Rather than buy the probably stale McCormicks spices for about $4
each per tiny jar, I stopped by my local health food store today to
replenish my spice shelf. They sell spice in bulk, you just take as
much as you need. They also replace them each month, so they are very
fresh and aromatic.

I bought 4. Tarragon, basil, thyme, and about 20 bay leaves. The
amount I bought of each would easily fill the 4 McCormick jars. Total
price of my 4 (tax included) was $1.55.

Gary :-D

On Friday, October 11, 2013 10:55:19 AM UTC-4, Gary wrote:
> Rather than buy the probably stale McCormicks spices for about $4
> each per tiny jar, I stopped by my local health food store today to
> replenish my spice shelf. They sell spice in bulk, you just take as
> much as you need. They also replace them each month, so they are very
> fresh and aromatic.
> I bought 4. Tarragon, basil, thyme, and about 20 bay leaves. The
> amount I bought of each would easily fill the 4 McCormick jars. Total
> price of my 4 (tax included) was $1.55.
>
> Gary :-D

I usually buy mine from Asian markets, usually Indian. By the way,
those are not spices but herbs.

http://www.richardfisher.com

On Fri, 11 Oct 2013 10:55:19 -0400, Gary > wrote:

>Rather than buy the probably stale McCormicks spices for about $4
>each per tiny jar, I stopped by my local health food store today to
>replenish my spice shelf. They sell spice in bulk, you just take as
>much as you need. They also replace them each month, so they are very
>fresh and aromatic.
>
>I bought 4. Tarragon, basil, thyme, and about 20 bay leaves. The
>amount I bought of each would easily fill the 4 McCormick jars. Total
>price of my 4 (tax included) was $1.55.
>
>Gary :-D

It would be better if the turn-over was great enough that all the bulk
items got replaced at least once per day.
Janet US

On Fri, 11 Oct 2013 14:26:06 -0600, Janet Bostwick
> wrote:

> On Fri, 11 Oct 2013 10:55:19 -0400, Gary > wrote:
>
> >Rather than buy the probably stale McCormicks spices for about $4
> >each per tiny jar, I stopped by my local health food store today to
> >replenish my spice shelf. They sell spice in bulk, you just take as
> >much as you need. They also replace them each month, so they are very
> >fresh and aromatic.
> >
> >I bought 4. Tarragon, basil, thyme, and about 20 bay leaves. The
> >amount I bought of each would easily fill the 4 McCormick jars. Total
> >price of my 4 (tax included) was $1.55.
> >
> >Gary :-D
>
> It would be better if the turn-over was great enough that all the bulk
> items got replaced at least once per day.

Then you're at the mercy of the warehouse.

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

On Fri, 11 Oct 2013 15:56:56 -0700, sf > wrote:

>On Fri, 11 Oct 2013 14:26:06 -0600, Janet Bostwick
> wrote:
>
>> On Fri, 11 Oct 2013 10:55:19 -0400, Gary > wrote:
>>
>> >Rather than buy the probably stale McCormicks spices for about $4
>> >each per tiny jar, I stopped by my local health food store today to
>> >replenish my spice shelf. They sell spice in bulk, you just take as
>> >much as you need. They also replace them each month, so they are very
>> >fresh and aromatic.
>> >
>> >I bought 4. Tarragon, basil, thyme, and about 20 bay leaves. The
>> >amount I bought of each would easily fill the 4 McCormick jars. Total
>> >price of my 4 (tax included) was $1.55.
>> >
>> >Gary :-D
>>
>> It would be better if the turn-over was great enough that all the bulk
>> items got replaced at least once per day.
>
>Then you're at the mercy of the warehouse.

I suppose. I do see the employees cutting open those foil bags of
herbs and spices. For the average shopper, I think that is about the
best you're going to get.
Janet US

"sf" > wrote in message
...
> On Fri, 11 Oct 2013 14:26:06 -0600, Janet Bostwick
> > wrote:
>
>> On Fri, 11 Oct 2013 10:55:19 -0400, Gary > wrote:
>>
>> >Rather than buy the probably stale McCormicks spices for about $4
>> >each per tiny jar, I stopped by my local health food store today to
>> >replenish my spice shelf. They sell spice in bulk, you just take as
>> >much as you need. They also replace them each month, so they are very
>> >fresh and aromatic.
>> >
>> >I bought 4. Tarragon, basil, thyme, and about 20 bay leaves. The
>> >amount I bought of each would easily fill the 4 McCormick jars. Total
>> >price of my 4 (tax included) was $1.55.
>> >
>> >Gary :-D
>>
>> It would be better if the turn-over was great enough that all the bulk
>> items got replaced at least once per day.
>
> Then you're at the mercy of the warehouse.

