I prefer to wait until I visit the store. I keep lots of spices in the freezer, so when I know I am low, I'll put in on my mental list to grab some next time. Of course I have not been in nearly 2 years now (unrelated to Covid - we have not really stopped any travel) so I have had to buy a couple of thing at the grocery, The only thing I really LOVE at Penzey's specifically, is their cinnamon, and shallots, and sandwich spice. Probably a couple of others in that list too. I have a crap ton of spices though, LOL.

Wow...hard to choose. Here's what's in my spice cabinet from them now: pasta sprinkles, tuscan sunset, mural of flavor, Parisien bonnes herbes, Bavarian seasoning, Chicago steak seasoning, garam masala, chervil, bouquet garni, and I never go there without getting more Vietnamese cinnamon.

I am sorry to brag, but I have a Penzey store about 10 minutes from my house. I am a lazy cook, so I like their blends. I tend to reach for their Arizona seasoning blend (can't recall the exact name) quite a bit.

Love Penzeys! I've ordered a few of their boxes to gift others and am always happy with their products.

I was at Penzey’s in Dallas a couple of weeks ago and the helpful lady there told me their number one seller by far is Ruth Ann’s Muskego Seasoning. It’s suppse to be for Fish and Chicken and Pork chops but it’s good on everything. Her words, but it is really good. I also got the World’s Best Black Pepper (I think it’s new?) which is very good too. Expensive for black pepper, but worth it for those special dishes. I seem to grab it all the time though lol. I got quite a few others but havent tried them all.

I got some of the AZ seasoning as my little gift freebie. It's been fun. I also got something like "Peace Love and Understanding" mix or some such, that's been fun too . . . :) And I love the bumper sticker I got last time, "Heal the world, cook dinner tonight." If only . . . well it's a start. At my house, dinner isn't that much fun, my menfolks are seemingly permanently grumpy and they bring that to the dinner table too. But we do use less resources and eat healthier food at our own table, so that's something.

Edited to add that I am going to have to try the fish seasoning next time. I used to buy seasoned fish breading at the grocery, but now that we are eating low salt, we can't eat it. I've been mixing it half and half with my own flour to use up what I had.

Edited further to add that I looked it up, sounds yum, but I would have to make "Lpinkmountain's Pelton Ave. Fish Seasoning" sans salt for us. (Pelton Ave. was the street I grew up on.)

https://www.penzeys.com/online-catalog/ruth-ann%27s-muskego-ave-chickenfish-seasoning/c-24/p-528/pd-s

Their whole cumin seed is nice.

I placed a big order at the holidays (along with 3 gift orders) and a small one just a couple of weeks ago, both with free shipping. Fun shopping!

In the store, they sell sample packets of some of their seasonings-I wonder if they do online?

I'm not sure. They send you ones for free with your orders, little surprise packages!

If you're a Penzey's newbie, a great deal of the appeal is that they have great writers for their catalogs and now online web site, and they provide you with delicious recipes to inspire you to use their spices. But also, they offer a high quality product and ways to get unusual spices and blends if you can't find them locally, and would prefer to buy in bulk rather than tiny jars, although they do sell lots of tiny jars too . . .

For example, here's what's for dinner tonight, although I must admit I will use Mrs. Dash Garlic Herb seasoning because I have a limited selection of their seasoning mixes. I usually buy the mixes as add ons to my order to get free shipping, but this time I didn't need to. BTW, their baking spice mix is tdf. It's light on the clove, which suits me fine.

https://www.penzeys.com/shop/recipes/chicken-pot-pie-kate-timmerman/

I used to live near a Penzey's store, and loved visiting. I now have a couple of small boutique spice stores nearby that fill the Penzey's void. When I buy spice combinations, I usually go salt-free because I like to add my own salt, and Penzey's has a good selection of salt-free blends.

Pink, enjoy your order and I'd be interested in the spice combinations you create. And you reminded me I'm out of dill!

Sounds like a great haul you're getting! I used to love Penzeys until I got an unsolicited dose of politics with my spices. I then switched to The Spice House - pretty much the same offerings but owned by the brother of the Penzeys guy. Doesn't matter what the political view is - I don't want my customer contact info taken advantage of for political use by a company I do business with.

