I f you cook regularly, you have probably come across a recipe that calls for a bay leaf and thought, "Do I need to spend $7 ...

Although fresh leaves are becoming more widely available, they are usually sold dried. The dried bay leaves are more strongly flavoured than fresh ones, but the uses for both are the same.

When buying loose-leaf tea, it should smell fresh and vibrant. Check the packet labels to check whether you’re buying a blend or single variety. If buying flavoured tea, check whether the ...