If you’re the designated chef in your household, then you likely use spices. If you really enjoy cooking you likely have a decent collection of spices an blends; Indian, Middle Eastern, Italian, etc… I’m somewhat in this category, and I love to experiment with new recipes and spice combinations.
Quite recently I was planning to cook a curry dish for diner when I realized that I was out of spices for my dish. Because time was of the essence, and despite my better judgment, I ran over to a nearby bulk food store and bought some. Well, lets just say that my dish turned out far inferior to what it normally tastes like. Flavourless really!
This got me thinking; do most people worry about the quality of spices, where they come from, and how long they have been sitting in a bin or a shelf? Well if you are among those who don’t, you may want to think again.
Here are some great reasons to buy good quality spices:
- Just like conventional vegetables and fruit, spices are highly sprayed with pesticides. It seems like a waste to ruin an organic meal with chemical laden spices!
- Many commercial spices contain anti-caking agents to prevent them from clumping, as well as MSG and GMO’s.
- Spices lose their potency after a while, so it’s well worth it to buy spices on a regular basis. For freshness, your best bet is to buy small quantities from a source with high turn over, or buy whole spices and grind them yourself. Organic Spices may be a bit more expensive, but you’ll use much less if they are flavourful.
- Ground spices may have ground rice, salt or flour mixed into them, because regulations on them are not very strict. And really without strict regulation who knows what else may be lurking in your spices?!
Your best course of action is to avoid big chain supermarkets and instead source out local merchants (such as The Spice Trader: http://www.thespicetrader.ca/ ), ethnic markets, or buy online: http://spicetrekkers.com/, www.mountainroseherbs.com
Have an amazing weekend!
Daniela