Whole Spices

Indian Bay Leaf (Tej Patta)

Name: Indian Bay Leaf (Tej Patta)
Brand: MALABAR & CO.
SKU: MC-BAY-LEF-025
Price: 179.00 INR
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.6 (58 reviews)

4.6 · 58 reviewsSKU MC-BAY-LEF-025

Three-veined cassia leaf — warm and cinnamon-like, not the Mediterranean bay.

₹179/ 25 g

In stock · ships within 24 hours

Free delivery over ₹799
Milled the week you order
Harvest & grind date on pouch
30-day no-quibble returns

Origin: Uttarakhand
Net weight: 25 g
Category: Whole Spices
Tasting notes: Mild cassia, clove, dry herbal green

The full story

Recipes translate 'tej patta' as bay leaf and the two get substituted constantly, but they are not the same plant. Mediterranean bay is oval, single-veined, and eucalyptus-sharp. Tej patta is longer, marked with three lengthwise veins, and tastes of mild cinnamon and clove.

If your biryani has ever tasted subtly wrong, this may be why.

Ours are shade-dried whole so they stay olive-green rather than browning. Fry in the hot fat at the start of a dish and remove before serving.

How to use it

Biryani, dal, garam masala, slow-cooked meat curries, pulao.

For whole spice, dry-toast in a pan over medium heat for 30–60 seconds until fragrant, then grind. Toasting wakes up the volatile oils and makes a noticeable difference to depth.

Storage

Keep the pouch sealed, away from light and heat — the cupboard above the hob is the worst place in most kitchens. Whole spice will hold for 18–24 months stored properly; ground spice is at its best within three months of the grind date printed on the back.

Delivery & returns

Orders placed before 2pm ship the same working day. Standard delivery is 2–4 working days, free on orders over ₹799 and ₹59 below that.

If a spice isn’t what you hoped, tell us within 30 days and we’ll refund it — opened pouches included. We’d rather know.

Goes well with