Ordering spices as a mail-order gift
A friend of mine is moving to Rugby and I would like to help her stock her kitchen with very good spices. I mainly want to order the basics, but also include a nice variety of Asian and Indian spices. Being in the US, however, I have to find a mail order site. I could order through Penseys in the US, but the foreign shipping will be very high. Is there a comparable company in the UK that would fit the bill?
By Jwsel
on Oct 27, 2009 11:57 PM
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I've been very happy with this website. I got about six different items, and they all came in very attractive jars, and there's a large variety of things to choose from.
I hope it helps you out.
http://www.spiceworld.uk.com/
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Thanks for all the suggestions. I looked carefully at Seasoned Pioneers, but decided to go with spiceworld. I was able to get about 45 jars of different spices for 70 GBP, and that included virtually every "basic" spice, as well as a number of mixes.
I'll admit that I would have probably gone with Seasoned Pioners because I thought their blends more interesting and the basic spices seemed a bit higher quality. But I would have felt like a fool for sending someone a "basic" spice set and not having basil and dill in it. I may break down and send some salts and the Ras El Hanout from Seasoned Pioneers, though.
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Jwsel - isn't the absence of dill and basil because these two herbs are best used fresh and are easily available from supermarkets. Other herbs like Oregano are OK dried and have a slightly different use than their fresh counterparts.
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That's true, but I would say the same about rosemary, thyme, tarragon and a lot of herbs. I just think it is important to have the dried herbs in the cupboard as a backup.
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I could be wrong, Phil, but it always seemed to me that Americans use and are used to using far less in the way of fresh herbs. There are exceptions like basil, rosemary ... but that was always my impression having lived there for eons. I've been gone awhile now, so it could well be that they are more readily available than in times past.
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Gosh, 45 jars. That's a very comprehensive selection. I have about 15 or so.
Can't recall ever seeing a recipe that called for dried basil, but I suppose there must be a use, otherwise why would companies sell it.
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I have forty or so, plus a huge storage box full of dried chillies, mushrooms, peppercorns and various other bits and pieces!
FWIW, I favour the magnetic jars which you can store easily in a drawer. Much more convenient, I find. I also have an Indian style spice box with cumin, coriander, turmeric etc for Indian cooking.
And yes, dried basil and dried dill are probably the few herbs I don't have as there really is not much use for them.
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I have used - www.seasonedpioneers.co.uk - strange name, but terrific products.
It's a favorite of Nigella Lawson for their Ras El Hanout with rose petals. Their packaging is very unique and their blends have been fun to use. I'm in the U.S. and have ordered a few times from them and have found their prices and shipping to be within reason. You should be fine for delivery within the U.K. Comparable to Penseys? They may be a little more up-market. But I think you will enjoy their site. Great gift idea BTW.
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Thanks. I found Seasoned Pioneers and love their blends and a lot of the items, but I am baffled that they do not have dill weed or basil (other than Thai basil). My other complaint is that they do not sell peppermills, which I would have loved to provide as well, since I ordered several different kinds of peppercorns.
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www.saltpepper.co.uk/mills
this site does a decent selection of quality mills.....
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I received a lovely gift set from http://www.steenbergs.co.uk/
Cute packaging but not sure if they can help you out with mills.
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Seasoned Pioneers is the principal UK mail order company (as well as selling through major premium supermarkets).
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It looks as if their spices and herbs come in plastic packets. It's a bit difficult to tell from the website. I think I prefer the small plastic tubs with lids that come from Spice World, but I didn't compare prices.
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They're little stiff foil pouches, yes, but actually quite useful as you can reseal. I really like them - have ordered loads of times, tried lots of their blends, the tandoori and cardamon masalas are staples, as is ras-el-hanout.
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I also like the pouches. Ras-el-hanout and zahtar are always in the cupboard (and I can now usually pick these up at Sainsbury's (from their "posh products" shelves or whatever it is they call it).
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