What are some spices?

Question

What are some unique or exotic spices that arent very common that I could order as a gift for my brother, (he graduated from cullinary school) I found some neat flavored salts and figure I can find some funky pepper, but Im looking for something, different..any suggestions?

Thanks

Answer 1

Saffron mmmm.. my favorite. It's part of a flower and it's the most expensive spice but good. Cumin is always good. Sea salt. Curry powder.  

Answer 2

hmmmm..... maybe some great chile spices.....theyre great..take a look at the link i sent you!!  It has a great assortment of different exotic spices!!!!

Answer 3

I buy all my spices from Penzeys. They sell Pacific Sea Salt, French Grey Sea Salt, Fleur de Sel and Kosher Style Coarse Flake Salt.

http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/p...

They also sell 8 varieties of pepper. (myself, I like the Tellicherry peppercorns - they're enormous and very flavorful)

http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/p...

Penzeys also sells pre-mixed rubs, dehydrated vegetables and some of the lesser-known spices like sumac.

Answer 4

omg its called Mrs.Dash :)

check it out;http://doclibrary.com/MFR457/IMG/bottle_...

ps.please pick mine best answer :)

Answer 5

Saffron spice- Mediterranean, asian, european

De Arbol Powder- red pepper that has a grassy smoke flavor with a searing hear

http://www.spicesetc.com/

they have a whole bunch of different spices and herbs

Answer 6

Look at Penzeys.com..they have some really interesting stuff, and a lot that is pretty unusual, at least in the US.

Cardamom is a good one...you can get white (which is used in sweets), green and black cardamom (which are used more in Indian cooking).

Perhaps some unusual peppers, if your brother likes spicy foods?

Penzey's Vietnamese Cinnamon is a good one...it has a softer, more complex flavor than the cinnamon that you find at the grocery store...it is a LOT yummier.

Juniper is kind of trendy now and also something that you will not see at the grocery store.

Some File powder (Penzey's calls it Gumbo File) would be good if he likes Cajun food.

Zatar or Sumac are more Middle-Eastern and also unusual in the US.

Of course, if there is a particular cuisine that he likes, there are often ethnic stores that will sell things that Penzey's does not have.

Good luck!

Answer 7

Here are some great peppercorns:  http://www.bulkpeppercorns.com/mixed_pep...

And here is an AWESOME collection of spices, herbs and seeds:  http://www.igourmet.com/shoppe/shoppe.as...

Answer 8

This place was featured on Road Tasted by the Neeleys on Food Network and they offer an amazing assortment.

http://www.savoryspiceshop.com/