Spice resource?

eriana said:

OK, please forgive me if this has been discussed before...but I'd like info on some good,
INEXPENSIVE places to purchase spices online. Penzey's looks rather expensive...but how is the
quality? I'm an avid cook, and I love experimenting, but we're on a very tight budget...so I'd
like the best "bang for the buck", so to speak...

Penzey's is worth the money but when you're buying Spanish saffron, for example, cost is not much
of an issue.

I suggest you find a farmers' market. Usually you can find fresh herbs and somewhat fresh spices
there, although you will have to do the chopping and grinding yourself. Anyway, the cost is usually
low compared to stupidmarkets and you get much better quality. You just don't get the convenience.

--
John Gaughan
johngaughan.netjohngaughan.netOpen ↗
[email hidden]

"eriana" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

OK, please forgive me if this has been discussed before...but I'd like

info

Quoted message said:

on some good, INEXPENSIVE places to purchase spices online. Penzey's

looks

Quoted message said:

rather expensive...but how is the quality? I'm an avid cook, and I love experimenting, but we're
on a very tight budget...so I'd like the best

"bang

Quoted message said:

for the buck", so to speak...

Hi- While I do think the Penzey's can run a bit on the expensive side depending on what you're
buying, you can't beat their quality or selection. If a jar of bay leaves at the stupidmarket is
close to $5, I can get better quality from Penzey's, and their stuff never seems to be 'old', if
that helps. Their prices used to put me off, but I've learned that it's very much worth it for what
you end up with.

As always, YMMV... Stace

"eriana" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

OK, please forgive me if this has been discussed before...but I'd like

info

Quoted message said:

on some good, INEXPENSIVE places to purchase spices online. Penzey's

looks

Quoted message said:

rather expensive...but how is the quality? I'm an avid cook, and I love experimenting, but we're
on a very tight budget...so I'd like the best

"bang

Quoted message said:

for the buck", so to speak...

TIA!

~Eri

Penzey's quality is great. I am also on a budget, but unlike you, I really don't think they're
terribly expensive. Most spices, I get the 1/4 cup jars--the smallest size--and they typically run
anywhere from 1.19 to 3.00. In the supermarkets around here, I would pay about 4-5 dollars for that
same-sized container and it wouldn't be nearly the quality of Penzeys. Granted, some of the spice
blends can be a little pricey, but just for normal, standard spices, the prices seem pretty
reasonable to me, especially when you take the quality into account.

in article [email hidden], eriana at
[email hidden] wrote on 1/18/04 5:43 PM:

Quoted message said:

OK, please forgive me if this has been discussed before...but I'd like info on some good,
INEXPENSIVE places to purchase spices online. Penzey's looks rather expensive...but how is the
quality? I'm an avid cook, and I love experimenting, but we're on a very tight budget...so I'd
like the best "bang for the buck", so to speak...

TIA!

~Eri

Penzey's herbs and spices are very inexpensive, compared to supermarket brands. Even the blends, in
the small jars, are under $3. You can't even compare those to the the supermarket brands because
they don't have them. The single herbs, like oregano, basil, etc, are mostly around $1.29.

Sure, you can buy some basic herbs in tall jars at the drug store (CVS, Walgreens, Eckards, all
carry them) for 99 cents. And I guess, compared to those, yeah, Penzey's is pricey. But those are
goodness-knows-how-old in those bottles, to start with. Add in they sit there forever...well, you
are not getting the freshest dried herbs in the world in those 99 cent bottles, I promise you that.
Herbs' flavor just fades with time, so you will wind up using lots more of old herbs to get the same
amount of flavor from fresher herbs and spices.

Depends on how often you use herbs and spices and how long hang around at your house. I know when I
was buying the cheap stuff, I had to use a lot more, and still didn't get the flavor that much, so i
just didn't bother a lot of the time, it didn't really add much but "grass" to my food. Once I
discovered Penzey's, however, i found out what they all really taste like. And I use them because
they do add a lot to my cooking.

Bang for the buck? Depends on your definition. If you mean sheer quantity for the price, then go
with cheap drug store herbs and spices. (Spice World is one brand they carry)

For maximum flavor for a small investment, I'd say Penzey's is your best bet.

DRB said:

Penzey's quality is great. I am also on a budget, but unlike you, I really don't think they're
terribly expensive. Most spices, I get the 1/4 cup jars--the smallest size--and they typically run
anywhere from 1.19 to 3.00. In the supermarkets around here, I would pay about 4-5 dollars for
that same-sized container and it wouldn't be nearly the quality of Penzeys.

I'm with you, I think the prices at Penzeys are excellent. I cringe when I have to buy some spice
from the supermarket at those prices for that quality when I need something now. If you know what I
mean. I'm probably like most here, I buy the jars, then when it comes time to restock, I buy larger
quantities in the bag and just refill the jars.

