Every year around New Year’s we order a big boxes of spices from [Penzeys](http://penzeys.com/). We’ve been doing it for at least ten years. I love getting packages–who doesn’t?–and this is my favorite of the year. It offers pleasures both culinary and clerical: we get to unpack, sort, date, sniff, and shelve each spice. Every year we consult the spreadsheet (like I said, clerical) and determine what needs to be restocked and whether we want to try something new. Iris has mostly taken over the unpacking and dating duties, and she enjoys it even more than I do.
This year, for the first time, we didn’t order the box. Penzeys opened a store in downtown Seattle, near Pike Place Market. Iris was apprehensive about missing out on the unboxing (so was I), but I told her she could be in charge of the shopping. She took so seriously, it was like I’d asked her to look after the nuclear football. She stalked around the shop, referring frequently to her printed list and crossing items off as she put them in her basket.
Naturally, in the store you can sniff any spice before buying. That’s how we ended up upgrading our cinnamon from Chinese to [Vietnamese Extra Fancy](http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/p-penzeysvietnamesecinnamon.html). Now we’re cinnamon fiends. The Extra Fancy makes great cinnamon toast, coffeecake, cinnamon rolls (we’re stuck in a breakfast holding pattern).
And despite the name, it costs less than supermarket cinnamon.
That Vietnamese extra fancy is sooooo dang fine. Fancy.
I share the same sentiment. I was thrilled when Penzey’s announced an opening in my state, but suddenly mourned the loss of the box filled with not only the spices we ordered, but the extra bay leaves, nutmegs and cinnamon sticks that always got tucked into the box.
With that said, their catalogs frequently come with a coupon for a freebie. Usually for something I haven’t bought before, which is nice.
We are total Vietnamese Fancy Cinnamon converts too. and I love their Chesapeake Bay seasoning – much better than the native Old Bay spice made right here in MD. That’s saying a lot…
Most folks are amazed when they find out that Penzey’s is often if not always cheaper than supermarket brands. Check out Savory Spice, out of Colorado, as well. They grind their own everything on site, and they’re usually half the price of McCormick’s. Cheers!
My spice collection has expanded significantly since I started buying from Penzeys. Though I’ve never had the pleasure of Penzey’s mail since I discovered them when I lived 20 minutes from a shop.
Thank you!
I often feel like a cinnamon pedant, but I can’t be bothered with Chinese cinnamon anymore. I have the Vietnamese and the Ceylon “true” cinnamon; together and separately, they fill all my cinnamon needs.
Also, I live only a few blocks from a Penzey’s. It’s dangerous – so, so dangerous.
Do you happen to have the perfect ratio of cinnamon to sugar for your toast? I made some the other day and felt there was something amiss.