.
Those little spice jars will get you.
The out-of-season raspberries are outrageous. You register sticker shock when you see the the price for a pound of halibut or a standing rib roast. But ounce for ounce, pound for pound, nothing rivals herbs and spices when it comes to the audacity of pricing.
There is a typical knee-jerk response to bulk spices: They wont be fresh. The flavors will be faded.
Even better—skip the supermarket and buy online.
Dollar a Day Gourmet sells all of its spices for 98¢ per ounce. At that price you’re not getting saffron; the selection is limited to the basics like basil, oregano, cumin, and bay leaves, but the quality is good and the price is right.
Penzey’s is not the cheapest, but the selection is broad and the quality is excellent.
At Foodzie the artisan food market, you’ll find rare, regional, and sustainably produced herbs and spices.
Spice Sherpa can help with spice selection, storage, and pairings. At this time of year, the blog is a good resource for seasonal and gift suggestions.
The Herb+ phone app has a photo gallery that can help you identify herbs and spices, as well as detailed information about culinary and medicinal uses.
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Really good post!
thanks for this interesting post, well done
i’m a bulk buyer too, and not just spices, all kinds of stuff
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I ought to add that My Spice Sage gives you a free 1 oz. sample with any purchase.
Wow! I found your post on Food News Journal and skipped over here to tell you congratulations only to read a link to Spice Sherpa! Thank you.
And yes, you covered a topic that is right on target. When I buy at the market I always start at the bulk. There are a few spices that can be a bit confusing such as cinnamon or vanilla extract because you aren’t always buying what you think you may be purchasing.
Another way to get the best flavor for your buck is to purchase whole spices then grind them as you need them. The difference between fresh ground and purchased in powdered form is remarkable. New cooks will amaze themselves and seasoned chefs can access a whole new level of flavor this way. AND bulk spices cost less.
We had a wonderful spice shop in CO that I visited almost weekly! I miss it here in Austin, but now I buy all of my spices in bulk at Whole Foods. They are so much better and far more affordable!
I am also a Penzey’s fan. We got a shop here in Philly a few years ago and it makes for a great outing.
Great info on spices and herbs. I switched to online purchasing years ago – both for quality and prices. I have been purchasing bi-annually from Penzey’s and am very satisfied with their spices and herbs. Vanilla beans and extracts I buy elsewhere, mostly because of price.
Quality of spices really makes a difference when cooking. Once you have tried higher quality spices you will never go back.