Ive used both Penzey's and Spice House.. i actually prefer The Spice House.

I have a local company that grinds weekly and I use them for a lot of my spice needs these days-- their offerings are somewhat limited but they do have an interesting global variety. The company recently changed hands and I haven't tried them since the transition-- but i am due to order.

Calicutt Spices

I was trying a new recipe this past weekend that called for Chinese 5 spice powder. Didn't have any, finally at the 4th store found it - I now have enough to last the rest of my life! Would have loved the much smaller jar from Penzey's and of course completely forgot about our own little spice store for some reason. They also have teas that sound so interesting but I've never met a tea I couldn't live without.

I also love the Teeny Tiny Spice Company. I love that their mixes come in recyclable aluminum tins. Glass has become almost un-recyclable these days, and plastic recycling is a joke. That's why I like to buy from Penzey's. The spices used to come in cellophane bags but they have switched to plastic. I hope glass recycling returns some day. It is actually one of the easiest materials to recycle . . .

https://www.teenytinyspice.com/

2katz4me

I used to love Penzeys until I got an unsolicited dose of politics with my spices.

Yup. My GF at work stopped ordering from them the day she got that nonsense. I remember it well.

Za'atar! I have a Penzey's about 10 minutes away too.

Ooooo, Ill check out that Teeny Tiny place. I've been using Spice House. I'm with 2katz4me, I don't care if I agree or not, I don't want to be force fed politics from businesses taking my money. There a couple of blends I like...Ruth Ann's and Arizona Dreaming, but I'm pretty sure I can mix up my own. Spice House does have a stir fry blend we love, and I really like their flat packs....they always ship free. It's nice to just order a small bit and not get socked for shipping.

I stopped into our local Penzey's a couple of weeks ago for the first time since covid. I walked in the door and was immediately accosted by two masked employees who grabbed a mask off a table and waved it in my face. I'm vaxxed and content to mask in airplanes, hospitals etc. but masks in stores have not been required around here for months.

The whole interaction was unpleasant and odd. I didn't have a mask with me, they aren't required indoors in our state and I certainly wasn't going to wear one that they grabbed off an open pile on the table near the door. I told them I didn't have a mask and didn't want to wear a potentially dirty one, wished them a good day, and left.

So, no Vietnamese Cinnamon for me :(

When I lived in Houston there was a Penzey's near my house. Always a fun shopping experience.

I have zero issues wearing a mask in any store that asks me to do so, especially when they are providing the mask. It's a health thing, yanno? I don't know the medical condition of the folks that work there, so if you want me in a mask, I will gladly comply.

Knowing the politics of Penzey’s, they will be closing down soon anyway-only offering online.

No Penzey's near me and I had never even heard of them before encountering these posts. For years I have been purchasing bulk spices and herbs from a local high-end grocery chain. They carry a vast array of bulk foods including hundreds of dried herbs, spices and herb/spice blends. They carry everything you could possibly be looking for......and a lot you weren't!!

I prefer buying in bulk so I can regulate the amount I purchase to make sure it is relatively fresh and doesn't sit around for months/years before being used. It is rare that I do not purchase some bulk herb or spice with every visit. I am always getting short on something :-)

The other option is Marketspice at the Pike Place Market, which has been around for over 100 years. They also sell bulk spices, herbs and a huge assortment of teas.

I have been ordering from Penzey's for years. I tend to order a lot of the same things--their Turkish seasoning blend is a favorite. And for Mexican dishes, epazote, cumin, coriander. Once I got a call from them after placing an order. They noticed that I had ordered whole cumin seeds, but I typically order ground cumin, so they wanted to make sure that was what I wanted. Their catalogs are truly wonderful. When our kids were young, we used a lot of the information in those catalogs that describes where the spices come from, how they are grown, and how Penzey's works with the people who grow and gather them. It's a great company in my opinion.

lindac92 You make some incorrect assumptions. Just sayin'.

I did get an email from Penzey's saying it's time to mask back up in the stores.

There isn't a bulk spice place within 100 miles of me. So as a mail order company, my experience with Penzey's has been fabulous. Like I typed before, not just high quality spices but great information about the products and ways to use them, and I like the cool stickers that say disgusting political things like, "Embrace Hope." I'm pretty chill, I wouldn't mind if they sent me stickers that said, "Jesus Saves" even though I'm half Jewish, or "All Lives Matter" because I truly believe that. Now if they sent a bumper sticker that said "6M Is Not Enough" that would be another matter.

