Blog

What on Earth does Épices de Cru mean anyway? Learn about terroir and what it says about “de Cru” in a very special Spicy Minute!

Is curry a dish or is curry a spice blend?

False cinnamon? Cassia cinnamon? Why fight about it? This Spicy Minute is in the spirit of the Holiday: Peace on Earth and goodwill towards cinnamon.

Does your brother-in-law spend more time in his suitcases than his living room? Has your niece just discovered her passion for backpacking? Fret not, we’ve got plenty of proven remedies for the travel bug.

​It seems you’re always chasing down some precious gem for someone who takes pride in their well-stocked pantry. There’s a good chance the foodie in your life already has every curry blend on the planet, so here's some other ideas ...

This year, rescue your friends and family from the gloom of winter by treating them to their favorite warming flavors.

The Holiday shopping season is upon us, with its great rewards for a well-chosen present and its terrible embarrassment for a flop. Many now turn to online shopping in their quest to find the perfect present, thanks to its great convenience and endless choice. However, internet shopping has not yet adapted to accommodate every product. Some classic, no-brainer gifts, like clothes and food, can be harder to shop for online.

One of the most common questions we encounter in customer service is the real meaning of white pepper vs black pepper. While we agree they come from the same peppercorn plant, how different whole peppercorns come to be is not as clear: especially for white varieties. We know they are different, but how are they different?

Researching spices on the internet, I come across a lot of talk about spice substitutions, particularly when it comes to chilies. It seems many of us are forgetting the cardinal rule of carefully reading a recipe before we start. I know I’ve been wrist-deep in a cookbook only to find I’m missing some regional rarity that is absolutely crucial but comes in a very small bottle. But thinking about how to replace, or really, resemble, a forgotten spice is less a list to remember and more an invitation to experiment.

So what is Mexican spice blend? Most of the time, Mexican spice blend is synonymous with “taco seasoning,” a chile and cumin heavy concoction that goes great on ground beef, delivering a satisfying, albeit vague, south-of-the-border sensation. But Mexico is famous for the variety and complexity of its many dishes, and it’s a shame to treat such a cuisine so generally. Approaching Mexican seasonings according to dish, as in taco seasoning, is a good start, but delving into regional flavors is the best way to approach Mexican spice blends. Here are a few examples of dish-specific and regional spice blends.