Admittedly, I also have a Thomas Kinkade-y fantasy of replenishing my larder at a brick and mortar spice shop (ideally, owned by a someone in a bonnet who weighs out my cardamom on a copper scale), but I do not always have the time or bandwidth to make that fantasy a reality (though, Vices & Spices in my hometown of Santa Barbara comes pretty close). Luckily, the internet exists for such moments, and it has not only made stocking spices easier, but kind of inventive. Penzys offers trial bags of its unique blends, including its Outrage of Love blend, which the brand says was a direct spice-response to the January 6 insurrection attempt (it’s great with hummus!); then there are brands such as Spicewalla, whose collaborations with celebrities like T-Pain legitimately feel fresh and intentional (his most recent drop benefits folks impacted by Hurricane Helene).
It’s always a great idea to stock up on spices, but, given the impending tariff repercussions on spices in the United States, many of my Eater colleagues (myself included) have been refilling our pantries with the seasonings and spices we love the most. So whether you’re out of cardamom or preparing for the potential for rising food costs, let’s browse the shelves of the best places to buy only the very best spices.
Burlap & Barrel
Burlap & Barrel (yes, of Shark Tank fame) buys directly from small farms, which means that you are doing your part in supporting the far more planet- and community-friendly practice of single origin spice sourcing when you bring home its blend of smoked black cardamom, Caribbean bay leaves, and more. Explore its offerings by categories such as spice, collection, collaboration (including the new Dr. Jane Goodall co-created honey line), and diet, and build your own subscription package (or gift one to a friend, which also makes for an excellent last-minute holiday present).
Looking for South Asian spices? Head to Diaspora Co., which is home to dozens of single origin, heirloom spices primarily from India and Sri Lanka. The company was founded in 2017 by Sana Javeri Kadri, who, as she explains on the site, was tired of seeing so much colonial-caused inequity in the spice trade — particularly as a woman from Mumbai. As Kadri states, “We’re proud to pay our farm partners an average of 6x above the commodity price. In a system where fair trade is a mere 15% premium, we pay what we believe to be a living wage.”
