5 online spice shops that will breathe life into your cooking and baking
Accessing fresh spices does not have to be a grind


Any time is a great time to banish those dusty, flavorless spices from your pantry. Fall, as the holidays encroach, is an especially appropriate occasion. No one needs a pumpkin pie that tastes like the groundcover of a carpentry shop. Hop into the online storefront of some of the country's best spice purveyors to solve that issue once and for all. Or, rather, for at least a few months until you need to reboot those unused spices once more.
Burlap & Barrel
Direct from farmers; packaged at harvest; single-origin: Burlap & Barrel is serious about its spice sourcing. Admirable, indeed. We've seen chefs freak out on social media about the company's big-flavored Cloud Forest Cardamom and Black Urfa Chili. Good-tasting spices with a good mission, that is how Burlap & Barrel rolls.
Diaspora Co.
Sana Javeri Kadri began this spice company with the intent to source peerless spices and chiles from across the Indian subcontinent and Sri Lanka. A noble goal, that, but Kadri also insisted that the farmers from whom the company sourced those spices were paid a living wage. Diaspora Co.'s turmeric, the company's first product, is legendary, floral and golden like a sunflower on a bright day. The blends, aka masalas, are smart and vibrant. There is no wrong spice answer here.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Penzeys
One of the grandpappies of the fresh-is-best spice companies, Penzeys debuted in 1986. It now has hundreds of stores across much of the United States. Vanilla beans from two different countries; spices from ajwain to zatar in jars or bags; gift boxes for bakers and grillers: Penzeys has a little something for most everyone.
The Spice House
Freshness is key with any spice, and The Spice House packs and grinds their spices at a regular clip. The company's flatpacks are a sustainable solution to a spice-world problem: Too many jars used one lone time. Instead, the flatpacks are designed as a refill mechanism for jars you already own — dump the contents into a jar and you are back in spice business. The holidays are around the bend, so stock up on The Spice House's fall baking and Thanksgiving blends.
Spicewalla
Spices are foundational to the cooking of Spicewalla's founder, chef Meherwan Irani of Chai Pani in Asheville, North Carolina, and Decatur, Georgia. So the range of herbs and spices offered by Spicewalla are sourced in small quantities, and the company collaborates with other restaurants, like Island Creek Oyster Company, and even celebrities, like the record producer T-Pain, to create special blends. Bonus: The company's ties to Asheville means purchases will help support the region's recovery from Hurricane Helene.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Scott Hocker is an award-winning freelance writer and editor at The Week Digital. He has written food, travel, culture and lifestyle stories for local, national and international publications for more than 20 years. Scott also has more than 15 years of experience creating, implementing and managing content initiatives while working across departments to grow companies. His most recent editorial post was as editor-in-chief of Liquor.com. Previously, he was the editor-in-chief of Tasting Table and a senior editor at San Francisco magazine.
-
The 9 restaurants to eat at this very moment
The Week Recommends They’re award-winning. Isn’t that reason enough?
-
10 concert tours to see this fall
The Week Recommends Concert tour season isn't over. Check out these headliners.
-
Video games to curl up with this fall, including Ghost of Yotei and LEGO Party
The Week Recommends Several highly anticipated video games are coming this fall
-
10 upcoming albums to stream during spooky season
The Week Recommends As fall arrives, check out new albums from Taylor Swift, Jeff Tweedy, the Lemonheads and more
-
A Spinal Tap reunion, Thomas Pynchon by way of Paul Thomas Anderson and a harrowing Stephen King adaptation in September movies
the week recommends This month’s new releases include ‘Spinal Tap II,’ ‘One Battle After Another’ and ‘The Long Walk’
-
Don't fly by the seat of your pants. Do it the healthy way with these airborne tips.
The Week Recommends Yes to stretching. Even more yesses to hydration.
-
'The Office' spinoff, a 'Mare of Easttown' follow-up and the Guinness family royalty in September TV
the week recommends This month's new television releases include 'The Paper,' 'Task' and 'House of Guinness'
-
Rigatoni with 'no-vodka sauce' recipe
The Week Recommends Comfort food meets a clever alcohol-free twist on a classic