Background:

The bay leaf is an aromatic leaf commonly used in cooking. It can be used whole or in a dried or ground form. Fresh or dried bay leaves are used in cooking for their distinctive flavour and fragrance. There are several varieties of Bay leafs. Indian bay leaf or malabathrum (Cinnamomum tamala, Lauraceae) differs from bay laurel leaves, which are shorter and light- to medium-green in colour, with one large vein down the length of the leaf. Indian bay leaves are about twice as long and wider, usually olive green in colour and have three veins running the length of the leaf. Culinarily, Indian bay leaves are quite different, having a fragrance and taste similar to cinnamon (cassia) bark, but milder.

Bay leaves were used for flavouring by the ancient Greeks.They are a fixture in the cooking of many European cuisines (particularly those of the Mediterranean), as well as in the Americas. They are used in soups, stews, brines, meat, seafood, vegetable dishes, and sauces. The leaves also flavour many classic French and Italian dishes. The leaves are most often used whole (sometimes in a bouquet garni) and removed before serving (they can be abrasive in the digestive tract). Thai and Laotian cuisine employs bay leaf in a few Arab-influenced dishes, notably massaman curry.

Bay leaves can also be crushed or ground before cooking. 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. Ground bay laurel may be substituted for whole leaves and does not need to be removed, but it is much stronger.

Gaps Identified:

Availability of raw material, less mechanization & Packaging, Branding, Certification.

Interventions of ORMAS:

Maa Bijayalaxmi PG was formed under ORMAS in 2018-19 in Handipoda village, Kumbharmuli Panchayat of Bhograi Block in Balasore district. The PG has 30 WSHG members which are actively involved in Bay leaf plantation, Collection & Processing. The story of how Bayleaf has changed their life and is fascinating.

The Bayleaf plants are found in considerable numbers in the Bhograi block. Earlier, most people in the area were unaware about the value of Bayleaf, and they used to sell the whole tree leaves for a few bucks.

One woman from that village came in contact with ORMAS and discussed the possibilities of Bay Leaf marketing. ORMAS, along with the Bhograi team, visited.

All 35 Producers’ Group members (PG) collect bay leaves and dry it under shade instead of direct sunlight. The drying process takes eight to 10 days, after which the leaves are packed. Owners of bay trees are paid `500 to `2,500 per tree by the SHG, depending on the quality of the leaves.

Testimonials:

Follwing are some of the testimonials published in various newspapers when the PG Participated in Various Exhibitions:

• “The aroma of the well-processed bay leaves is better than ordinary leaves available in the market,” said Asmita Maharana, a housewife.
• “The bay leaves seemed to have been well processed with a better aroma than those available in the market,” said homemaker Alaka Patnaik.
• President of Maa Bijay Laxmi Producers’ Group Shakuntala Behera said: “We had not anticipated such huge demand. We will come up with a much bigger stock next year.” The SHG, with 35 members from Handipada village in Bhograi of Balasore district had come with around two quintals of bay leaves. The stock was almost sold off by Thursday.

Outcome & Present Status:

Apart from the Bay leaf, they have also done some innovation of using the bay leaf in different ways. They have created Bayleaf Tea powder which is simply Bayleaf powder mixed with the tea leaves. This adds a pleasant aroma to the tea. The taste and the smell create a pleasant feeling and environment and the users have liked this a lot. This product has become a hit and has huge demand.

They have initiated the process of getting food safety certification for the product, so that this can be supplied in bulk to large buyers and export houses. They have been done good business this year despite the Covid-19 restrictions. This year their sales stand at Rs. 5,96,000.

Details of Activity:

Reference:

1. https://www.telegraphindia.com/odisha/rural-fair-at-cuttack-s-bali-yatra-sets-business-record-in-7-days/cid/1677205
2. https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2018/nov/29/handipada-bay-leaves-a-hit-among-baliyatra-visitors-1904855.html