A plain-English guide for U.S. procurement teams sourcing bulk Turkish bay leaves (Laurus nobilis) — Incoterms, customs and FDA basics, lead time, and why ordering from a U.S. seller of record removes most of the friction.
Most bay leaves in U.S. supply chains are Turkish. Turkey's Aegean region is the benchmark origin, producing tight, aromatic whole leaves with an essential-oil content of roughly 1.5–2.5%. Mediterranean and Marmara / Black Sea origins round out availability. Region, crop year, and drying discipline drive leaf color, breakage, and aroma — which is why a serious supplier confirms specifications per lot on a Certificate of Analysis (COA) rather than publishing one fixed number.
You have two paths. You can import directly from an overseas exporter — opening an international account, arranging freight, filing customs, and carrying the FX and lead-time risk yourself. Or you can buy from a U.S. seller of record who handles all of that and invoices you domestically.
Bay Leaves Co. is set up for the second path. Your purchase order and invoice sit with Tuna Project LLC in St. Petersburg, Florida, USA, while sourcing and export run through Tuna Project Global Trade Inc. in İzmir, Turkey. You get a Turkish-origin ingredient with a U.S. counterparty.
Incoterms define who handles freight, insurance, customs, and duties. For first orders, many U.S. buyers prefer DDP (Delivered Duty Paid): the seller delivers the goods, cleared for import, with duties paid, to your nominated U.S. warehouse. That collapses the import process into a single landed price. We also quote FOB, CIF, and other terms if you manage your own logistics.
Dried bay leaves are a food, so U.S. import is subject to FDA oversight. In practice that means the foreign facility should hold an FDA Food Facility Registration, and each shipment needs FDA Prior Notice filed before arrival. These are standard steps an experienced exporter handles as part of the documentation package. Our facility registration is 14020352212.
From a confirmed order, plan for roughly 60 days to delivery at a U.S. warehouse — covering production / sorting, pressing and packing, export documentation, ocean transit, U.S. customs clearance, and inland delivery. Volume, packing format, port, and Incoterm move that number, and we confirm a target date with every quote.
Bay leaf grades run from Hand-picked Select (uniform whole leaves for retail jars and gourmet blends) through Semi-select and Standard to Industrial / Crushed (distillation and seasoning feedstock). Standard packing is 25 kg and 50 kg pressed bales and 10 kg carton boxes; buyer-specific packing is available by RFQ. See the grade comparison table for moisture, color, and foreign-matter ranges.
To get an accurate quote fast, include:
Send your RFQ and we will respond within 24 hours with availability, packing options, and a quote.
Bay Leaves Co. supplies bulk Turkish bay leaves to U.S. buyers as a brand of Tuna Project. Orders are placed with the U.S. seller of record, Tuna Project LLC (St. Petersburg, Florida), while sourcing and export are handled by Tuna Project Global Trade Inc. in İzmir, Turkey.
Yes. You contract with Tuna Project LLC, a Florida-registered U.S. company, so your purchase order and invoicing sit with a U.S. seller. Tuna Project handles export from Turkey and delivery to your U.S. warehouse, typically within about 60 days.
Request a quote with your destination, volume, grade, and packing format. We prepare a DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) quote where Tuna Project manages export documentation, ocean freight, U.S. customs clearance, and final delivery — so the leaves arrive at your warehouse with duties handled.
Plan for roughly 60 days from confirmed order to delivery at a U.S. warehouse, depending on volume, packing format, port, and Incoterm.
Grades range from Hand-picked Select (retail / gourmet) through Semi-select and Standard to Industrial / Crushed (distillation and seasoning feedstock). Standard packing is 25 kg and 50 kg pressed bales and 10 kg carton boxes; buyer-specific packing is available by RFQ.
From Turkey — primarily the Aegean region, with Mediterranean and Marmara / Black Sea origins. The Aegean benchmark (1.5–2.5% essential oil) is the reference most U.S. and European buyers index to.
Order from a U.S. seller of record. DDP available; delivered in about 60 days.
