Bay Leaf
Herbs$3.49 / 0.5 ozApproximate price based on US supermarkets.
Aromatic leaf used in Mexican broths, stews, and bean pots. Essential Mexican pantry ingredient, found in most traditional recipes.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Can't find it? Look in Mexican and Latino grocery stores in California, Texas, Florida, Illinois or Arizona, or order online via Amazon US.
Buy online
Can't find Bay Leaf near you? You can also buy it online:
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
How it's used in Mexican cooking
Bay Leaf, part of the herbs section of the Mexican pantry, appears in 12 recipes in our collection, including Red Menudo, Beef Birria and Carnitas Tacos. Each recipe shows step by step how it is added, in what quantity and which other ingredients it is paired with — the most reliable guide to how it is actually used in Mexican cooking.
Recipes using bay leaf
Storage and substitutes
How to store it
Fresh herbs keep in the fridge wrapped in slightly damp kitchen paper inside a bag or container, and are best used within a few days. Dried versions (oregano, bay leaf, hibiscus flower) go in an airtight jar away from light and hold their aroma for months.
Substitutes
Epazote and hoja santa have very distinctive flavours with no exact substitute; if you can't find them, it's usually better to leave them out than to swap in another herb. Mexican oregano can be replaced with Mediterranean oregano, though its profile is more citrusy.
Frequently asked questions
How many recipes use Bay Leaf?
Bay Leaf is used in 12 recipes in our collection, such as Red Menudo and Beef Birria. The full list, with a photo and link for each recipe, is on this page.
Where can I buy Bay Leaf in the US?
You can buy Bay Leaf online via the Amazon link on this page, or look for it at Mexican and Latino grocery stores in the US.
How should Bay Leaf be stored?
Fresh herbs keep in the fridge wrapped in slightly damp kitchen paper inside a bag or container, and are best used within a few days. Dried versions (oregano, bay leaf, hibiscus flower) go in an airtight jar away from light and hold their aroma for months.
Do you sell Bay Leaf?
If you run a store that stocks this product, register and showcase it to thousands of people across the US.
Register my store