# Does anyone still sell whole peppercorns in regular spice jars...anyone at all? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 29, 2014, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-still-sell-whole-peppercorns-in-regular-spice-jars-anyone-at-all/702834 "2014-10-29T05:17:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-still-sell-whole-peppercorns-in-regular-spice-jars-anyone-at-all/702834/1 "2014-10-29T05:17:49Z")
You know, instead of those stupid containers with the built-in non-removable grinder tops? Perhaps I’m not looking for it carefully enough, or maybe I’m going to the wrong supermarkets (generally Von’s or Albertson’s, but I never seem to see it on the shelves anymore. What are we supposed to do now if we we want whole peppercorns? ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-still-sell-whole-peppercorns-in-regular-spice-jars-anyone-at-all/702834/2 "2014-10-29T05:20:49Z")
I just bought a jar of McCormic brand whole peppercorns the other day - I’m assuming that’s a national brand and widely available. You should ask the next time your at the store. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-still-sell-whole-peppercorns-in-regular-spice-jars-anyone-at-all/702834/3 "2014-10-29T05:23:48Z")
Based on their website, [McCormick](http://www.mccormick.com/Gourmet/Spices-and-Flavors/Spices/Black-Peppercorns-Tellicherry) sells it that way. (Although I’ve been buying it from Penzey’s.) ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-still-sell-whole-peppercorns-in-regular-spice-jars-anyone-at-all/702834/4 "2014-10-29T05:41:05Z")
Sam’s Club sells them that way and so do most supermarkets. Sam’s Club spices and condiments in the larger containers (from the same brands as in the supermarkets) are so much cheaper on a unit basis than the tiny supermarket jars it’s not even funny. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-still-sell-whole-peppercorns-in-regular-spice-jars-anyone-at-all/702834/5 "2014-10-29T05:59:55Z")
Penzey’s Spices have a bunch of them. There are some brick & mortar stores (including one just a couple miles from me, woot!) but the bulk of their business likely comes through their website. They still do paper catalogs, too. [https://www.penzeys.com/shop/spices/](https://www.penzeys.com/shop/spices/) Just in whole peppercorns (not ground), they have: - 3 kinds of black peppercorns - 2 kinds of white peppercorns - 1 kind of green peppercorn - 1 kind of pink peppercorn\* - 2 peppercorn blends (one black and white, one black, green, white and pink) - 1 kind of Szechuan peppercorns You can get amounts as small as ¼cup up to as much as a full pound. The larger amounts are packed in Ziploc-type resealable bags of sturdy plastic. - pink peppercorns aren’t actually peppercorns proper, but their size and flavor are quite similar. ---
**Author:** ![notquitekarpov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@notquitekarpov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notquitekarpov)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-still-sell-whole-peppercorns-in-regular-spice-jars-anyone-at-all/702834/6 "2014-10-29T08:57:57Z")
Yes - they are everywhere. Okay I’m based in the UK but here I can even get a large jar from CostCo which is American, right? And most of their brands are American or global. Find it hard to believe you would have any difficulty at all getting simple jars of whole peppercorns of more than one variety (black or green for sure). ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-still-sell-whole-peppercorns-in-regular-spice-jars-anyone-at-all/702834/7 "2014-10-29T13:00:45Z")
Penzeys was already brought up, so I just came in to reiterate that Penzeys is fantastic and their spices are very reasonably priced. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-still-sell-whole-peppercorns-in-regular-spice-jars-anyone-at-all/702834/8 "2014-10-29T13:22:54Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Sam’s Club sells them that way and so do most supermarkets. Sam’s Club spices and condiments in the larger containers (from the same brands as in the supermarkets) are so much cheaper on a unit basis than the tiny supermarket jars it’s not even funny. Yeah, I only buy whole peppercorns, and around here I can find them in a bag or plastic container (or occasionally glass.) My grocery probably stocks three or four different brands in this form. Never had any difficulty finding them anywhere. White peppercorns can be a bit or miss, though, but usually at least the McCormick aisle has them (although their spices sell at way too high prices for me.) ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-still-sell-whole-peppercorns-in-regular-spice-jars-anyone-at-all/702834/9 "2014-10-29T13:25:05Z")