I don't buy too many bulk things any more after having bought a few too many
stale things. I don't think I would ever buy bulk spices for that very
reason. Sometimes I will buy a few pieces of candy because that is a good
way not to accidentally overeat it. But there again, I am picky as to what
I will buy, preferring it to be wrapped or in the upper containers with the
chutes. Once again, I saw a girl putting hands all over the bulk pineapple
slices. Why is it always the pineapple? My mind shoots back to when I was
probably 8 years old and witnessed a girl of about my age, picking up a
pineapple slice at the U Mark It, taking a bite out of it, then putting it
back in the barrel.

But I am also not a spice snob. I have bought those jars for $1 at the
drugstore and have been fine with all of them except for the Italian
Seasoning from CVS. That had a weird, off taste to it. And I think it
included garlic which I would prefer to put in myself.

I did recently order a few things from American spice that I didn't think I
could find in a grocery store. Those being Mexican Oregano, Greek Oregano
and Chipotle pepper. I have a recipe that calls for the Chipotle although I
can't remember now what it is for. And once again, I found myself having
problems with oregano. It smells and tastes musty, ruining the food that it
goes in. This time it is not nearly as pronounced as it was when I bought
that big jug from Costco. That stuff was hideous! The odor whapped me in
the face as soon as I opened it. And when I tried to eat the pasta with the
sauce I had put it in, I felt like I was eating a plate of mold. The $1
Oregano that I bought was fine. But then I bought McCormick's (same brand
as from Costco but theirs is labeled Northern Italian)...now that I think of
it that may well have been Italian seasoning and not just oregano but am
pretty sure that oregano was the culprit...anyway...the McCormick's had that
same musty aroma and taste. And I have no clue what kind of oregano it is.
The bottle doesn't say.

On Fri, 11 Oct 2013 18:57:56 -0700, "Julie Bove"
> wrote:

> I don't buy too many bulk things any more after having bought a few too many
> stale things. I don't think I would ever buy bulk spices for that very
> reason.

I haven't had a problem with freshness when buying in bulk. Spices
are always what I expect, but my problem with herbs is all the
"stuff" that hasn't been filtered out. I pay a lot of money to buy it
in bulk, so I expect it to be filtered. Not even Costco can give me
herb's, like thyme, that meet my standards. I bought a 3 ounce
container of thyme (which is 1/2 - 3/4 cup of the product) from Costco
last week and it had more stems & buds in it than I wanted (I don't
want any). Sure, I didn't pay too much considering the volume - but I
expected a "clean" product for what I spent.

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

On Fri, 11 Oct 2013 10:55:19 -0400, Gary > wrote:

>Rather than buy the probably stale McCormicks spices for about $4
>each per tiny jar, I stopped by my local health food store today to
>replenish my spice shelf. They sell spice in bulk, you just take as
>much as you need. They also replace them each month, so they are very
>fresh and aromatic.
>
>I bought 4. Tarragon, basil, thyme, and about 20 bay leaves.

Tarragon, basil, and thyme are not spices.

On Fri, 11 Oct 2013 19:57:04 -0500, Sqwertz >
wrote:

>On Fri, 11 Oct 2013 19:26:05 -0400, Brooklyn1 wrote:
>
>> On Fri, 11 Oct 2013 10:55:19 -0400, Gary > wrote:
>>
>>>Rather than buy the probably stale McCormicks spices for about $4
>>>each per tiny jar, I stopped by my local health food store today to
>>>replenish my spice shelf. They sell spice in bulk, you just take as
>>>much as you need. They also replace them each month, so they are very
>>>fresh and aromatic.
>>>
>>>I bought 4. Tarragon, basil, thyme, and about 20 bay leaves.
>>
>> Tarragon, basil, and thyme are not spices.
>
><yawn> It the culinary world they are all considered spices.

Idiot dwarf, they're herbs.

On Saturday, October 12, 2013 8:02:43 AM UTC-7, Brooklyn1 wrote:
> On Fri, 11 Oct 2013 19:57:04 -0500, Sqwertz >
>
> wrote:
>
>
>
> >On Fri, 11 Oct 2013 19:26:05 -0400, Brooklyn1 wrote:
>
> >
>
> >> On Fri, 11 Oct 2013 10:55:19 -0400, Gary > wrote:
>
> >>
>
> >>>Rather than buy the probably stale McCormicks spices for about $4
>
> >>>each per tiny jar, I stopped by my local health food store today to
>
> >>>replenish my spice shelf. They sell spice in bulk, you just take as
>
> >>>much as you need. They also replace them each month, so they are very
>
> >>>fresh and aromatic.
>
> >>>
>
> >>>I bought 4. Tarragon, basil, thyme, and about 20 bay leaves.
>
> >>
>
> >> Tarragon, basil, and thyme are not spices.
>
> >
>
> ><yawn> It the culinary world they are all considered spices.
>
>
>
> Idiot dwarf, they're herbs.

