This article provides advice on buying herbs and spices in bulk.
Fresh herbs and spices are acknowledged for their outstanding flavor and in some cases, their health benefit. Many of us have purchased a myriad of little jars at a local retailer.As most of these herbs and spices have been ground up into a fine powder, much of their flavor has been lost. The longer you keep these jars in your own kitchen storage, the more potency declines. When you are finally ready to use the products, they may be lackluster. With a renewed interest in herbs and spices, we have access to fresh herbs at great prices via Internet shopping portals. When you plunge into Internet shopping for herbs and spices, what issues do you need to consider? Consider these basic rules of thumb:
1. Purchase organic herbs and spices where they are available. Most herbs and spices grow very well under organic methods of production. The organic herb or spice option may even be more flavorful and have a higher antioxidant content. And buying organic has the added benefit of helping to take good care of our environment. Organic production, since it uses no artificial chemicals, does not negatively impact the soil, ground water, or air. By buying organic you are making a little contribution to the sustainability of our planet. In addition, if you are buying the product for its health benefit, a lower-chemical organic item is probably a better choice. You may pay more; you may not. The price depends on the production techniques for that item.
2. Choose the whole leaf herb and whole spice over the powdered option. A whole leaf or whole seed or spice will maintain its freshness longer. Try an experiment: fresh grind some nutmeg and smell the pungency of the freshly-ground nutmeg powder. With a whole leaf or spice, grind it right when you need it. The fresh ground spice will release its flavors and aromas directly into your culinary creations. Every dried herb will crush to some extent in packing and shipping, but you want one that resembles a leaf to the greatest extent possible. (An exception is cranberry powder, which is correctly purchased in powder form.) 3. To maximize the freshness of your herbs and spices, store them in glass jars with tight-fitting lids. For bulk storage, store the jars in a cool, dark place like a pantry. Smaller amounts can be put into smaller containers in your spice cabinet. Consider reusing old herb and spice jars for your recently-purchased products. If you do so, wash and dry them thoroughly. Dry the containers in the oven or in the sun to make sure they are dry enough that mold does not develop in your new herbs and spices. Be sure to create new labels for your jars before you forget the contents.
Take these bits of advice and find a reputable vendor of organic herbs and spices. Then you will be set to enjoy herbs and spices to their fullest potential.
