# Going to Penzey's Spices! Must-tries? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 16, 2011, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-penzeys-spices-must-tries/599856 "2011-10-16T23:14:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![papergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aca169/32.png) [@papergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papergirl)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2011, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-penzeys-spices-must-tries/599856/1 "2011-10-16T23:14:30Z")
I’m going next week (Trader Joe’s too!). What should I try? ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2011, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-penzeys-spices-must-tries/599856/2 "2011-10-16T23:26:28Z")
They have the most amazing true cinnamon [as well as cassia] and for spice blends, Fox Pointe, Galena St Rub and Maharaja Curry. They have little glass jars of samples to sniff and taste. Knock yourself out, I love going to Penzeys. ---
**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 16, 2011, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-penzeys-spices-must-tries/599856/3 "2011-10-16T23:39:46Z")
Aleppo pepper ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2011, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-penzeys-spices-must-tries/599856/4 "2011-10-16T23:58:18Z")
Shallot salt and chipotle powder. ---
**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 17, 2011, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-penzeys-spices-must-tries/599856/5 "2011-10-17T00:07:41Z")
Baking spice: try it in your pancake batter, along with a glug of. . . . . .Vanilla Vietnamese cinnamon Maharajah curry powder Cumin Chili 9000: you’ll never go back to any other chili powder mix Chipotle powder Sage and poultry seasoning for T-giving turkey stuffing ---
**Author:** ![papergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aca169/32.png) [@papergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papergirl)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-penzeys-spices-must-tries/599856/6 "2011-10-17T00:26:44Z")
…scribbles list…mmmhmmm. mmmmHMMM. yup. gotcha so far! ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-penzeys-spices-must-tries/599856/7 "2011-10-17T00:52:32Z")
We enjoy their Sandwich Sprinkle for flavoring dishes as well as sandwiches; second place is the Pasta Sprinkle. ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-penzeys-spices-must-tries/599856/8 "2011-10-17T02:24:25Z")
Cake Spice Chip Dip Mix Pasta Sprinkle ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-penzeys-spices-must-tries/599856/9 "2011-10-17T02:46:49Z")
Chipotle powder is a must. I love the Vietnamese cassia cinnamon. Their peppercorns are fresh Almond & Vanilla extract for holiday baking. Y’know, just go in with a clean nose. It will be assailed by the most awesome scents. Plan to spend some time there sniffing all the jars of stuff. Start out slow and just buy a few things. Be sure to pick up a catalog too. You can browse through it at home and either order stuff or make another road trip. Penzey’s is a good excuse. I’ve replaced most of my spices with stuff from Penzey’s. I pick up a few things at an Indian grocery and a few others at a Latino shop but Penzey’s has become my mainstay. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-penzeys-spices-must-tries/599856/10 "2011-10-17T03:51:05Z")
I had never heard of this place before. But I see there’s one in my area and now I want to check it out. ---
**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 17, 2011, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-penzeys-spices-must-tries/599856/11 "2011-10-17T03:55:54Z")
Their specialty blends are quite nice. Try **Arizona Dreaming** on pork chops. Or potatoes. Or Brussels sprouts. Or… ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-penzeys-spices-must-tries/599856/12 "2011-10-17T04:42:52Z")
My sister goes to Penzey’s all the time and is on their catalog list. She gets coupons for free stuff every month. This time was a free, no obligation to buy anything box with the following 4 spice: Forward seasoning; 33rd & Galena; Arizona dreaming; Mural of flavor. StG ---
**Author:** ![dwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwyr/32/363_2.png) [@dwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwyr)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-penzeys-spices-must-tries/599856/13 "2011-10-17T06:45:00Z")
No store near me, alas, so I catalog shop. The ones I use most are Vietnamese cinnamon, Maharajah curry, and Greek seasoning but I have a pantry full of Penzey spices. It’s all great. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Evil\_Prince\_Zorte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@The\_Evil\_Prince\_Zorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Evil_Prince_Zorte)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-penzeys-spices-must-tries/599856/14 "2011-10-17T07:05:49Z")
Per my wife… Pizza Seasoning, Green Goddess Dressing, Sandwich Sprinkle Also the hot cocoa mix is pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-penzeys-spices-must-tries/599856/15 "2011-10-17T12:39:44Z")
I’m with **aruvqan** on Fox Pointe. I’ve been using Sunny Paris for years, but I had one of those coupons too, not only for one of those 4-bottle boxes but also for a free bottle of anything, so I got Fox Pointe. I made potato soup on Saturday and it was just the right thing for it. I’m not so hot on the Arizona. I’m going to see if my mother-in-law likes it. Didn’t do it for me. ETA: My shallot salt clumped up in a huge bolus. I called them and they told me to keep it in the refrigerator. ---
**Author:** ![JuliaSqueezer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/82dd89/32.png) [@JuliaSqueezer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JuliaSqueezer)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-penzeys-spices-must-tries/599856/16 "2011-10-17T14:42:39Z")
My personal favorite is Mural of Flavor. Started out using it on a few things like chicken and fish. So delicious. Now, it’s a great addition to eggs, salads, sliced tomatoes, rice and potatoes. Also like the chipotle powder and ancho chili pepper. Brady Street Cheese Sprinkle is fabulous on garlic bread/toast. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-penzeys-spices-must-tries/599856/17 "2011-10-17T15:33:01Z")
Mural of Flavor is the best thing ever on roast chicken. That’s about the only thing I use it for, but it’s essential for that. I like the Forward blend as well for a general mix in scrambled eggs and the like, and for anything that I’m breading and frying. As mentioned, the Vietnamese cinnamon and the aleppo pepper are essential pantry items. ---
**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 17, 2011, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-penzeys-spices-must-tries/599856/18 "2011-10-17T15:40:41Z")
One word of caution for the OP: Buy small quantities until you find out how much you’ll use over the course of a year. Spices don’t last forever. Also, I would avoid dried basil and dried cilantro, unless you have no retail outlet for fresh. ---
**Author:** ![papergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aca169/32.png) [@papergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papergirl)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-penzeys-spices-must-tries/599856/19 "2011-10-17T15:55:28Z")
True…I use huge amounts of anything that goes into soup, lots of meat seasonings, not much baking/sweet except cinnamon and vanilla. Mmmm, these savory blends sound good. ---
**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 17, 2011, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-penzeys-spices-must-tries/599856/20 "2011-10-17T16:34:53Z")
> [@papergirl](#): > > True…I use huge amounts of anything that goes into soup, lots of meat seasonings, not much baking/sweet except cinnamon and vanilla. Mmmm, these savory blends sound good. That cinnamon is killer; I think maybe 7% oil. The baking spice is a great blend for cookies, etc. I use it in oatmeal-raisin cookies and the aforementioned pancakes. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-penzeys-spices-must-tries/599856.md?page=2)