Yeah, I know, you have to pay shipping, that's life. But the spices in the stores are out of sight,
pricewise.

nancy

in article [email hidden], Stace at [email hidden]
wrote on 1/18/04 6:02 PM:

Quoted message said:

"eriana" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

OK, please forgive me if this has been discussed before...but I'd like

info

Quoted message said:

on some good, INEXPENSIVE places to purchase spices online. Penzey's

looks

Quoted message said:

rather expensive...but how is the quality? I'm an avid cook, and I love experimenting, but we're
on a very tight budget...so I'd like the best

"bang

Quoted message said:

for the buck", so to speak...

Hi- While I do think the Penzey's can run a bit on the expensive side depending on what you're
buying, you can't beat their quality or selection. If a jar of bay leaves at the stupidmarket is
close to $5, I can get better quality from Penzey's, and their stuff never seems to be 'old', if
that helps. Their prices used to put me off, but I've learned that it's very much worth it for
what you end up with.

As always, YMMV... Stace

Well, you wind up using less because their stuff still packs the flavor. Lots of the cheaper brands
are faded when you buy them. I can buy old basil for 99 cents at CVS Pharmacy for a big tall jar.
That amount would cost me over $2 from Penzeys. But the basil at the drug store has about 1/3 the
flavor, so i have to use 3 times as much, so really....

$1.09 for a quarter ounce jar will last me as long as that 99 cent bottle of the old, tasteless
stuff. And take up less room to store.

That, to me, is a bargain.

If you are really on a tight budget, don't bother with the blends at first. Just get the basic herbs
and blend as you cook.

in article [email hidden], Nancy Young at
[email hidden] wrote on 1/18/04 7:12 PM:

Quoted message said:

DRB said:

Penzey's quality is great. I am also on a budget, but unlike you, I really don't think they're
terribly expensive. Most spices, I get the 1/4 cup jars--the smallest size--and they typically
run anywhere from 1.19 to 3.00. In the supermarkets around here, I would pay about 4-5 dollars
for that same-sized container and it wouldn't be nearly the quality of Penzeys.

I'm with you, I think the prices at Penzeys are excellent. I cringe when I have to buy some spice
from the supermarket at those prices for that quality when I need something now. If you know what
I mean. I'm probably like most here, I buy the jars, then when it comes time to restock, I buy
larger quantities in the bag and just refill the jars.

Yeah, I know, you have to pay shipping, that's life. But the spices in the stores are out of
sight, pricewise.

nancy

And you have to use more to get the same flavor. Don't forget that! A pinch of Penzey's gives as
much bang as a spoonful of the other [censored]!

And ~~I~~ don't have to pay for shipping! (but I do have to use gasoline...)
:-)

Eriana said:

but I'd like info on some good, INEXPENSIVE places to purchase spices online. Penzey's looks rather
expensive...but how is the quality? I'm an avid cook, and I love experimenting, but we're on a very
tight budget...so I'd like the best "bang for the buck", so to speak...

--------------------------------
Do you have large supermarkets that have a lot of "health food" items ? At Henry's Markets in the
San Diego area they have a whole wall of large spice jars. You put as much, or as little in a little
plastic bag and pay by the weight of the spice. Wonderful not only for cost-saving, but freshness.
You can replace your spices often.

Quoted message said:

"Sheryl Rosen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Well, you wind up using less because their stuff still packs the flavor. Lots of the cheaper
brands are faded when you buy them. I can buy old basil for 99 cents at CVS Pharmacy for a big
tall jar. That amount would cost me over $2 from Penzeys. But the basil at the drug

store

Quoted message said:

has about 1/3 the flavor, so i have to use 3 times as much, so really....

$1.09 for a quarter ounce jar will last me as long as that 99 cent bottle

of

Quoted message said:

the old, tasteless stuff. And take up less room to store.

That, to me, is a bargain.

If you are really on a tight budget, don't bother with the blends at

first.

Quoted message said:

Just get the basic herbs and blend as you cook.

You just re-iterated my point, exactly. Their quality just can't be beat. Sunny Paris,
unfortunately, is my favorite seasoning blend.
🙁

Stace

eriana said:

OK, please forgive me if this has been discussed before...but I'd like info on some good,
INEXPENSIVE places to purchase spices online. Penzey's looks rather expensive...but how is the
quality?

It is certainly cheaper than the super market, and far, far better. I have friends who swear by
Frontier Spices at big food co-ops, but I have no idea how old the stuff is. blacksalt

"Nancree" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Eriana said:

but I'd like info on some good, INEXPENSIVE places to purchase spices online. Penzey's

looks

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

rather expensive...but how is the quality? I'm an avid cook, and I love experimenting, but we're
on a very tight budget...so I'd like the best

"bang

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

for the buck", so to speak...

