5 Companies That Sell Quality Herbs & Spices
Herbs and spices can elevate a meal from bland to delicious. Home cooks and professional chefs alike rely on quality seasoning companies to supply them with unique blends and high-quality ingredients. The companies listed here offer everything from allspice to vanilla, encompassing a wide variety of regional cuisines. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.
Companies Offering Great Seasonings
| Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Arvinda's Spices & Chai | Mississauga, ON |
| New York Shuk | Brooklyn, NY |
| Frontier Co-op | Norway, IA |
| Curio Spice Co. | North Cambridge, MA |
| Rodelle | Fort Collins, CO |
Why Do Humans Use Spices?
Common Seasonings Worth Keeping On Hand
- Allspice
- Anise
- Basil
- Bay Leaf
- Cardamom
- Chile
- Cilantro
- Cinnamon
- Clove
- Coriander
- Cumin
- Curry
- Dill
- Fennel
- Ginger
- Mint
- Mustard Seed
- Nutmeg
- Oregano
- Parsley
- Pepper
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Star Anise
- Thyme
- Turmeric
- Vanilla
What's The Difference Between Herbs And Spices?
Both terms apply to seasonings used in cooking and baking, and many people confuse the two or use them interchangeably. But there is a distinction between herbs and spices. All herbs are leaves, such as oregano, parsley, and basil. Seasonings that come from other parts of plants, such as seeds, bark, and roots, are considered spices (examples include cinnamon, pepper, and cumin). Sometimes, a single species can produce both an herb and a spice. Cilantro and coriander, for instance, come from the same plant, but are made from the leaves and seeds respectively. Spices tend to have a stronger flavor than herbs and are often finely ground. Herbs can be used chopped or whole and fresh or dried.
Are You Using Spices Correctly?
In Depth
The use of herbs and spices in the kitchen can elevate cuisine to new heights. From different types of pepper to the various forms of vanilla, seasonings are a must have for home cooks and professional chefs alike. Here, in no particular order, are companies offering high end spices.
Entering the list at #1 is Arvinda's Spices & Chai, which specializes in freshly roasted, ground, and small batch Indian and international spice blends. Located in Canada, it sources such local ingredients as Ontario garlic. Its boutique and bar offers a full range of Indian masalas, Bombay Shake, and salt free options.
Arvinda's popular cooking classes feature traditional and healthy cuisine from all regions of India. Courses include how to make its signature Butter Chicken, a spice tour and tasting, and dishes that incorporate turmeric. It has been featured in such media outlets as Toronto Star, CTV News, and HuffPost Canada.
Arvinda's popular cooking classes feature traditional and healthy cuisine from all regions of India.
At #2 is New York Shuk, an artisanal food company focusing on Sephardic and Middle Eastern Jewish cuisines. Its Harissa Collection features spice blends with such ingredients as garlic, fennel, preserved lemons, and sun dried chili peppers. Its popular couscous kits guide customers through the process of making the dish from scratch.
The Moroccan Tea Set features a proprietary blend for spiced tea, as well as traditional sweets such as pistachio halva and Turkish delight. New York Shuk regularly hosts cooking classes featuring such themes as preparing Middle Eastern dishes at home, Shabbat dinner, Israeli breakfast, and salads. Goop praises the company's spices for their deeply rich and aromatic flavor.
In the #3 spot is Frontier Co-op, a member owned cooperative supporting natural living since 1976. Each of its spices undergoes inspection at an in-house lab to test for flavor, color, aroma, moisture, and oil content. Popular offerings include Cut & Sifted Oregano, Applewood Smoked Sea Salt, and Organic Ground Vietnamese Cinnamon.
Each of its spices undergoes inspection at an in-house lab to test for flavor, color, aroma, moisture, and oil content.
Its Spice Guide features tips on making your own blends, buying in bulk, how to choose pepper, and storage. Frontier Co-op also offers seasonal recipes and meal ideas such as Fire Roasted Stuffed Peppers, and holiday cocktails like Jamaican Christmas Punch. Media coverage of the company includes Tasting Table and Fine Cooking.
Coming in at #4 is Curio Spice Co., which specializes in directly sourced, sustainably produced spices from around the world. Among its bestselling items are Costa Rican Ginger, French Lavender, and Spanish Sweet Paprika. Its House Made Bourbon Barrel Aged Vanilla Extract comes from its partner farm in Madagascar, and is recommended for baking and cocktails.
The Spice School features cooking classes that cover such topics as how to make pickles, grilling, vegetarian dishes, and Thai. The company also offers a wide array of tools and culinary gifts for the home chef, such as hand carved cinnamon bark boxes from Vietnam, and cast iron and wood pepper mills.
The Spice School features cooking classes that cover such topics as how to make pickles, grilling, vegetarian dishes, and Thai.
Wrapping up the list at #5 is Rodelle, one of the largest vanilla extract manufacturers in the United States. It offers pastes, gourmet beans, and extracts. Other specialty items include organic cinnamon sticks and baking cocoa. Among its chef tested recipes that incorporate vanilla are watercolor sugar cookie bars and baked doughnuts.
Through its strategic partnership with Sahanala Madagascar, an employee owned cooperative, Rodelle purchases its vanilla beans directly from local farmers. Colorado's Department of Public Health & Environment has recognized the company's sustainability initiatives with a Bronze Achiever designation. Rodelle has been featured in such media outlets as Real Simple, The Denver Post, and City Style and Living.
