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I've always scoffed at specialty spices, trusting that my supermarket-brand basil is just as capable as any fancy French or California variety. I mean, can there really be that much quality variation if there's only one ingredient? It turns out: yes. I recently visited Penzeys Spices, a national chain of spice stores featuring multiple versions of every spice and herb imaginable – all available for smell-testing in "smellevision" jars. I whiffed Spanish and Hungarian paprika, Chinese and Viennese cinnamon, and about 15 different chili combinations. Additionally, the store concocts its own rubs for meats and fishes, and even a sandwich spice to sprinkle on hoagies. If you don't live near one of the store's locations, no worries – you can visit the catalog and place orders online. Plus, the goods seem to cost a bit less than they would at a regular supermarket.
I left Penzeys with a headache from smelling too many whole pepper varieties, a bag of amazing spices and a newfound appreciation for some specialty food ingredients that I'd long overlooked.
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2-19-2008 @8:34PM Rachel said... There is a Penzey's within walking distance of my parents' house (oddly enough, the only one in all of California). I love going there, they have the best prices for real deal vanilla beans (I believe $6.39 for 3, and they have beans from Mexico, Madagascar, and Tahiti). Their prices for all of their spices simply can't be beat! Check them out.
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2-19-2008 @8:47PM david said... Penzey's cinnamon is one of the few luxuries we indulge in. Once you taste even the Chinese Cassia, there is no going back to the supermarket brand.
For many spice, in bulk, they are even cheaper than the grocery store. The cumin is way better and cheaper (in the 1# bag) than what WalMart has. Regardless of price, the quality is always way above what you find at the supermarket.
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2-20-2008 @12:33AM Rob Brooks-Bilson said... Once I tried Penzey's cinnamon, there was no turning back. It gave me a new found appreciation for zuchini bread. These days, I find myself buing spices I use often from Penzey's. I don't mind spending a little more (in some cases) because there really is a huge difference in quality over your average supermarket spices.
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2-20-2008 @1:10AM thefishie said... Another fan of Penzey's here. For the staple items (like the cinnamon) I like from them, I buy in bulk. They also have a small size that's great to give something new a try without buying a big container of it.
The closest store is about 75 miles from me but if I'm in that area I always make a stop. Inevitably there's something I need!
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2-20-2008 @3:06AM Kitt said... I love Penzey's, and their parent company, The Milwaukee Spice House, even more.
But Rachel, you can't beat saffron.com for vanilla prices. $20 gets you a pound of beans. That about 100 beans! I won a 1/2 pound from there through SteamyKitchen.com and they're wonderful. Photos here.
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2-20-2008 @3:09AM Kitt said... Well phooey. All my links got stripped out.
Photos of vanilla winnings here:
http://kittbo.blogspot.com/2007/12/vanilla-bean-good-to-me.html
Saffron.com vanilla:
http://www.saffron.com/vanillalowprice.html
Milwaukee Spice House:
http://www.thespicehouse.com/
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2-20-2008 @5:06AM Tim said... Most recipes assume the chef is using mega-mart spices. Know that because Penzey's spices are so much more fresh than mega-mart spices you can use 1/2 as much and receive a better result.
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2-20-2008 @8:13AM MC said... I spent $80 at Penzey's earlier this month. Mostly on blends and rubs, because holy smokes, that Northwoods Spice blend is amazing, and so are the dressings, like the French vinaigrette.
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2-20-2008 @8:53AM kaszeta said... I've loved Penzey's, ever since having one down the street in Minnesota. Alas, they are mail-order for me now (nearest one is down in MA).
One down side I've found about the wonderful spices at Penzey's: Many of my recipes I have to really turn down the spice level since the spices are stronger than those used when formulating the recipe. Notable examples of this were a sichuan peppercorn stirfry and a chipotle-chocolate ice cream, both of which were very, very strong.
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2-20-2008 @9:59AM Claudia said... I am fortunate here to have a Penzeys in Columbus. Their products are superior to spices in any supermarket and the prices are better, too. It's a win-win. I highly recommend it!
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2-20-2008 @1:33PM Celeste said... I've been a huge fan of Penzeys ever since getting some of their herb mixes as a holiday present. Now they're my go-to place for spices, as I'm lucky enough to have one just up the street from me in Arlington, MA. I second the spice mixes. I particularly love the Bavarian rub for roasting meats of all kinds and the Foxwoods mix in egg salad, but I've never had anything that didn't make me go *wow.* I took my sister to the store near her in the Twin Cities area and she's hooked now, too.
As others have mentioned, the quality is so much higher than what you get at the grocery store that you can use quite a bit less in your recipes, which makes the prices very reasonable. But I also wanted to put in a good word for the Penzeys catalog: it includes recipes as well as mini-essays by the founder, Bill Penzey, himself, and I adore the honest, folksy perspective throughout the whole thing. For instance, they tell you when you can get away with a less expensive kind of salt, for example, and when you should spring for the supernice stuff--which is something a lot of companies don't do !
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2-20-2008 @11:16PM charcuterista said... I adore Penzey's spices. My latest favorite is the Balti spice blend, a different take on a curry blend, which I just used making my own semolina crackers. Yum!
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