Buying Spices in Bulk

[Lew]

Tones from Sam's Club. They have all the basics (garlic, onion, chili, cayenne, paprika, black pepper, etc.).

 

[Matt in MD]

I've had luck using these guys in the past...good quality, and you can buy varying bulk sizes. Not sure if you need 25 lbs of paprika, but if so..this is your place. LOL

http://www.webstaurantstore.com/48623/regal-herbs-and-spices.html

I guess that's a good excuse to buy more pork!

Another one which ain't bad for Pantry spices is Badia http://www.badiaspices.com/
I never bought in bulk cause I can get it locally from Jewels ( Albertsons )

Tim

Thanks! Badia is actually one that I see sells a lot on Amazon, too.

Tones from Sam's Club. They have all the basics (garlic, onion, chili, cayenne, paprika, black pepper, etc.).

Thanks! We don't belong there but I might check them out.

 

[Andrew F]

There is also a place called The Spice House. Similar to Penzeys, but I think a better selection. I check them for the harder to find spices.

A bit of insider information. The owners of the Spice House and Penzey's are related. Brothers I think. They had a falling out quite awhile ago. Being quite near to Milwaukee I can visit "Corporate Headquarters" stores for both. Both have fresh spice and herbs. Both are of a superior quality. I prefer the Spice house as the owners don't use their catalog as a open forum to issue their political rants.
I don't care what your political leanings are, but if your catalog is not the place for them.

 

[Matt in MD]

Thanks Andrew - and funny, yes if you look at the Spice House blog I see that many articles are written by Penzey folks. I don't need politics when buying bbq stuff either.

Looking closer at the Webrestaurant store their prices are pretty incredible. 5 lbs of cayenne, paprika, or mustard all around or under for 12 bucks. Wow!

 

[Timothy F. Lewis]

One thing to remember is spices do NOT have an unending shelf life. It's not that they go bad it's just that (especially with things like paprika) the higher aromatics decay and lose the very thing we want in them. That's why I'm not a big fan of the giant containers at Sam's or places like that, who know how long that stuff has been sitting in a warehouse? Penzey's turns a lot of product, as many mail places do. That's my preference. The paprika from them has been so much better than any store shelf product. Not to mention things like cinnamon or vanilla. Their Tellicherry black pepper is head and shoulders above the grocery store products I have ever used, Mcormick is better than many but, falls short in my opinion.
I agree a catalog is not a particularly wise place to voice ones political opinion but, it's his catalog. I don't hold with most any soapbox politics so, I just don't bother reading anything but product name, quantity and price.
Easy enough to avoid ranting if you want to.
Skip the BS, try a round of stuff from Penzey's, then try Spice House, make your own decision. Let's get away from politics at the barbecue pit!

 

[Matt in MD]

Good points, Tim -

I also agree on shelf life; I don't think you should buy anything you won't finish within a year or so regardless of expiration claims.

 

[Dustin Dorsey]

I'm pretty guilty of using some not so fresh spices, but I'm trying to really get a handle on what flavors do what. I've always thought paprika was pretty tasteless. That's probably what my problem is. I've got some cheap stuff.

 

[Timothy F. Lewis]

Good paprika is worth a little effort! I like the sweet and the hot, they have different flavor characteristics, the sweet is deep, the hot sits on the tongue in a different way. Talking about flavor is a lot like writing about sound.
The grocery store paprika is usually pretty lame, the exception is when you find someplace that moved the product quickly.
There is a Hungarian brand "Szegd" (I think) which comes hot and sweet too, I use that if I'm out of Penzey's. Store it in the fridge! It will stay fresher longer.

 

[Geo S]

Check out Atlantic spice Co. out of Massachusetts , wholesale prices, and it's been good stuff.