From Nero's Poison to Turkish Jam: The Deadly Double Life of Cherry Laurel
2025-03-11
The author discovers a cherry laurel tree in their backyard, a plant whose fruits and leaves contain the deadly poison cyanide. Historically, it was used by Locusta, Nero's poisoner, to assassinate enemies. However, cherry laurel has also been used as a food flavoring; 19th-century British cooks used its leaves in puddings, resulting in child poisonings. Today, in Turkey, ripe cherry laurel fruits are made into jams and other foods. The article engagingly recounts the plant's transformation from ancient poison to modern food, warning against confusing cherry laurel with bay leaves to prevent accidental poisoning.