What to Buy Food Best Online Spice Stores Spicewalla is our top overall pick for online spice stores By Irvin Lin Irvin Lin Irvin is a critically acclaimed cookbook author and food blogger. His cookbook "Marbled, Swirled, and Layered" was chosen as one of the best baking cookbooks of 2016 in the New York Times. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Published on February 24, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Photo: CreatiVegan.net / Getty Images Professionals often recommend that you replace the spices in your pantry every six months to two years, as freshness is key when it comes to spices and herbs. But unless you’re regularly using the spices that you own, they tend to sit neglected in your cupboard, growing stale. Sourcing harder-to-find spices that are required for some cultural cuisines can also be a challenge. Thankfully, there are plenty of online spice shops that can provide you with fresh spices and blends for any and all of your recipes. Here’s our list of the best online spices stores that we’ve found. Best Online Spice Stores of 2023 Best Overall: Spicewalla Best for Budget: Piquant Post Best Single-Origin: Burlap & Barrel Best Organic: Spice Tree Organics Best Variety: My Spice Sage Best Blends: Diaspora Co. Best Gourmet Spices: La Boîte Best for Savory Cooking: Spiceology Best for Baking: Penzeys Spices Best for Bulk Orders: Spice Jungle Best Overall: Spicewalla Spicewalla Buy Now Key Specs Starting Price: $5.11 for 0.7-ounce tinSpices Available: Whole and GroundFree Shipping: Yes, on orders over $39 Why You Should Try It Spicewalla offers an incredible range of spices and spice blends, all sourced in small batches and ground by hand to ensure the highest quality. Pros and Cons Pros Sourced in small batches to ensure highest quality Almost all spices are allergen-friendly Spices come in metal tins to prevent light damage Cons A little more expensive than other shops Overview Spicewalla was formed by five-time James Beard-nominated chef Meherwan Irani, who wanted to bring fresh spices to the masses. All spices are purchased directly from suppliers in small batches to make sure they are never stale or old. The spices are then roasted, ground, and packed to order, ensuring freshness and the highest quality. Spicewalla’s fresh quality spices and spice blends, along with its extensive selection of over 100 different individual spices and 30+ specialty blends, make it the best online spice company in our book. Pricing and Plans No subscription plan availableSpices start at $5.11 per tin, with free shipping on orders over $39 Best for Budget: Piquant Post Piquant Post Buy Now Key Specs Starting Price: $3 for 1-ounce packetSpices Available: Whole and GroundFree Shipping: Yes, on orders over $21 Why You Should Try It Piquant Post is a subscription-based spice company that sends you spice blends along with recipes each month. Beyond the subscription plan, you can order the individual spices à la carte at very reasonable prices. Pros and Cons Pros Almost all spices are a reasonable $3 each Numerous spice blends Website has hundreds of global-inspired recipes Cons Mostly offers blends, with very few individual spices Spices are only offered in small amounts Overview Piquant Post offers a subscription service that delivers three to four different spice blends, along with recipes, once a month to your home. The blends in each subscription pack vary, and they’re focused on different countries or regions, which gives you a chance to experience culinary travel from the comfort of your home. Beyond the subscription service, you can purchase spices and blends individually for a reasonable price (usually $3 for 1 ounce). This makes exploring, experimenting, and trying different spices and spice blends easy and affordable. Pricing and Plans Month-to-month subscription: $13 per month6-month prepaid subscription: $12 per month12-month prepaid subscription: $11 per month Best Single-Origin: Burlap & Barrel Burlap & Barrel Buy Now Key Specs Starting Price: $9 for 1.8-ounce jar Spices Available: Whole and GroundFree Shipping: Yes, on orders over $45 Why You Should Try It Burlap & Barrel works directly with small farmers and farmer cooperatives to source single-origin spices and herbs without any middlemen or commodity brokers, providing the highest-quality product with the shortest supply chain possible. Pros and Cons Pros Large selection of single-origin spices and herbs Works directly with farms and farmer cooperatives Clear transparency on where the company gets its spices Cons Free shipping threshold is higher than most Overview If you’re a serious spice savant, Burlap & Barrel is the company for you. With