--------------------------------
Do you have large supermarkets that have a lot of "health food" items ?

At

Quoted message said:

Henry's Markets in the San Diego area they have a whole wall of large

spice

Quoted message said:

jars. You put as much, or as little in a little plastic bag and pay by

the

Quoted message said:

weight of the spice. Wonderful not only for cost-saving, but freshness.

You

Quoted message said:

can replace your spices often.

I shop there a few times a week (Henry's - hard not to call it Boney's), the one on Park Blvd. I
like there teas as well. It's been way more crowded since the supermarket strike, but they still
keep things pretty well stocked. I especially like the specials they have on Salmon though, and all
of the bulk foods.

Cheers, Suzan

"kalanamak" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

eriana said:

OK, please forgive me if this has been discussed before...but I'd like

info

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

on some good, INEXPENSIVE places to purchase spices online. Penzey's

looks

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

rather expensive...but how is the quality?

It is certainly cheaper than the super market, and far, far better. I have friends who swear by
Frontier Spices at big food co-ops, but I have no idea how old the stuff is. blacksalt

I've used Frontier Spices for quite a few years now with some Penzeys and Stonewall Kitchen blends
thrown in for variety. I buy the Frontier at a high volume "health food" store. I've found the
flavors to be very pleasant with plenty of bang for the buck. If a limited budget is the concern I'd
really recomend loose Frontier spices...for $20 or less I *could* fill all of my 30 odd spice jars.

Jessica

In article <[email hidden]>,

eriana said:

OK, please forgive me if this has been discussed before...but I'd like info on some good,
INEXPENSIVE places to purchase spices online. Penzey's looks rather expensive...but how is the
quality? I'm an avid cook, and I love experimenting, but we're on a very tight budget...so I'd
like the best "bang for the buck", so to speak...

Then go with Penzeys. They're the best spices I've ever used, bar none.

Miche

--
If you want to end war and stuff you got to sing loud. -- Arlo Guthrie, "Alice's Restaurant"

"eriana" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

OK, please forgive me if this has been discussed before...but I'd like

info

Quoted message said:

on some good, INEXPENSIVE places to purchase spices online. Penzey's

looks

Quoted message said:

rather expensive...but how is the quality? I'm an avid cook, and I love experimenting, but we're
on a very tight budget...so I'd like the best

"bang

Quoted message said:

for the buck", so to speak...

TIA!

~Eri

In terms of bang for the buck, Penzey's is hard to beat. The spices are quality, the prices really
aren't that expensive and the service is outstanding. If you really are on a tight budget, grow your
own herbs and save some $$.

Jack Fertile

I've had great luck with spicebarn.com

Sheryl Rosen said:

$1.09 for a quarter ounce jar will last me as long as that 99 cent bottle of the old, tasteless
stuff. And take up less room to store.

No one ever mentions S & H $$. Is it free?

Practice safe eating - always use condiments

"sf" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Sheryl Rosen said:

$1.09 for a quarter ounce jar will last me as long as that 99 cent

bottle of

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the old, tasteless stuff. And take up less room to store.

No one ever mentions S & H $$. Is it free?

No, but it's not outrageous, and doesn't add much per item. penzeys.comcgiOpen ↗
bin/penzeys/geoprompt.html?id=BCLL79N3&mv_pc=14 is the url for their shipping rates.

In article <[email hidden]>, Miche <[email hidden]>
wrote: (snip inquiry)

Quoted message said:

Then go with Penzeys. They're the best spices I've ever used, bar none.

Quoted message said:

Miche

Holy moley!! You paying for them to ship to you in NZ? That's quite an endorsement.
--
-Barb A good friend will come and bail you out of jail; a true friend will be sitting next to you
saying, "Damn,that was fun!"

"Nancree" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Do you have large supermarkets that have a lot of "health food" items ?

At

Quoted message said:

Henry's Markets in the San Diego area they have a whole wall of large

spice

Quoted message said:

jars.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH...no...I live in the "sticks" of North Carolina. The only large city anywhere
close is Raleigh -- 3 hours away; we only get there about once every 12-15 months...and I've never
been in a grocery store there.

We're moving back to Texas in a few months -- probably near Austin -- and there are MANY awesome
stores (health-food, health/grocery, and grocery stores)...not to mention the plethora of marvellous
Hispanic spices, mixes, and accompaniments you just can't find here ("nopalitos? What are
nopalitos?" *rolleyes). I guess I'll wait until after we move, so I can hand-pick what I want...as
well as start up my herb garden again. (WOOHOO! FRESH!)

Thanks!

~Eri 🙂