Edited to add that Dr. Bronner filled his product label with his goofy philosophies for years, I found it an interesting read out in the wilderness where I was using his biodegradable soap products back when it was one of the only ones on the market. Great soap and I'm pretty used to ignoring/not sweating differences of opinion unless someone is nasty. I still buy from LlBean even though one of the Beans holds political philosophies vastly different from mine. I respect people's right to express their beliefs, as long as it isn't hateful.

I’m surprised that everyone didn’t know about or expect Penzey’s outspokenness.

Around here, many stores still have signs asking that masks be worn. I expect that within a few days or weeks we’ll see many more masks. Get the jab people!

I have never bought or used any spice blends that i can recall, except garam masala... and now i even mix that myself. Never been a Penzey's fan, though people swear by them around here (and now I guess at them.)

I applaud Penzey for taking a stand, because I view it as unselfish. Their principles (as they see it) are more important than losing some business, which they had to know might occur. I think more people should take a stand on their principles, and not just take stands that line their pockets (this most popular way businesses get involved in p0litics by far). I just might have to buy something from them.

Speaking of which, Funky, too funny... not two days ago I got a package from Calicutt. I am making a Nigerian dish for cooking club and did in fact buy the blend from them.

Even more funny ... yesterday when I shared the link, I did a quick peek. I have a niece setting up her first home and it's time i purge/replenish my spices. I saw the Nigerian Suya (is that the one you used?) and thought it sounded incredibly interesting!

Had you saved a link I shared or did you find them in a search? They are a very small business-- I have been in their back "mixing room". Everything is so very fresh and much of it is blended by hand in bowls we probably all have in our kitchens!

I have not tried their Ras el Hanout either -- but I was the one who inspired the original owners to research and add it to their blends. I am a little hesitant because I had to tell them what it was-- but i will give it a try. I especially love ras el hanout on a cauliflower stir fry.

A lot of things are aligning for a relaxing fall here in the house of funky-- so a good time to try new recipes/spices.

(I have nothing against Penzey's really-- i just didn't love the blends I tried)

I haven't seen anything on their recent sales, but when Penzey's published their first essay, they expected sales to fall off and instead they had a 60% increase in on-line sales.

Yes, Funky that is it. The theme is Africa but the timing is August so I think Suya beef skewers with fresh sliced, tomato, cuke and onion fit the bill better than some other options i came across (bobotie, anyone?). When I researched it, I liked their offering the best (packaging didn't hurt; not sure I want something packaged in Africa sans FDA oversight). I had never heard of them before.

My mom and sisters go nuts over

Penzy's. They really bond over it. I tend to go nuts over Bath and Body Works sales. To each her own I suppose......🙂

I think that sounds delicious! Perfect for the season. I will be eager to see what you think of it.

I have shared Calicutt's here before -- usually in Christmas threads. They used to sell on etsy-- as well as in their local shop. Not sure if the current owners kept it up.

The founder/original owner is in my same line of business-- even works for my same government client though he is much younger and in a different agency. He maintained the store along with his FT job. Had I known it was for sale, i would have seriously considered the opportunity. It would have been a great retirement business. I could totally be a spice girl!

One of the reasons I shop at Penzey's is their politics. I've never been lectured to while in their store. Now that we're masking up again, I wear a mask in every store I go to.

I've been a penzeys fan for years and use many of their spice blends and while I am vaguely aware of their politics I have never let any stores politics whether left or right, influence whether or not I buy from them

I not awake enough to figure out for sure if you've already made your order. If not, Sleevendog mentioned she has a source for bulk seeds like you're using, I think. You might check with her for some comparison pricing.

If I used a ton of spices I'd probably buy from another company but I've been a Penzey's customer for 15+ years so probably not going to stop since I like their recipes. I buy most of my spices at the grocery store so only buy unusual or hard to find items or a random spice from Penzey's that I might be low on when I make my order. I don't use spices up fast enough to make it worth my while to order often and in bulk sizes. Would go to waste.