a large selection of single-origin spices available, you can geek out on picking between the classic Robusta black pepper, Zanzibar black pepper, or limited harvest heirloom purple peppercorn from Vietnam. Burlap & Barrel sources all of its spices directly from farmers and farm cooperatives, working to shorten the supply chain. With full transparency on its website regarding where each spice comes from, you can be assured that the farmers are paid a living wage, while you get the highest-quality spices and herbs at a reasonable price. Pricing and Plans No subscription plan availableSpices start at $9 per jar Best Organic: Spice Tree Organics Spice Tree Organics Buy Now Key Specs Starting Price: $9 for 2-ounce pouchSpices Available: GroundFree Shipping: No Why You Should Try It Spice Tree Organics sources and blends its spices without any fillers or additives. All of the company’s organic spices are GMO-free and steam sterilized to preserve freshness and medicinal properties. Pros and Cons Pros Spices are all organic and non-GMO Steam sterilized to preserve freshness Blended without salt, maltodextrin, or other fillers and additives Cons Limited to spice blends only (no individual spices) Some spice blends sell out quickly Overview Spice Tree Organics sells 21 different globally inspired spice blends that are all made from organic, non-GMO ingredients. Its spices are steam sterilized instead of irradiated or sterilized with gas, with no fillers, additives, or salt. Steam sterilization ensures the highest level of freshness and helps preserve any medicinal properties from the herbs and spices. Spice Tree Organics’ selection of spice blends ranges from an NYC Halal cart blend to Malaysian curry to sazón, and there are a number of recipes on the company’s website that use each blend, making it easy for you to recreate international and cultural foods and cuisines. Pricing and Plans No subscription plan availableSpices start at $9 for a 2-ounce pouch Best Variety: My Spice Sage My Spice Sage Buy Now Key Specs Starting Price: $4 for 1 ounce Spices Available: Whole and GroundFree Shipping: Yes, on orders over $10 Why You Should Try It My Spice Sage offers a huge selection of spices and spice blends, as well as baking ingredients, teas, and other pantry items. Pros and Cons Pros Offers hundreds of spices, herbs, and seasonings Pantry items like sweeteners, flour, and tea also available Low minimum threshold for free shipping Cons Large selection can be overwhelming Website is a bit clunky Overview My Spice Sage offers 500 different spices, herbs, and seasonings, including whole spices, ground spices, and spice blends. Beyond that, the company also offers a variety of pantry staples like whole-grain flours, sweeteners, and teas. Spices can be ordered in small or large quantities, depending on the spice, from a few ounces up to 50 pounds for wholesale. Prices are reasonable, with free shipping on orders over $10. Pricing and Plans No subscription plan availableSpices start at $4 for a 1-ounce container, with free shipping on orders over $10 Best Blends: Diaspora Co. Diaspora Co. Buy Now Key Specs Starting Price: $8 per 3.17-ounce jarSpices Available: Whole and GroundFree Shipping: Yes, on orders over $70 Why You Should Try It Diaspora Co. offers 30 single-origin spices that are sourced directly from farms around India and Sri Lanka as well as six authentic masala blends, each of which was developed after deep research into the culture behind the spice blend. Pros and Cons Pros All single-origin spices are organic All spice blends are developed after researching the culture behind the blend Spices and blends are free of fillers or additives Cons South Asian-focused blends only More expensive than other companies Overview Diaspora Co. offers 30 different single-origin spices that come directly from farmers in India and Sri Lanka. The company’s six masala spice blends were developed after months of research into the culinary history and traditions behind each of the blends. The South Asian blends are free from additives and fillers, lab tested to ensure spices are free from pesticides and heavy metals and freshly milled and blended for each production run. Blends are carefully formulated with full transparency on what is in each blend, where the spices come from, when the spices were harvested, and when they were milled and blended. Pricing and Plans Spices start at $8 per 3.17-ounce jarThe Good Pepper Subscription is $48 for a year’s supply of Aranya pepperShipping is free on orders over $70 Best Gourmet Spices: La Boîte La Boite Buy Now Key Specs Starting Price: $9 per 2-ounce jarSpices Available: Whole and GroundFree Shipping: Yes, on