Do I admit this to the group?!?!
I've been cooking curry for nearly 15 years, but until I joined this group I did not know that the bay leaf I've been using is specifically European and that Indian is so different. I obviously vigorously beat myself with a stick upon this realisation, and ran straight out to buy the genuine article. The difference is more noticeable than I'd imagined. Like, I just wouldn't bother using any if all I had was European.
What amazed me though, was in all my years living in London and frequenting Indian grocers/stores, I don't recall ever once seeing anything on offer other than the European leaf. I live in NZ now and have found a source whom I will treasure!