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Good sources for herbs and spices

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TasunkaWitko View Drop Down
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    Posted: 26 September 2018 at 10:24
Hi, everyone -

If you are like me, your location (north-central Montana, in my case) might prevent you from finding some herbs or spices that you are looking for in order to try any recipes or projects that you might be interested in.

In order to help find a solution for this problem, I've decided to compile a list of a few sources that I've found to be quite helpful in this regard. Going forward, if I can't find any herbs or spices locally (or grow them myself), I plan to order them through the links posted on this thread, as I found that clicking on those links (good) and purchasing through those links (better) helps this forum pay for itself. I'd like to invite other members to do so, as well.

https://www.savoryspiceshop.com/ - this one has been a good, consistent source for herbs and spices for me; they also have a salt-free "Bohemian" herb and spice blend that I really like using.

https://rawspicebar.com/ - This is one that I only recently discovered, but I like their concept and their pricing. The site seems - at first - to be a bit confusing to navigate; in my opinion, the best place to start when looking for a spice or herb is the "Spice Shop" button. It looks like a little jar and is located right underneath the reddish "Get Started" button up in the top-right of the home page.

https://www.riceandspice.de/ - I have not tried this source, which is located in Germany; however, it looks like it might be a great option for our European members, with an impressive inventory of spices that appear - to me - to be quite nice.

https://www.amazon.com/ - If you can't find it anywhere else, you might be able to find it on Amazon.

For Canadian members, there is https://www.amazon.ca/

For European members, there are various links to Amazon, depending on the country:

The United Kingdom - https://www.amazon.co.uk/
Germany - https://www.amazon.de/
Spain - https://www.amazon.es/
France - https://www.amazon.fr/
Italy - https://www.amazon.it/

I hope this helps -

Ron
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TasunkaWitko View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote TasunkaWitko Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 September 2018 at 12:17
The links in the opening post help the forum pay for itself. Here are links that - as far as I know - do not help the forum pay for itself. If I find out otherwise, I will move them to the opening post.

https://www.myspicesage.com/ - Good, friendly, efficient service, some nice promotions and a great inventory.

https://www.iherb.com/ - Good, efficient service and fair prices. For quite a while, I got my Hungarian paprika from here, until I found a better source. The selection of herbs and spices doesn't seem quite as good as it used to be, but definitely worth a try.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote TasunkaWitko Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 September 2018 at 14:50
I ordered some spices today - the first was from the Savory Spice Shop, which I have used before and have always had good experience with.

The second order I placed was from the Raw Spice Bar; it looks like an interesting site with a good concept. You can either set up a "subscription of spices for regular purchase; or, you can simply buy spices and spice blends individually, as one normally would. The spices and spice blends are advertised as being high-quality and sourced around the world; they are freshly toasted (if applicable) and ground to order, and the spice blends are salt-free, unless specified.

From what I can see, all individual products are a flat rate (7.00$ US) and if you order two or more products, you get free shipping. It looks like you can save a dollar per product if you use their "subscription" service, and still receive the free seasoning; however, I can't think of anything that I would order on a regular basis, for now - so, I will simply order them individually.

In addition, orders made through the links on the forum receive a commission to help with forum expenses.

For now, I simply ordered a couple of spice blends; salt-free taco seasoning:

https://rawspicebar.com/products/taco-seasoning

and a Yemeni "Hawaij" spice blend:

https://rawspicebar.com/products/hawaij

We'll see how this goes, but I am optimistic, at this time.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Hoser Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 September 2018 at 11:57
Go ahead...play with your food!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote TasunkaWitko Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 April 2019 at 11:19
Originally posted by Ron Ron wrote:

https://rawspicebar.com/ - This is one that I only recently discovered, but I like their concept and their pricing. The site seems - at first - to be a bit confusing to navigate; in my opinion, the best place to start when looking for a spice or herb is the "Spice Shop" button. It looks like a little jar and is located right underneath the reddish "Get Started" button up in the top-right of the home page.


I have been meaning to post an update on the order I made from these folks; the spice mixes that I ordered very, very good, but the order took an incredibly long time to ship. My guess is that they might wait until they get a "minimum" amount of orders for a spice mix before they mix it, which makes a certain amount of sense, so that it can be as fresh as possible.

To compensate for this, they did provide discount codes that pretty much amounted to one or two free orders.

My conclusion: very good products and customer service, but order ahead of time, as much as possible.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Margi Cintrano Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 April 2019 at 15:26

Informative post ..  
Volamos a Mediterraneo, un paraiso que conquista su gente u su cocina.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote kenmiller Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 May 2019 at 04:29
Ohh great, I found something new here.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote MyPinchofItaly.co.uk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 May 2019 at 11:58
This is a useful post Ron, thank you.

In this regard, I would like to know if you can find the myrtle plant in the US (maybe in California?), or if you have the chance to buy it online, if I have a little trouble finding it.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote TasunkaWitko Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 May 2019 at 12:38
Hi, Fiorenza ~

I will defer this question to Brook, who will hopefully have more information as to Myrtle's availability. I did find this on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Myrtle-Leaf-Cut-Sifted-communis/dp/B0032K35T8

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote MyPinchofItaly.co.uk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 May 2019 at 12:50

Oh that's good, thank you so much.

What I had found on Internet it was not very satisfying. I'll be waiting fro Brook's reply as well!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote TasunkaWitko Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 May 2019 at 12:52
If your climate is amiable, it looks as though it can be grown with little trouble; both live plants and seeds are also available on Amazon.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote HistoricFoodie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 May 2019 at 21:12
Myrtle grows readily in many parts of the U.S., including places as diverse as North Carolina and the Pacific NW. 

I didn't know it had culinary uses.  What do you use it for?
But we hae meat and we can eat
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote HistoricFoodie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 May 2019 at 21:59
So, a quick search reveals that myrtle leaves are used similarly to bay leaves, and the dried berries are used similarly to juniper. 

Italy appears to be the big user of it. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote MyPinchofItaly.co.uk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 May 2019 at 01:19
Certainly, in Italy myrtle grows luxuriant especially in Sardinia but also in Tuscany, where however it is called Mortella.
Myrtle also grows in the south coast of England.

I had no information, however, about the US, not only as a growth but also as an eventual imported product.

In Sardinia, myrtle berries are mainly used to produce the liqueur with the proper name, 'Mirto', and it is the correspondent of Limoncello, excellent for concluding a meal accompanied by some sweet treats.

But myrtle leaves are also used in the kitchen, when I go back to Sardinia (my maternal origin) I use them. They are used to flavor the sauces, the meat (the dish of roast suckling cooked with branches and myrtle leaves is famous) and even fish.

I'll post some recipe about that!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote HistoricFoodie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 May 2019 at 01:32
So I gathered from reading about it when I researched your request.

Here in the States, unless you harvest it yourself, it's doubtful you could find it fresh.  It is available in the form of dried leaves (like bay).  

Using it for culinary purposes was new to me, although I do know people who burn it when cooking on a grill.  The smoke from myrtle adds a rather unique flavor to the food.
But we hae meat and we can eat
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote MyPinchofItaly.co.uk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 May 2019 at 02:06
Your information about the myrtle in US has been very useful to me, thanks!

Pass the branch of myrtle with the leaves on a meat or a fish while they are grilling or let them cook together, remarkable! 
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