orders over $75 Why You Should Try It Founded by Chef Lior Lev Sercarz, La Boîte has worked with chefs across the country to create custom spice blends, which are available both online and in the company’s brick-and-mortar shop in NYC. Pros and Cons Pros Over 100 single-origin spices Over 75 chef-crafted spice blends Also offers a selection of specialty pantry items Cons More expensive than other companies Overview La Boîte was founded by Chef Lior Lev Sercarz, a classically French-trained chef who has worked in various Michelin-starred restaurants. Sercarz has authored several cookbooks focusing on spice blends, and he has worked extensively with chefs across the country to create custom blends for them. Along with a selection of over 75 custom spice blends, La Boîte offers over 100 individual single-origin spices through a partnership with French chef Éric Ripert. Beyond the spices and spice blends, you can also purchase a curated selection of specialty pantry items from La Boîte. Pricing and Plans No subscription plan availableSpices start at $9 per 2-ounce jar, with free shipping on orders over $75 Best for Savory Cooking: Spiceology Spiceology Buy Now Key Specs Starting Price: $8 per 1.6-ounce jarSpices Available: Whole and GroundFree Shipping: Yes, on orders of $50 or more Why You Should Try It Spiceology makes its own signature blends and collaborates with chefs and cooks to create unique spice blends that take your cooking up a notch. Pros and Cons Pros Spices are ground and blended fresh in small batches Large selection of classic and signature rubs, blends, and brines Custom blends made in collaboration with chefs and cooks Cons Not a lot of individual spices or herbs offered for consumers More expensive than other companies Overview Spiceology offers a wide range of innovative rubs and blends that give your savory cooking an extra kick of flavor. The company is known for collaborating with chefs, cooks, and grill masters to create spice blends that allow you to bring their personalities and perspectives into your own kitchen. Spice blends range from Mexican to Mediterranean to Korean and beyond. All spices, rubs, and blends are ground and blended in small batches to ensure freshness and optimum quality. Pricing and Plans No subscription plan availableSpices start at $8 per 1.6-ounce jar, with free shipping on orders of $50 or more Best for Baking: Penzeys Spices Penzeys Spices Buy Now Key Specs Starting Price: $2 per 0.1-ounce trial bagSpices Available: Whole and GroundFree Shipping: Yes, on orders of $40 or more Why You Should Try It Penzeys Spices offer a large assortment of spices and spice blends, but the company also has a special category for spices and blends that work especially well in baked goods. Pros and Cons Pros Special category for baking spices Reasonably priced Option to order spices in different quantities Cons Website is a bit clunky Overview Penzeys Spices offers a wide range of spices, herbs, and blends that range from standard selections like chili powder and Italian herb mixes to hard-to-find offerings like ajwain and pico fruta. Penzeys also has a specific section on its website for spices that work well with baking. The section makes it easy for you to find common baking ingredients such as allspice, cardamom, and multiple types of cinnamon. The company also offers its own specialty baking blends like pumpkin pie spice, apple pie spice, and cake spice blends. Spices are reasonably priced and can be purchased in various quantities, making Penzeys a great place to stock up for all your baking needs. Pricing and Plans No subscription plan availableSpices start at $2 per 1-ounce trial bag, with free shipping on orders of $40 or more Best for Bulk Orders: Spice Jungle Spice Jungle Buy Now Key Specs Starting Price: $5 per 1-ounce jarSpices Available: Whole and GroundFree Shipping: Yes, on orders over $15 Why You Should Try It Spice Jungle offers a wide array of spices, herbs, and blends that can be ordered in increments of one ounce all the way up to 25 pounds, with the option to place bulk orders as well. Pros and Cons Pros Wide range of spices Can order both small and large quantities Offers teas, extracts, and other ingredients beyond spices and herbs Cons Large selection can be overwhelming Some items can be out of stock Overview With over 500 different ingredients for your pantry, Spice Jungle most likely has the spices and herbs that you need for whatever you’re cooking. Even better, you can order each ingredient in various amounts, be it one ounce, four ounces, one pound, five pounds, 25 pounds, or even larger bulk orders. The larger the quantity you order, the better the value you’ll