Where to get fresh spices?

Submitted by trail-coffee t3_116gbp0 in pittsburgh

Please don’t say Penzey’s, but if that’s the only option then I’ll pay their prices.

I made cumin tofu with my year old $5 gallon of powdered cumin, and it basically had no cumin flavor at all.

Edit: tried lotus whole cumin. Will toast and grind hopefully for lunch here in an hour. Seems like Salem’s will be my next shot.

I thought for sure all the recs would be Indian places. I think of Indian cooks as the masters of all things spice. Especially with 75% of all spices being grown in India.

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Comments

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Anotherburner42069 t1_j96arlb wrote

Any of the Indian or Asian groceries. In the strip there's WFH and lotus foods.

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trail-coffee OP t1_j97907d wrote

Tried Lotus cumin seed. Wish me luck. Hopefully the double whammy of whole seed and fresher makes the dish.

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ingenuedbysociety t1_j96clvo wrote

The east end food co-op has a great bulk spice selection at good prices.

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mikeyHustle t1_j96ggwd wrote

Second this, especially if you just need enough for one recipe, so you just scoop like a dollar's worth. Plus you can smell the jar when you open it, so you can confirm they're strong enough, haha.

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BorisTheMansplainer t1_j97yux1 wrote

Make sure you waft the spicy stuff. I maced myself doing that once (not the actual nutmeg mace).

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PennDA t1_j97hnlb wrote

3rd-ing this. Great quality and you can buy any amount you like.

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Novel_Engineering_29 t1_j97r0aq wrote

This is the correct answer. You will pay so much less for spices and you can buy in small quantities that actually match what you can use up before it gets old and flavorless.

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I_read_that_as_xxxx t1_j96c85t wrote

There are a million local markets for whatever you are looking for, cumin you can get anywhere. Mexican IGA on Broadway, Black cumin from the uzbeck/russian store in Mt wash, indian from 1 of the 30 stores around town. You don't go to penzeys cuz it's super cheap, you got to penzeys for quality and to support one of the only loudly outspoken anti republican establishments in this hick-ass hellscape.

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malepitt t1_j96b1c0 wrote

Not an expert, but could buying cumin seed and grinding it fresh give a better result? not sure if cumin seed might also go bad as quickly

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Slopey1884 t1_j96jgcp wrote

I mostly do this, because I do find the taste and aroma better, but sometimes you just don’t have the time or equipment ready to grind spices in the moment. I still keep ground cumin on hand for this reason.

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BikeIn412 t1_j96jwzr wrote

There are a lot of places you could check in the Strip before Penzeys. My normal search order is:

  1. Salem Market
  2. Many More - in the back past the fish tanks
  3. Lotus

Salem has bigger bags of good quality cumin for a couple bucks.

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BonnieIndigo t1_j96wpcu wrote

I hope you did not literally buy a gallon-sized container of cumin and expect it to be any good at all after a year. I’m all for saving money but there’s a threshold beneath which things are too cheap for a reason.

Second the advice to shop at Indian groceries.

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trail-coffee OP t1_j9a0jtt wrote

Haha, it’s more like a pint. One of the Mexican brands (I think badia or something)

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kellytop412 t1_j975k4m wrote

Not fresh, but crazy cheap to buy spices at las Palmas. Come prepared with the Spanish name of the spice you are looking for.

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epicstar t1_j97p4le wrote

Patel Bros in Monroeville

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matt_1060 t1_j992zpy wrote

You got Stamooli Bros. and Penn Macaroni across the street

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GargantuanWitch t1_j9b1x4o wrote

If you can easily get to Patel Bros., there's no reason to buy spices elsewhere.

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trail-coffee OP t1_j9b4t0g wrote

Definitely going to check them out

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GargantuanWitch t1_j9ddfpp wrote

It's not a secret hookup or anything, it's just a chain grocery store for primarily Indian/East Asian food/culture. The stuff you pay exorbitant prices for at GE are cheap there.

Don't go hungry.

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Sea-Operation7215 t1_j96fbd1 wrote

River city growers has fresh herbs, like basil. Believe it’s by appointment only bc they do not have a store front yet.

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VacantLot412 t1_j97firt wrote

Imo fresh herbs don’t always add the kind of dried and ground spice flavor the OP is looking for, just for some insight.

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McHitman t1_j96jx3t wrote

Gryphons tea in Bloomfield has quite a lot of spices at bulk prices!

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oneTnoH t1_j96xqei wrote

It depends on what spices you want. I get a lot of spices from Salim's on centre ave because those are the types I use. Salim's, not Salem's.

There is also Bombay Market and Sultan Bey right up the street from there.

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Costanzaslife23 t1_j97jb2i wrote

Pro tip- whatever you go, get cumin seed. Toast it on your stovetop and then get a bladed coffee grinder (you can usually find one for really cheap at target or Walmart) to grind it into powder. The flavor will be intense.

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CL-MotoTech t1_j97wahf wrote

Buy them online, seriously. You can get it fresh no problem. I buy spices by the pound online like three times a year, then I split them, vacuum pack them, and freeze them. When you need more you just grab a frozen pack and refill your bottle. It works great and saves money.

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Rokemsokem88 t1_j96px88 wrote

Pittsburgh spice and seasonings got a ton of bulk spices for real cheap

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OllieFromCairo t1_j9afahu wrote

Salems and Penn Mac will, between them, cover most of your spice needs.

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PersonalAd2039 t1_j9baer8 wrote

Fresh from farm or co op

Or spice house. Com for high quality dried spices.

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Live-Actuator-5763 t1_j98irzc wrote

Have you tried harvies? They source their products from farmers and small businesses. They deliver too

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