Malabathrum Leaves

Malabathrum Leaves are the dry leaves from the Cinnamomum tamala tree. It is often referred to as Indian Bay leaf, and you do use it in a similar way to normal Bay Leaf. The flavour they impart to dishes lies somewhere between bay and cinnamon. This suits many dishes from around India and the surrounding countries, but can be great with much more besides. If you want to add a different flavour to your food, why not give them a try? As with Bay Leaves, be sure to remove them before serving.

Malabathrum Leaves have been in use for millennia by civilizations such as the Greeks, Romans and Egyptians. They were used to add flavour or fragrance to wines, herbal creams and much more. One of the most notable uses was in the preparation of a fragrant oil called Oleum Malabathri. While we know nothing more about that, we do know that this is a wonderful herb that many people don’t know about.

As with all herbs and spices, add a little at a time to get the flavour you want. You can always add more, but taking it out can be impossible!