Mexican bay leaf ( Litsea glaucescens,  Lauraceae, Laurel, Laurus nobilis), fresh or dried bay leaves are used in cooking for their distinctive flavour and fragrance. The leaves should be removed from the cooked food before eating.If eaten whole, bay leaves are pungent and have a sharp, bitter taste.Crushed bay leaves impart more fragrance than whole leaves, but are more difficult to remove and thus they are often used in a  muslin bag or tea infuser.