Remember, this is his culinary world. Some people just don't know the difference between herbs and spices.

On 10/13/2013 7:57 PM, merryb wrote:
> On Saturday, October 12, 2013 8:02:43 AM UTC-7, Brooklyn1 wrote:
>> On Fri, 11 Oct 2013 19:57:04 -0500, Sqwertz >
>>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> On Fri, 11 Oct 2013 19:26:05 -0400, Brooklyn1 wrote:
>>
>>>> On Fri, 11 Oct 2013 10:55:19 -0400, Gary > wrote:
>>
>>>>> Rather than buy the probably stale McCormicks spices for about $4
>>>>> each per tiny jar, I stopped by my local health food store today to
>>>>> replenish my spice shelf. They sell spice in bulk, you just take as
>>>>> much as you need. They also replace them each month, so they are very
>>>>> fresh and aromatic.
>>
>>
>>>>> I bought 4. Tarragon, basil, thyme, and about 20 bay leaves.
>>
>>>>
>>
>>>> Tarragon, basil, and thyme are not spices.
>>
>>>
>>
>>> <yawn> It the culinary world they are all considered spices.
>>
>>
>>
>> Idiot dwarf, they're herbs.
>
> Remember, this is his culinary world. Some people just don't know the difference between herbs and spices.
>
Does it really matter what one calls them? Herbs, spices, leaves,
seeds... what we're talking about are all used for *seasoning* food.
They should be called "seasonings".

Jill

On Sun, 13 Oct 2013 20:27:22 -0400, jmcquown >
wrote:

>On 10/13/2013 7:57 PM, merryb wrote:
>> On Saturday, October 12, 2013 8:02:43 AM UTC-7, Brooklyn1 wrote:
>>> On Fri, 11 Oct 2013 19:57:04 -0500, Sqwertz >
>>>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> On Fri, 11 Oct 2013 19:26:05 -0400, Brooklyn1 wrote:
>>>
>>>>> On Fri, 11 Oct 2013 10:55:19 -0400, Gary > wrote:
>>>
>>>>>> Rather than buy the probably stale McCormicks spices for about $4
>>>>>> each per tiny jar, I stopped by my local health food store today to
>>>>>> replenish my spice shelf. They sell spice in bulk, you just take as
>>>>>> much as you need. They also replace them each month, so they are very
>>>>>> fresh and aromatic.
>>>
>>>
>>>>>> I bought 4. Tarragon, basil, thyme, and about 20 bay leaves.
>>>
>>>>>
>>>
>>>>> Tarragon, basil, and thyme are not spices.
>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>> <yawn> It the culinary world they are all considered spices.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Idiot dwarf, they're herbs.
>>
>> Remember, this is his culinary world. Some people just don't know the difference between herbs and spices.
>>
>Does it really matter what one calls them? Herbs, spices, leaves,
>seeds... what we're talking about are all used for *seasoning* food.
>They should be called "seasonings".
>
>Jill

Spices and herbs are NOT seasonings... salt, sugar, msg,vinegar, soy
sauce, etc. are seasonings.

"jmcquown" > wrote in message
...
> On 10/13/2013 7:57 PM, merryb wrote:
>> On Saturday, October 12, 2013 8:02:43 AM UTC-7, Brooklyn1 wrote:
>>> On Fri, 11 Oct 2013 19:57:04 -0500, Sqwertz >
>>>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> On Fri, 11 Oct 2013 19:26:05 -0400, Brooklyn1 wrote:
>>>
>>>>> On Fri, 11 Oct 2013 10:55:19 -0400, Gary > wrote:
>>>
>>>>>> Rather than buy the probably stale McCormicks spices for about $4
>>>>>> each per tiny jar, I stopped by my local health food store today to
>>>>>> replenish my spice shelf. They sell spice in bulk, you just take as
>>>>>> much as you need. They also replace them each month, so they are
>>>>>> very
>>>>>> fresh and aromatic.
>>>
>>>
>>>>>> I bought 4. Tarragon, basil, thyme, and about 20 bay leaves.
>>>
>>>>>
>>>
>>>>> Tarragon, basil, and thyme are not spices.
>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>> <yawn> It the culinary world they are all considered spices.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Idiot dwarf, they're herbs.
>>
>> Remember, this is his culinary world. Some people just don't know the
>> difference between herbs and spices.
>>
> Does it really matter what one calls them? Herbs, spices, leaves,
> seeds... what we're talking about are all used for *seasoning* food. They
> should be called "seasonings".
>
> Jill


I agree.

Cheri