In this Versus episode, it’s the battle of herbs and spices. Get your fill of these fascinating aromatic plants that have flavoured our food and changed our history since paleolithic times. Learn why they bother smelling so good—and what you can do to make the most of their flavour—then get ready to cast your vote in the Plant Face-Off. Sean is representing the herbs with bay laurel, a plant not to be confused with the many other bays and laurels in the world—especially not the toxic ones. Learn how it grows, how to preserve the leaves, and why there are so many misconceptions about its safety. Erin follows up with mustard seed and how to grow and prepare it…but first she shakes things up with some tasty knowledge about spices around the world.

Who won the Plant Face-Off? Was it Sean with bay leaves or Erin with mustard seed? You decide! Send your vote by email or on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook with the hashtag #PAWFaceOff. 

Comments? Feedback? Want your garden question to be featured in a future Q&A segment? Email us, reach out over social media, or get Q&A priority by supporting us on Patreon. 

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Credits

Website Design and Illustration by Sophia Alladin

Intro and Outro Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/when-my-ukulele-plays

License code: GWOIMMBAS15FG6PH

Citations

What is a spice?

Hogeback, J. (n.d.). What’s the difference between an herb and a spice? Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/story/whats-the-difference-between-an-herb-and-a-spice

Essential Oils/Volatile Oils

Biology Online. (2023, September 15). Volatile oil - Definition and Examples - Biology Online Dictionary. Biology Articles, Tutorials & Dictionary Online. https://www.biologyonline.com/dictionary/volatile-oil

iHerb.org’s Herbs of the Year

International Herb Association. (2023, May 30). Herb of the Year™. https://www.iherb.org/herb-of-the-year/ 

Bay laurel’s history and use

Belsinger, S. (2009, March 18). Bay (Laurus nobilis): From Legend and Lore to Fragrance and Flavor. Fine Gardening. https://www.finegardening.com/article/bay-laurus-nobilis-from-legend-and-lore-to-fragrance-and-flavor?srsltid=AfmBOoonN-BDS8stQ2WPnnKPaq6O6XNdSRjOD1nROnT2zNqDeIo7KlEC 

The toxicity of laurel hedges

Hopes Grove Nurseries. (2024, September 23). Are Laurel hedges poisonous?. https://www.hopesgrovenurseries.co.uk/knowledge-base/are-laurel-hedges-poisonous/#:~:text=You%20are%20here%3A%20Home%20%C2%BB%20Are,cause%20serious%20complications%20if%20ingested 

Medicinal uses and side effects of bay laurel

BAY LEAF: Overview, uses, side effects, precautions, interactions, dosing and reviews. (n.d.). WebMD. Retrieved December 27, 2024, from https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-685/bay-leaf 

The biology of white mustard (also known as yellow mustard)

Canadian Food Inspection Agency. (2022, May 6). The biology of Sinapis alba L. (mustard). inspection.canada.ca. https://inspection.canada.ca/en/plant-varieties/plants-novel-traits/applicants/directive-94-08/biology-documents/sinapis-alba#a24 

Growing saffron in Ontario

Balzer, D. (2024, November 6). Growing saffron – in a cool Canadian climate! Donna Balzer. https://donnabalzer.com/growing-saffron-in-a-cool-canadian-climate/ 

Timestamps

00:12 Intro

00:53 What’s Growing On?

01:07 Erin Gets Native Seed Mail

02:17 This Episode is Dedicated to Siblings

02:58 The Plant Face Off

03:08 Herbs and Spices: Definitions

04:25 How Bias Affects Research

06:00 Sean’s Plant: Bay Laurel

08:05 The Laurecea Plant Family

08:45 A Laurel by Any Other Name Might be Toxic

10:02 Mediterranean Evergreens

11:22 Tree Genders

13:28 Medicinal Uses of Bay Laurel

14:40 Bay Leaves: They’re Sharp

17:49 Preserving Bay Leaves

19:40 Growing Bay Laurel 

20:40 Aromatics to Deter Pests

23:50 Erin’s Spice Journey

24:59 Preserving Spice Potency

26:41 Spice Fun Facts

28:56 Erin’s Plant: Mustard 

29:12 The Fascinating Brassica Family

32:28 Making Your Own Mustard

36:26 Mustard Types

39:13 Q&A: Low-Fuss, Low-Light Houseplants

43:23 Listener Feedback

45:41 Contact Us & Outro