Shopping For Bulk Spices Online

Flavorful herbs and spices are commonly used by adventuresome cooks to turn a boring recipe into a tasty sensation. Let's face it: the freshness of your herbs and spices can make or break a dish. Some herbs and spices may even add a benefit to your health. Many of us have procured a collection of tiny containers at our local market. When these herbs and spices were ground and jarred, their flavor began to erode. By the time you get around to tossing them into your creations, these herbs and spices are close to flavorless dust. With a renewed interest in herbs and spices we have access to fresh herbs at great prices at various sites on the world wide web. As you take the plunge into herb purchases over the Internet, what do you need to take into consideration? Consider these basic rules of thumb.

Most importantly, choose the whole leaf herb and whole spice over the powdered option. Your herbs and spices will stay fresher longer if your grind them yourself in your kitchen. Try an experiment: grind some nutmeg fresh and smell the deliciously rich aroma. With a whole leaf or spice you can crush it or grind it when you are about to use it. The fresh ground spice will release its fragrance and flavors right in your kitchen. Every dried herb will crush to some extent in packing and shipping, but you want to buy one that resembles a leaf to the greatest extent possible. That way, you get the most benefit from your purchase -- the best buy for your dollar. As an added benefit, you will save a good deal of money by buying your herbs and spices in bulk. The savings can be astounding.

Next, always shop for organic herbs and spices, where organically grown ones are available. Often herbs and spices grow very well under organic methods. You may have increased flavor and improved antioxidant properties. Of course if you are buying the product for its health benefit, a lower-chemical organic item is probably a better choice. Organic prices may or may not be higher. The price depends on the production techniques for that item. I find that buying organic gives me a better conscience, since organic production is much easier on our world's environment.

Finally, be sure to store your herbs in glass jars with lids that fit tightly. For bulk storage, store the jars in a cool, dark place. Smaller amounts of herbs and spices can be put into smaller containers in your spice cabinet. Consider reusing old herb and spice jars (but not tins) for your recently-purchased products. If you do so, wash and dry them thoroughly. Dry the containers in the oven or in the sun to ensure that they are dry enough that mold does not develop in your new herbs and spices. Be sure to make new labels for your jars before you forget the contents.

With these tips you will be able to find a highly-trusted vendor of organic herbs and spices on the Internet. Bon appetit!

By: Mike Gramsby

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Mike Gramsby is a fan of fresh herbs and spices such as neem leaf, nettle leaf, and psyllium husk powder.