as always for your discretion"*

ty nesamdoom!

# ? Oct 20, 2017 02:44

Entropic: patriarchy sucks

tbh the main reason I kinda wanna give bay leaves a pass is that this twitter thing was really funny:

https://twitter.com/spookperson/status/829822853797212160/

# ? Oct 20, 2017 02:52

Manifisto

Entropic posted:

tbh the main reason I kinda wanna give bay leaves a pass is that this twitter thing was really funny:

https://twitter.com/spookperson/status/829822853797212160/

lol

realtalk, when I put a bay leaf into basmati rice as it's cooking I can tell the difference

or so my brain tells me

I wonder if I'd be able to tell in a double blind tho

ty nesamdoom!

# ? Oct 20, 2017 02:57

Entropic: patriarchy sucks

Manifisto posted:

lol

realtalk, when I put a bay leaf into basmati rice as it's cooking I can tell the difference

or so my brain tells me

I wonder if I'd be able to tell in a double blind tho

I'm willing to believe it might make a difference in lightly spiced dishes but when you throw it in like a rogan josh or something I just have a hard time believing anyone can taste it over all the other spices.

# ? Oct 20, 2017 03:08

The X-man cometh

Why are you putting bay leaves into a Rogan Josh instead of cuddypatha?

# ? Oct 20, 2017 04:15

Robot Made of Meat

Not only do bay leaves taste very much like something (dust), but they served to provide endless amusement for my sister and me when we were young. Every time my mom made lasagne, she'd forget to take the bay leaf out. Invariably, my dad would end up with it in his mouth, and end up swearing and ranting for the rest of the meal.

Not laughing at the spectacle was very important and very difficult.

Thanks to Manifisto for the sig!

# ? Oct 20, 2017 04:16

FactsAreUseless

Buy better bay leaves

# ? Oct 20, 2017 11:47

Entropic: patriarchy sucks

can you buy super-bay leaves that are actually exploding with flavour?

like, Michael Bay leaves?

# ? Oct 20, 2017 13:39

alnilam

bae leaves

# ? Oct 20, 2017 14:32

alnilam

alnilam posted:

bae leaves

goodbye bae :sadwave:

# ? Oct 20, 2017 14:33

Pot Smoke Phoenix: Smoke 'em if you gottem!

Baywatch is actually about making sure everyone is served a dish that isn't phony or the spicing guild will fold space and arrive just before you serve an unauthorized dish and if you ask yourself "how could this be?" just remember, he IS the Kwisatz Haderach

https://i.imgur.com/QKTkerO.mp4
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# ? Oct 20, 2017 14:33

Pot Smoke Phoenix: Smoke 'em if you gottem!

Bay City Rollers did more for furthering the cause of bay leaves more than any other, save one. David Hasselhoff

https://i.imgur.com/QKTkerO.mp4
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# ? Oct 20, 2017 14:39

Pot Smoke Phoenix: Smoke 'em if you gottem!

"Sittin' on the dock with this leaf, nibbling it gently with my teeth" -Otis "Bay leaves are no joke" Redding

https://i.imgur.com/QKTkerO.mp4
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# ? Oct 20, 2017 14:39

poverty goat

it's all a scam by big bay leaf

# ? Oct 20, 2017 14:42

Pot Smoke Phoenix: Smoke 'em if you gottem!

Pamela Anderson atempted to join the Spice Girls as "Bay Leaf Spice" but the other Spice Girls are still debating whether or not she qualifies to this day

https://i.imgur.com/QKTkerO.mp4
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# ? Oct 20, 2017 16:00

Fredflonston

Eh I dunno I prefer oak or maple.

# ? Oct 20, 2017 16:10

Pot Smoke Phoenix: Smoke 'em if you gottem!

Fredflonston posted:

Eh I dunno I prefer oak or maple.

https://i.imgur.com/QKTkerO.mp4
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# ? Oct 20, 2017 16:12

RatEarth: I didn't say that.
but it'd be funny if I did

Bay leaves do add flavor to cooking but it's pretty light.

# ? Oct 20, 2017 16:25

wearing a lampshade

Research concludes that subjects using the placebo bay leaf were 50% more likely to post questions to Yahoo Answers^[1], Quora^[2], and various internet comedy forums^[3] asking questions about what bay leaves tasted like, whereas the subjects with the real bay leaves enjoyed peaceful, stress free lives (69% of these subjects used the word "chill" to describe their experience) and posted other content, like the hypothetical situation of using a gnome for a bong, a concept which many on the research team felt was quite compelling and worth further research.

# ? Oct 20, 2017 16:27

joke_explainer

Conduct an experiment. Simmer water by itself and another pot with water plus bay leaf. You will notice a difference. Don�t eat the bay leaf tho.

# ? Oct 20, 2017 17:19

Manifisto

But Aragorn smiled. 'It will serve,' he said. 'The worst is now over. Stay and be comforted!' Then taking two bay leaves, he laid them on his hands and breathed on them, and then he crushed them, and straightway a living freshness filled the room, as if the air itself awoke and tingled, sparkling with joy. And then he cast the bay leaves into the bowls of steaming water that were brought to him, and at once all hearts were lightened. For the fragrance that came to each was like a memory of steaming curries in some land of which the fair world in Spring is itself but a fleeting memory. But Aragorn stood up as one refreshed, and his eyes smiled as he held a bowl before Faramir's dreaming face.

