The bay leaf tree is approximately 10 meters tall (can reach 20 meters if heavily watered), known especially for its leaves and seeds commonly used as spices in cooking. It can also be used as a perfume, but that depends on individual taste !
Pimenta Racemosa, a tree 
whose beauty is reflected in its upright silhouette, its thick, oblong, lanceolate opposite leaves of about fifteen centimeters, and its peeled bark revealing several shades of brown.
Its whitish flowers grow in inflorescence (clusters) and its egg-shaped fruits resemble peppers and are not edible.
The Pimenta racemosa spreads by releasing seeds.
Summary sheet
Common name | Bay leaf |
| Other name(s) | Creole : bwaden |
| Scientific name | Pimenta racemosa (Mill.) J.W.Moore, 1933 |
| Family | Myrtaceae |
| Origin | Central America, West Indies |
| Part(s) used | All parts |
| Main active ingredients | Phenolic acids, flavonoids, styrylpyrones |
| Associated property(ies) | Anti-bacterial - Anti-fungal - Sedative |
Etymology and geographic origin
Pimenta comes from the Spanish "pimienta", pepper, and the Latin "pigment", spice. Racemosa means "which has flowers in clusters".
It is mainly found in most Caribbean islands, in the American intertropical zone and in the West Indies. A humid, moderate climate and any well-drained soil (even limestone).
Varietal diversity
Difficult to distinguish with the naked eye, bay leaf has several sub-varieties. Extraction produces essential oils with different scents : these are called chemotypes.
In the West Indies, three types are found : clove-scented bay leaf, anise-scented bay leaf, and lemongrass-scented bay leaf. More precisely, these are sub-varieties.
- Clove-scented bay leaf
The essential oil derived from this type of bay leaf is rich in eugenol, a chemical molecule characteristic of cloves.
- Anise-scented bay leaf
The essential oil derived from this type is rich in estragole, a chemical molecule characteristic of anise camphor.
- Lemongrass-scented bay leaf
The essential oil derived from this type is rich in myrcene, a chemical molecule characteristic of lemongrass.
Pimenta dioica
In the Caribbean, there are other species commonly used, such as Pimenta Dioica also known as "Jamaican pepper" or "allspice," which is widely know and used throughout the world.
It is a dioecious plant, meaning that it is necessary to cultivate both male and a female plant to obtain fruits and seeds. In the absence of a partner, the tree will flower, but will not produce fruit or seeds.
The tree is around 10 meters tall, with oblong-acuminate (i.e. pointed) leaves and a strong clove-like odor.
The fruit is dried to obtain "allspice", named so because it develops aromas similar to pepper, cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg. The leaf can also be used as a spice, similar to a bay leaf, for example.
The leaf is also used in the production of Bay rum.
Traditional uses
Dermatology :
Anise-scented bay leaf essential oil, treats skin blemishes, while lemongrass-scented bay leaf essential oil has an antibacterial and mosquito repellent action.
Clove-scented bay leaf essential oil has analgesic properties and is effective for relieving rheumatism, for example.
Bay rum : alcoholic macerate obtained from bay leaf leaves macerated in 50° white rum. This lotion can be used to massage the body and relieve muscles.
alcoholic macerate: technique for extracting certain active ingredients from a plant by "infusing" it in alcohol.
In cuisine :
Considered as "the Caribbean pepper," bay leaf is used in all kinds of sauces, meats, fishes, lentils, or stews (3-4 leaves or a few seeds, or a teaspoon if ground).
Traditional medicine :
As an infusion, bay leaf relieves intestinal disorders, rheumatism, bruises and headaches. Its virtues also extend to coughs, fevers and flu-like conditions.
Also effective against toothache
Chemical and nutritional composition
We mostly hear about bay leaf (Bay st-Thomas) essential oil but this tree but this tree is full of other active molecules such as alkaloids, phytosterols, cardiac glycosides, anthocyanins, terpenoids, flavonoids, reducing sugars, anthraquinones, extracted during the preparation of herbal tree for examples.
Gallic acid, methyl gallate, avicularin, quercetin 3-O-β-DD-arbinopyranoside, quercetin 3-O–β-D-glucopyranoside, quercetrin, cynaroside, strictinin, castalagin, grandinin, quercetin and ellagic acid are molecules that contribute to the beneficial effects of bay leaf.
Bay leaf essential oil is obtained by steam distillation of the leaves/berries. The result is colorless or yellowish emanating spicy and warm scents.
Essential berries oil 
- Phenols : eugenol (80%).
- Sesquiterpenes : Beta-caryophyllene
- Methyl ether phenols : eugenol M.E.
- Hydrocarbons..
Essential leaf oil
- Phenols eugenol (50%), chavicol (15%).
- Monoterpenols and monoterpenes (myrcene 20%)
To obtain 1/2 liter of bay leaf essential oil, you need to distill around 50kg of bay leaf leaves.
☞ The use of bay leaf essential oil is prohibited for pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as for children under 7 years old.
☞ Tip : Never exceed 1% bay leaf essential oil in blends.
Sources
Anitha, T. A., Pakutharivu, T., Nirubama, K., & Akshaya, V. (2020). Phytochemical evaluation and in vitro antidiabetic efficiency of isopropanolic leaf extract of pimenta racemosa. Kongunadu Research Journal, 7(2), 50-55.
Bourgeois, P. (1995). Une plante aromatique de la Caraïbe: le bois d’Inde. Journal d’agriculture traditionnelle et de botanique appliquée, 37(1), 139-149.
Ayoub, I. M., Abdel-Aziz, M. M., Elhady, S. S., Bagalagel, A. A., Malatani, R. T., & Elkady, W. M. (2022). Valorization of Pimenta racemosa essential oils and extracts: GC-MS and LC-MS phytochemical profiling and evaluation of Helicobacter pylori Inhibitory Activity. Molecules, 27(22), 7965.
Moharram, F. A. E., Al-Gendy, A. A., El-Shenawy, S. M., Ibrahim, B. M., & Zarka, M. A. (2018). Phenolic profile, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, anti-ulcerogenic and hepatoprotective activities of Pimenta racemosa leaves. BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 18, 1-15.
Website :
http://uses.plantnet-project.org/fr/Pimenta_racemosa_(Rollet,_Antilles)
https://www.carib-beans-plants.com/accueil/fiches-de-plantes/pimenta-racemosa/
https://www.persee.fr/doc/jatba_0183-5173_1995_num_37_1_3566
https://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q
https://www.aromatiques.com/fr/herbes-feuilles/40-bois-d-inde.html
http://www.wikiphyto.org/wiki/Bois_d’Inde#D.C3.A9nomination_latine_internationale
http://uses.plantnet-project.org/fr/Pimenta_racemosa_(Rollet,_Antilles)
https://plante-essentielle.com/huile-essentielle-bois-d-inde-proprietes-et-utilisation-sans-danger/
https://distillateur-inox.fr/distillation-des-plantes/distillation-bois-dinde/
