All spices
are not created equal
Although two spices share the same name, they may not taste the same. Some vanilla tastes sweeter. Some cinnamon is hotter. And some dill is just dillier.
At Spice Islands Trading Company, we search the world for the highest-quality, most flavorful herbs and spices, from Madagascar to Saigon to California. It’s been our quest since 1941 so you get the most flavorful ingredients.
Like wine or coffee, spices and herbs can taste very different depending on the source and how they’re grown and processed. Here are a few things that affect the flavor.
Where a spice is grown impacts its flavor. So we look for countries that are well known for producing the highest-quality spices.
We wait until a plant is at its flavor peak before harvesting (unlike some mass producers who rush to reach harvest quotas).
We use special processing techniques, like careful grinding, to retain as much flavor as possible.
The higher the oil content, the greater the flavor. So we always source spices with the highest volatile-oil content.
The same spice or herb can actually be available in many different species. We choose the variety of plant with the best flavor.
The fresher the spice, the more intense the flavor. So toss spices that have been sitting in your cupboards for years.
We do a number of things to ensure purity, from using better-quality spices to not including filler.
Our bottles are glass, so air stays out and flavor stays in.
From allspice to wasabi, find out what makes each of our spices so special.
Learn More