Suddenly Faramir stirred, and he opened his eyes, and he looked on Aragorn who bent over him; and a light was kindled in his eyes, and he spoke softly. 'What the gently caress,' he said. "Get me some actual loving medicine."

ty nesamdoom!

# ? Oct 20, 2017 17:26

Pot Smoke Phoenix: Smoke 'em if you gottem!

Manifisto posted:

But Aragorn smiled. 'It will serve,' he said. 'The worst is now over. Stay and be comforted!' Then taking two bay leaves, he laid them on his hands and breathed on them, and then he crushed them, and straightway a living freshness filled the room, as if the air itself awoke and tingled, sparkling with joy. And then he cast the bay leaves into the bowls of steaming water that were brought to him, and at once all hearts were lightened. For the fragrance that came to each was like a memory of steaming curries in some land of which the fair world in Spring is itself but a fleeting memory. But Aragorn stood up as one refreshed, and his eyes smiled as he held a bowl before Faramir's dreaming face.

Suddenly Faramir stirred, and he opened his eyes, and he looked on Aragorn who bent over him; and a light was kindled in his eyes, and he spoke softly. 'What the gently caress,' he said. "Get me some actual loving medicine."

"For of the Houses of Healing it is often said to be a strange place; they use bay leaves" -ancient Elvish proverb (said in a light, mocking tone)

https://i.imgur.com/QKTkerO.mp4
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# ? Oct 20, 2017 17:49

deep dish peat moss

If you age them you can make Old Bay cheaper than buying it

# ? Oct 20, 2017 18:38

Entropic: patriarchy sucks

is there a rapper named Young Bay yet?

# ? Oct 20, 2017 22:33

Manifisto

ty nesamdoom!

# ? Oct 20, 2017 23:10

wearing a lampshade

Manifisto posted:

# ? Oct 21, 2017 00:02

vanisher

Manifisto posted:

lol

# ? Oct 21, 2017 00:26

Pot Smoke Phoenix: Smoke 'em if you gottem!

Manifisto posted:

https://i.imgur.com/QKTkerO.mp4
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# ? Oct 21, 2017 01:11

Entropic: patriarchy sucks

Manifisto posted:

finally an authentic chai latte

# ? Oct 21, 2017 03:35

Bacon Taco: Now with extra narwhal meat!
HAIKOOLIGAN

Chew and eat the bay leaf for extra flavor and esophageal perforation! Tasty dinner tonight and a couple of days off work afterwards!

# ? Oct 21, 2017 05:06

alnilam

My friend and i once made up a superstition that if you got the bay leaf it was good luck but only if you ate it. We made up this superstition for no reason other than it sounded like it could be a real believable folksy thing, and then just for fun we followed it too (and cooked a lot together as we lived together). I've eaten scores of bay leaves by this point. As far as I know they are all gathering forces inside my bowels amd will be my undoing, but I'd like to think I've been a little bit luckier

# ? Oct 21, 2017 05:14

Twenty Four

alnilam posted:

My friend and i once made up a superstition that if you got the bay leaf it was good luck but only if you ate it. We made up this superstition for no reason other than it sounded like it could be a real believable folksy thing, and then just for fun we followed it too (and cooked a lot together as we lived together). I've eaten scores of bay leaves by this point. As far as I know they are all gathering forces inside my bowels amd will be my undoing, but I'd like to think I've been a little bit luckier

I swear I have heard this before, but not the "you have to eat it" part. I always assumed it was a cop out for the cook forgetting to take it out, or you just getting the bad luck of getting it in some dishes where it isn't easily removed. "Oh look you got it I guess you are lucky you bit into that tart dirt leaf, don't blame me!"

# ? Oct 21, 2017 11:39

poverty goat

alnilam posted:

My friend and i once made up a superstition that if you got the bay leaf it was good luck but only if you ate it. We made up this superstition for no reason other than it sounded like it could be a real believable folksy thing, and then just for fun we followed it too (and cooked a lot together as we lived together). I've eaten scores of bay leaves by this point. As far as I know they are all gathering forces inside my bowels amd will be my undoing, but I'd like to think I've been a little bit luckier

actually if you get the bay leaf you have to do the dishes

# ? Oct 21, 2017 15:12

little munchkin

i feel the same way but with tea bags

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# ? Oct 21, 2017 17:11

little munchkin

if you want to drink tea then why would you take the bag out??? doesn't make any sense to me

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# ? Oct 21, 2017 17:11

The X-man cometh

I use bay leaves so infrequently that they dry out and I have to throw in 4 to get any flavor.

# ? Oct 22, 2017 01:40

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# ? Apr 26, 2024 12:55

Robot Made of Meat

The X-man cometh posted:

I use bay leaves so infrequently that they dry out and I have to throw in 4 to get any flavor.

i.e. the flavor of dusty leaves.

Thanks to Manifisto for the sig!

# ? Oct 22, 2017 03:16

The Something Awful Forums > Main > BYOB: BYOB BYOB BOYB BBOY YOBB YBOB BBYO?? > Do bay leaves actually taste like anything or are they just a placebo spice