I love Penzey’s but Houston’s [Phoenicia](http://www.phoeniciafoods.com/departments/grains-beans-spices/) often has the best prices on spices. Penzey’s does have some unique offerings worth buying & a fine website. There’s no online ordering from Phoenicia, but you their downtown store offers a place to have a craft beer & a tasty snack–and listen to music. (Or just get a shawarma.) Last time I needed pepper, I was lazy. So bought one of those grinder-jars at Kroger. To discover the grinding mechanism was removable! ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-still-sell-whole-peppercorns-in-regular-spice-jars-anyone-at-all/702834/10 "2014-10-29T13:27:39Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Penzeys was already brought up, so I just came in to reiterate that Penzeys is fantastic and their spices are very reasonably priced. I like Penzey’s spices, but their store hours suck. Closed at 6pm? Seriously? There are banks with later hours than that! Am I supposed to take off an hour of work during the day to go shop for spices?! ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-still-sell-whole-peppercorns-in-regular-spice-jars-anyone-at-all/702834/11 "2014-10-29T13:42:56Z")
Penzeys, SF Spice Co., The Spice House, Safeway…you can find whole peppercorns just about everywhere with a little looking. We get ours from all of the above. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-still-sell-whole-peppercorns-in-regular-spice-jars-anyone-at-all/702834/12 "2014-10-29T13:43:09Z")
Check any Chinese grocery. Guaranteed to have. Also best price for spices. Always cheaper than the grocery store! ---
**Author:** ![Vita\_Beata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@Vita\_Beata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vita_Beata)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-still-sell-whole-peppercorns-in-regular-spice-jars-anyone-at-all/702834/13 "2014-10-29T13:45:32Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > I like Penzey’s spices, but their store hours suck. Closed at 6pm? Seriously? There are banks with later hours than that! Am I supposed to take off an hour of work during the day to go shop for spices?! Penzey’s fan here also; love this company. Order online, free shipping for over $30. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-still-sell-whole-peppercorns-in-regular-spice-jars-anyone-at-all/702834/14 "2014-10-29T13:53:38Z")
> [@Vita\_Beata](#): > > Penzey’s fan here also; love this company. Order online, free shipping for over $30. I know, but I want to _browse_. If I don’t know what a particular spice or blend is, I want to open up the sample bag and get a good whiff, and unfortunately that sort of thing is not possible over the internet. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-still-sell-whole-peppercorns-in-regular-spice-jars-anyone-at-all/702834/15 "2014-10-29T14:03:44Z")
You’ve never seen the Spice Islands rack of alphabetically arranged jars in a grocery store?😕 Maybe not every store carries them. They are pricey. Pale green label, good-sized jars of a wide range of spices and herbs, including several kinds of peppercorns. Available online, too. I love Beau Monde (a kind of seasoned salt). ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-still-sell-whole-peppercorns-in-regular-spice-jars-anyone-at-all/702834/16 "2014-10-29T14:27:18Z")
I had the exact same problem just this week. In the past I’ve always bought them in a large box which would last about six months, I had several sizes and brands to choose from, and it cost about $3. This week I was reduced to a small jar (like the other spices come in) for nearly $6! And it took the longest time staring at the shelves in disbelief to find that. I’ll order more from Penzey before I run out again. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-still-sell-whole-peppercorns-in-regular-spice-jars-anyone-at-all/702834/17 "2014-10-29T14:56:33Z")
I bought some just a couple weeks ago at our local supermarket: 6 oz of peppercorns in a glass jar with a cork stopper. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-still-sell-whole-peppercorns-in-regular-spice-jars-anyone-at-all/702834/18 "2014-10-29T14:57:36Z")
We get big-ass containers of them at our local warehouse store. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-still-sell-whole-peppercorns-in-regular-spice-jars-anyone-at-all/702834/19 "2014-10-29T15:03:23Z")
I used to shop Penzeys; then a [Savory Spice Shop](http://www.savoryspiceshop.com/) opened nearby. They also have online ordering. While the prices and freshness are about the same, you can order smaller quantities. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-still-sell-whole-peppercorns-in-regular-spice-jars-anyone-at-all/702834/20 "2014-10-29T15:15:26Z")
If you have an Indian grocery in your town, you can try there as well. That’s where we usually get ours. I’m not sure if our local supermarket carries them or not. Hmm. I’ll have to look next time I’m there. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-still-sell-whole-peppercorns-in-regular-spice-jars-anyone-at-all/702834.md?page=2)