Page 180 - The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods
P. 180
California Bay Laurel, Umbellularia
californica (LAURACEAE)
The Marmot, CC BY 2.0
Krzysztof Golik, CC-BY-SA-4.0
CALIFORNIA LAUREL, also known as Bay Laurel, ed bay laurel fruits as they ripen and begin to drop
Pepperwood, and Myrtlewood, is an aromatic ev- from the tree (September-November). Like avoca-
ergreen tree that grows 40-80 ft. (12-24m) tall and dos, their flesh is dense, buttery, and edible raw. They
has a rounded or spreading crown. Its trunk is often should be soft but not mushy. Overly firm fruits with
forked into several branches, while its dark brown skins that are difficult to remove can be left on your
bark becomes thick and fissured with age. counter to ripen for 1-3 days. The large seeds of the
fruits, once laid out to dry for 2 weeks, can be roast-
FLOWER AND FRUIT: Flat-topped clusters of 4-9 pale
ed at 350°F (175°C) for 60-90 min., shelled, and then
yellow flowers blossom at regular intervals through-
eaten. You can also grind the roasted and hulled seeds
out the year. Each flower is 0.4-0.6 inches (1-1.5cm)
into flour. The roasting step is crucial since it destroys
across. Thin-shelled avocado-like fruits are 0.8-1
the seed’s volatile oils, which can irritate your diges-
inches (2-2.5cm) long. In autumn, they ripen from
tive system. Leaves, available year-round, are dried
green to yellow-green or purple. Each fruit contains a
and used like bay leaves to flavor soups and stews.
large nut-like seed.
ROASTED BAY NUTS: Remove flesh, wash nuts well,
LEAF: Dark evergreen leaves are simple, alternate,
and lay them out on a towel until the moisture evapo-
and lance-shaped, often with pointed tips. The blades
rates. Place nuts in an open bowl or in paper bags and
are lustrous and leathery, ranging from 3.5-5 inches
dry in a dark place for 2 weeks minimum. Roast for
(8-13cm) long with smooth margins. When bruised,
1- 1 ½ h at 350°F (177°C). Once roasted, crack them
they emit a spicy fragrance.
open.
EDIBLE PARTS: fruit, seeds, leaves
WARNING: Leaves can cause skin irritation, sneezing,
KEY MEDICINAL USES: Leaves have analgesic, sto- and headaches in some people.
machic and nervine properties. POISONOUS LOOK-ALIKES: Mountain Laurel, Kalmia
HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: Harvest the spicy-scent- latifolia; Cherry Laurel, Prunus laurocerasus
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