Bay leaf (No established Swahili name; sold in Kenyan supermarkets simply as "bay leaves" (dried Laurus nobilis))

Whole dried leaves are simmered into stews, bean dishes (maharagwe), pilau, biryani, soups and slow-cooked meat, then fished out before serving. It adds a warm, herbal aroma rather than being eaten.

Traditionally used to ease digestion, bloating and gas, and in folk practice a leaf tea is commonly taken to settle the stomach; it has also traditionally been used to support healthy blood sugar. These are traditional/folk uses, not proven treatments.

Essentially zero net carbs as used (a whole leaf that flavours the pot and is removed), so it fits keto freely and pairs well with the fatty stews and bone broths common on low-carb Kenyan cooking.