Napa (Oxbow Market) - Whole Spice ... don't miss the zhug
I love this spice shop.
Many spices are organic and they just look bright and fresh.
The make some really nice spice mixes. On the counter there are samples of zhug and zahtar mixed with olive oil.
The zhug is a firey standout. It is a mix of Chile Tianjin, Garlic, Coriander, Cumin, Salt, Cardamon, Clove,Cilantro. Try it. You'll like it ... if you like heat.
They also have lovely things like hibiscus powder and espresso coffee powder. The owner said these could be used to sprinkle on ice cream or desserts.
The peppercorns are so, so pretty, especially the five mix (Pink peppercorns, Black peppercorns, White peppercorns, Green peppercorns and allspice whole). That is next on the list to buy.
I compared two types of cinnamon with the cinnamon from a Berkeley spice store and Whole Spice was just so much better. Also the chipotle powder was miles better. However, Tierra still wins as best of its class in the chipotle category.
Spices are available bulk or bottled.
Even the dried peppers look so nice. Beautiful ... beautiful ... bright, red pepper flakes. I have never seen better, more perfect cascabal peppers. I could almost hear them rattling sitting in the jar.
By rworange
on Jan 31, 2008 05:53 PM
View »
link
-----
Whole Spice Company
610 First Street, Napa, CA 94559
Permalink | Reply
I bought some berebere spice mix a couple weeks ago, and I've used it in almost everything I've cooked since then. (Made an awesome tomato sauce with orange/lemon zest, garlic, onion, and the spice.) I was very impressed with the spice shop. Prices are totally reasonable, too.
Permalink | Reply
went there a couple of weeks ago, and bought 6 different spice and herb mixtures! They were all fabulous!
There home ofice is in Petaluma, where I live, and I will definetly be doing more business with them soon!
Permalink | Reply
If you can't get to Napa, Whole Spice has an excellent website, where you can buy their herbs, spices and spice mixes. They grind to order just before shipping to ensure freshness and they don't require minimum amounts. Also, their products are kosher (Va’ad Hakashrus of Northern California (Hassidic/Lubavitch,) Rabbi Ben-Tzion Welton.)
http://www.wholespice.com
I really like their products, particularly the spice mixes.
Permalink | Reply
Whole Spices has a wonderful woman taking care of the store. She is very knowledgable about the spices in terms of how they are best used and their holistic qualitites.
I was buying the pretty green dill weed and she asked if I had ever tried dill seed (not weed) in tuna fish sandwiches ... nope, but it was a great tip ... absolutely delicious. The smoked sea salt is excellent also.
This last trip up she steered me to the hawaj mix and said it would be great in oatmeal ... this is just amazing stuff. What is on the website isn't what is in my mixture though. I remember cinnamon and clove being in it. However, it also has ginger and added to oatmeal (especially with a banana) raises the level of the morning bowl of oats to another level. Love that ginger zing. There were four spices in it. Something in there has a floral quality.
Permalink | Reply
I love all the different spices here. Everything is so fresh. The Hawaj has ginger, cinnamon, clove and cardomon.
I think the same lady helped me-since she suggested the dill seed to me as well. I never see her working anymore-does anyone know if she still works there?
Permalink | Reply
Was it perhaps Ronit. She and Shuli are the owners. He was there both times I went. You can see them on the video on their website.
http://www.wholespice.com/
Permalink | Reply
No, it was not her.
She was just really helpfull and had great spice ideas.
I went in there Thursday and I was amazed with how many new spices and chilis they got since the last time I was there.
Permalink | Reply
I loved the Zhug and I usually don't like premade spice blends. I tend not to like dehydrated garlic and onion and too many spice mixes have those in there. But I bought some of the Egyptian spice (it has rose in it), some berbere, zhug and smoked salt. I love that I can add zhug for instance at the last minute to a dish where I want spicey, but my kids do not. Adds a different flavor profile from my usual suspects. She was very nice too!
Permalink | Reply
I bought the Japanese curry mix last week. They had a recipe for it which I took and modified slightly. Impressively good! I also bought the African curry mix but haven't tried it yet. They have recipes on their web site as well. My favorite place at Oxbow!
Permalink | Reply
This must be said again ... this spice shop is so excellent.
The latest new spice for me was the harrisa which has a wonderful aroma and taste. I added it to some garlic and onions sauteed in olive oil with fresh radish greens. So good.
The prices are just so good, especially since most are organic. The flavors just pop they are so fresh. Here's what I paid on a recent visit. for one ounce bags ...
- Organic fresh ginger - $1.93
- Crushed ginger - $1.92
- Organic oregano - $2.38
- Chili chipotle pods - $1.38
The chipotle pods smell so, so good ... none of that stale aroma from the little Mexican markets. I can hardly wait to use them.
I committed to a whole bottle of the hawaj which is my favorite mix there so far. A lot of the spices on the site have recipe suggestions
http://www.wholespice.com/display.asp...
The Apple & Dates Sweet Spread with the Hawaj sounds so, so good
2 small sweet apples pealed and cut into 8 wedges
2 cups walnuts
½ cup yellow raisins
½ cup black raisins
6 Medjool dates pitted
Pinch salt
4 teaspoons Hawaj Coffee Spice
1 cup sweet red wine or pure grape juice
Permalink | Reply
Congratulations, you have just made Sephardic Charoses.
Permalink | Reply