Where to buy Za'artar?

[oerdin]

I live in North County (the Mira Mesa area) and I'm looking for a place to buy the mideastern spice mix za'artar; the problem is I don't know where to buy it. I imagine, if worse comes to worse, I could find it at Vine Ripe Farmers Market in La Mesa but I'm hoping to find something a bit closer in North County. I did look for it at North Park Produce in Poway but either the mideastern owners have decided not to carry it or I am completely retarded and over looked it. Does anyone have any suggestions on where to find za'artar in North County?

[wanker]

FWIW, Za'arter is pretty darn easy to make, and you'd probably spend less time and gas making it yourself, unless you lived in East County. Just my two cents.

[escondido123]

Jimbo's in Escondido has it on the counter in the meat department--3 different kinds if I remember right.

[beth1]

I get it at North Park Produce in Poway. If you haven't been, it's an interesting store with some unique and tasty products. Just be careful with the produce.

[juantanamera]

Search for "Thyme of Essence." Local distributor selling organic Za'artar at several local farmers' markets.

[daantaat]

Great News in PB had it.

[stevuchan]

I really like the William Sonoma brand, nice fresh flavor compared to some of the dusty bagged brands, it will cost you but it is by far my choice. You can get this at UTC. There is a NPP in Poway that you can get the Sadaf brands, you can also check the middle eastern market behind Beach Grass cafe just up the road from NPP, name escapes me. If you have not been to Balboa international market it is worth the trip, they have recently remodeled and have a new bread oven. Wonder if the restaurant next door is ever going to open?

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Sadaf Restaurant
828 5th Ave, San Diego, CA 92101

Beach Grass Cafe
12845 Poway Rd, Poway, CA 92064

[mikec]

Sufi is open now.

[stevuchan]

Good to hear, has anyone been yet? Also interested in the Thyme of Essence brand, I will look for it.

[Cathy]

Of course I would say Vine Ripe. I live in Santee. There is a bulk container of zaatar right in front of the cash registers, as you walk in the door, just to the right. Inside the store in the spice aisle, I see zaatar sold in jars, boxes and even small packets on the Sadaf rack.

I stopped going to the NPP in El Cajon because it has probably the worse Middle Eastern selection of any of the markets out here in East County, where the Middle East population is second largest in the US, following Dearborn Michigan, where I grew up. Maybe other NPP locations are better, but there are so many small yet good markets out here...( I define a 'good' market as one that bakes bread in house)

Mira Mesa is nowhere near being "North County". (San Marcos, Escondido, Fallbrook-those are all San Diego County and in the North; this county is 4200 square miles large). Try Balboa International Market (5907 Balboa Avenue, which is located just behind the two banks which are directly on Balboa and have a pretty wide driveway between them) That would probably be your closest 'good' Middle Eastern Market.