get, making Spice Jungle a great option for stocking up on spices that you use a lot. Beyond the spices and herbs, the company offers other pantry ingredients like loose teas, sweeteners, flavor extracts, and more. Pricing and Plans No subscription plan availableSpices start at 5 per 1-ounce jar, with free shipping on orders over $15 Final Verdict Spices are one of the lifelines in cooking and baking. They can turn an otherwise bland meal, dish, or baked good into a culinary delight, invoking memories of travel or a fine-dining experience or simply elevating a weeknight meal into something more enjoyable. We searched all over and picked Spicewalla as the best overall online spice company. Started by a chef who understands the importance of spices and herbs to cooking, Spicewalla offers some of the freshest, highest-quality spices and herbs available to consumers. Compare the Best Online Spice Stores Company Starting Price Spices Available Free Shipping? Delivery Area Same-/Next-Day Shipping Available? Spicewalla Best Overall $5 for 0.7-ounce tin Whole and Ground Yes, on orders over $39 50 states No Piquant Post Best for Budget $3 for 1-ounce packet Whole and Ground Yes, on orders over $21 50 states and international No Burlap & Barrel Best Single-Origin $9 for 1.8-ounce jar Whole and Ground Yes, on orders over $45 50 states and international No Spice Tree Organics Best Organic $9 for 2-ounce pouch Ground No 50 states No My Spice Sage Best Variety $4 for 1 ounce Whole and Ground Yes, on orders over $10 50 states No Diaspora Co.Best Blends $8 per 3.17-ounce jar Whole and Ground Yes, on orders over $70 50 states and international Yes La Boîte Best Gourmet Spices $9 per 2-ounce jar Whole and Ground Yes, on orders over $75 50 states Yes Spiceology Best for Savory Cooking $8 per 1.6-ounce jar Whole and Ground Yes, on orders of $50 or more 50 states No Penzeys Spices Best for Baking $2 per 1-ounce trial bag Whole and Ground Yes, on orders of $40 or more 50 states and international (though free shipping is not available tor Alaska or Hawaii) Yes Spice Jungle Best for Bulk Orders $5 per 1-ounce jar Whole and Ground Yes, on orders over $15 50 states (though free shipping is not available to Alaska or Hawaii) Yes Frequently Asked Questions Is It Worth Ordering Spices Online? Ordering spices online can be a great cost-effective way to restock your pantry. Herbs and spices bought at the grocery store can be anywhere from two to five years old. However, buying spices directly from the company often means you are getting fresher, higher-quality spices than what you can find at the store — often without the marked-up price. Is It Better to Buy Whole or Ground Spices? This largely depends on your cooking priorities. Ground spices are more convenient, as you can use them straight from the jar without any prep work. However, ground spices have more surface area, as the spices have been broken down into a powder and thus will oxidize quicker and lose their flavor faster. On the other hand, whole spices often taste much fresher and more flavorful than ground spices. If you don’t mind the extra time it takes to grind the spices before using them, you’ll likely find that whole spices are more effective at flavoring your food. What Spices Should Every Pantry Have? Everyone’s cooking style and cultural heritage are different, which means everyone’s spice needs are different. But some of the most common spices found in American pantries include black pepper, kosher salt, cumin, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, onion powder, cinnamon, oregano, basil, thyme, and smoked paprika. These are basic pantry staples that appear in a lot of American home cooking recipes, and they’re easy to find at most grocery stores in the U.S. Can Spices Expire? Spices and herbs are botanical in nature, like other vegetables and crops. As they age, they oxidize and lose their potency. Typically, older spices aren’t harmful to use, but the loss of flavor can make them relatively useless in cooking. If your spices are past their expiration date, or if they smell musty and old, it’s time to replace them. Methodology We looked at dozens of companies to find the best places to purchase spices, herbs, and blends. We evaluated how many spices and herbs were available, if the company offered custom spice blends, and what sort of culinary background each company had. We also considered how short the supply chain was and if the companies offered transparency on where the spices came from. Finally, we considered how easy it was to navigate and order from each website. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! 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