ISO whole (unground) spices on the cheap

[nader]

Hi all,
I've got a question that I can't find answered in the Chow history... where can I find whole spices (coriander, mustard seed, fennel seed, cumin, etc.) at a decent price? The messages on the boards here generally refer to *gasp* packaged ground spices available at places like TJ Maxx or little Indian shops around town. While I don't mind hitting up the little Indian shops and the like, I wouldn't be caught dead buying ground spices anymore. (As an aside, I hope that anyone reading CH would also never buy ground spices, but that's just me!)

So, dear foodies, where can I find a wide variety of whole spices at decent prices? I'd appreciate something close to Brookline or downtown but I'm willing to travel a little (by T only, though!) to get good stuff. In Montreal, I used to get mine from an organic co-op run by one of the universities. Anything like that here? Also, I'd rather buy in bulk to save a little cash and not get pre-packaged spices.

Thanks for the help!
Nader

[Luther]

I dunno why you think Indian stores only have ground spices- they haveboth.

[nader]

The ones I've checked out in Brookline tend to have mostly ground spices and very little selection of whole spices - I'm hoping to do a little bulk shopping to last me the rest of the year...

[galleygirl]

If you only use un-ground spices, I'm surprised you would buy spices for the whole year....They certainly wouldn't be at their peak of freshness after 6 months or so....

But you definitely won't find everything you need at one store....Except maybe Arax....

[Luther]

Whole nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, black and regular cardamom, black and regular cumin, fennel, anise, ajwain, mustard seed, dry chiles, corriander seed, etc. can all be found at most Indian stores. Try a different location I guess.

[Allstonian]

If nader lives in Brookline, they are probably talking about the two very small Indian shops on Harvard Street, between Coolidge Corner and the Stop & Shop. I'm surprised to hear that they don't at least stock whole mustard seed, coriander, and cumin, but those are both pretty tiny shops and it's possible that they only have ground.

Nader, if your definition of public transit includes buses, you can reach a couple of better-stocked Indian shops and Harvest Co-op in Central Square, Cambridge (also accessible via green-line-to-red-line), Christina's Spices in Inman Square, the Armenian shops in Watertown, and even the fabulous big Indian shops in Waltham and Penzey's in Arlington Heights.

[galleygirl]

Mmmm, most of the usual suspects; Harvest Co-op in Central Sq., Christina's, the Indian places, Bay Sweets in W.Rox, Arax Market, usually have a number ground, and a number unground....While I'm not as strict as you are, I usually keep both varieties around, for when I need a "quickie", and when I'm doing something that requires roasting whole seeds....I don't quite get the problem, becasue I always seem to find both in the same places....

[yumyum]

For inexpensive bulk spices, I'd second Harvest co-op in Central Square. For best quality, I like to use Penzeys in Arlington. A little more expensive but IMO worth the premium.

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Penzeys Spices
1293 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington, MA

[dulce de leche]

I just shopped them for whole spices last night. They have tons, and I have bought black & regular whole cumin, coriander pods, cinnamon sticks, at the Indian store next door to Harvest.

[yumyum]

Shalimar generally has good spices, I agree.

[trufflehound]

I agree that the Indian and Middle Eastern markets have both whole and ground and better prices. You can also check out: https://www.atlanticspice.com/userfil...

[Mr Bigglesworth]

What / where is bay sweets?!?! Is there a food store I've somehow missed?

[galleygirl]

Others have written about it, too, but here's a thread about this little place...
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/533168

[autopi]

a lot, but not all, of the whole foods around town also have bulk bin spices, incl. unground ones. i dunno how they compare price-wise.

[lgss]

In the bulk section at Harvest Co-Op in Central Sq. (and probably the JP location) or at Penzey's Spice in Arlington Heights if you want to pay more.

[BostonCharles]

super 88 is good often