Your cooking will be bumped up a notch by using fresh bay leaves rather than the typical dried ones found on most store shelves. Fresh leaves can be harvested from this tree at any time but the best time is in late summer and the older leaves are regarded as the better quality as they have the essential oils that make these flavorful leaves a must-have for many soups and stews. Bay leaves can also be used to repel the typical kitchen pests such as mice, flies, meal moths, silverfish, and even the dreaded cockroach. just scatter a few around your pantry.