A Canadian alternative to Penzey's for spices?
May 24, 2013 11:35 AM Subscribe
I was really pumped about placing a Penzey's order after reading through this question. I chose my spices with love and care. But I live in Western Canada and received an email saying that the shipping would cost $56 dollars - twice the cost of my order! I'm looking for an alternative, Canadian spice seller.
I order from American companies regularly, and believe me, this is ridiculous. It was nice of them to warn me and I politely declined. But now I am sad, and am looking for a Canadian alternative of similar quality, or even an American one that might have more reasonable shipping costs.
I order from American companies regularly, and believe me, this is ridiculous. It was nice of them to warn me and I politely declined. But now I am sad, and am looking for a Canadian alternative of similar quality, or even an American one that might have more reasonable shipping costs.
This is the one I have seen most recommended in terms of Canadian suppliers: Silk Road Spice Merchants.
I have not used them, but they are located in Calgary, which should help keep shipping charges down a little if you are out west.
The sad fact of the matter, though, is that CanadaPost is effing expensive, and even without crossing a border, there's a good chance shipping will seem wildly unreasonable. The good news is that you won't have to worry about getting hit with taxes on import or the $10-20 charge for collecting them.
posted by jacquilynne at 12:01 PM on May 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
I have not used them, but they are located in Calgary, which should help keep shipping charges down a little if you are out west.
The sad fact of the matter, though, is that CanadaPost is effing expensive, and even without crossing a border, there's a good chance shipping will seem wildly unreasonable. The good news is that you won't have to worry about getting hit with taxes on import or the $10-20 charge for collecting them.
posted by jacquilynne at 12:01 PM on May 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
I don't know about mixes, but health food stores have spices in bulk bins, which are much better value than the lil bottles supermarkets have.
posted by sebastienbailard at 12:04 PM on May 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by sebastienbailard at 12:04 PM on May 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
Olives et Épices in the jean talon market in Montreal is a truly world class spice market.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 12:07 PM on May 24, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Admiral Haddock at 12:07 PM on May 24, 2013 [2 favorites]
Might be a last resort, but if there's a blend at Penzey's you absolutely must have, I can walk down the street, buy it, and mail it to you.
posted by a halcyon day at 1:33 PM on May 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by a halcyon day at 1:33 PM on May 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
Ah, darn - you are in Edmonton...
So, way down here in Calgary we use a company called "Montana Shipping Outlet" - they have two locations; Sweetgrass or Eureka. Then about once every 4-6 weeks we make a day-trip down.
(Actually, Eureka is the more scenic-drive/location during the "nice month(s)" and subsequently is only a hop to Whitefish/Kalispell, which are tax-free and have many big US stores/prices..)
Considering that eBay and Amazon typically ship for "free" within the US, this saves us a ton of money...
posted by jkaczor at 2:14 PM on May 24, 2013
So, way down here in Calgary we use a company called "Montana Shipping Outlet" - they have two locations; Sweetgrass or Eureka. Then about once every 4-6 weeks we make a day-trip down.
(Actually, Eureka is the more scenic-drive/location during the "nice month(s)" and subsequently is only a hop to Whitefish/Kalispell, which are tax-free and have many big US stores/prices..)
Considering that eBay and Amazon typically ship for "free" within the US, this saves us a ton of money...
posted by jkaczor at 2:14 PM on May 24, 2013
Response by poster: a halcyon day - what a generous offer. If I can't find what I need via these great suggestions, I may just take you up on that!
posted by kitcat at 2:26 PM on May 24, 2013
posted by kitcat at 2:26 PM on May 24, 2013
I hate to say it, but I don't think there's *any* alternative to Penzeys. I used to shop in good markets in Toronto (Pusateris, Whole Foods, Kensington) and when I stumbled across Penzeys I was awestruck. Their stuff is 5x as flavourful as anything else. (It was like eating a pastry in France after years of stale doughnuts: like, ohhhhh this is what it's supposed to taste like.)
Honestly if I were you I'd suck it up and pay the shipping. Make it a huge comprehensive order and you will not regret it. Christmas for months! (I especially recomend Fox Point, sweet curry, the zatar, all the cinnamons and all the whole spices. Unbelievably good.)
posted by Susan PG at 4:37 PM on May 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
Honestly if I were you I'd suck it up and pay the shipping. Make it a huge comprehensive order and you will not regret it. Christmas for months! (I especially recomend Fox Point, sweet curry, the zatar, all the cinnamons and all the whole spices. Unbelievably good.)
posted by Susan PG at 4:37 PM on May 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
I'm not sure how they compare to Penzeys in flavour (I, too, have not been able to get over the shipping cost to try them out myself) but a couple options that I have bought from and liked what I got are Epices de Cru out of Montreal and The Spice Trader in Toronto.
posted by quaking fajita at 6:29 PM on May 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by quaking fajita at 6:29 PM on May 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
I live in Edmonton and buy spices at Asian spice stores. There are a few around town, with the best in the southeast, where there are a lot of Asians living & cooking. I've never had a problem with stale or old spices and the prices are great.
posted by Deodand at 8:39 PM on May 24, 2013
posted by Deodand at 8:39 PM on May 24, 2013
Seconding Epices de Cru (who also own Olives et Epices at Jean-Talon) in Montreal. They are top notch and my go-to for high quality spices, especially fun strange things that are hard to find.
posted by Kitteh at 8:02 AM on May 25, 2013
posted by Kitteh at 8:02 AM on May 25, 2013
I *just* made my first trip to Penzey's today and was completely overwhelmed with the awesomeness. Take a halcyon day up on his/her offer because the AskMeFi love is super cool =)
posted by Merinda at 5:23 PM on May 25, 2013
posted by Merinda at 5:23 PM on May 25, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by mireille at 11:56 AM on May 24, 2013