hot take question:

Does quality matter too much in bulk spices? In the grind, I would guess yes. I'm not too sure about the actual ingredients, however. It's all meant to be stored for months, yeah?

I think it matters less so for herbs and such, but for things that are ground, it’s always better to get the whole seed and ground as needed

I use this more than I'd like to admit: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A43ZNE6/?c ... _lig_dp_it

Crying + eating is underrated.

I agree. I should have been more clear. The question assumes you're in the spice aisle at your grocery. Is there a reason to not buy house brand paprika, for instance?

all depends on how quick you'll go through it. The giant canister of paprika is probably not as fresh as the small boutique one, but if you're gonna blow through it, or it's not prone to losing its pungency after a long while, then I say go for it.

Paprika is an ok example of this. Oregano is maybe better.

Something like turmeric would be at the opposite end of that spectrum

We've got turmeric from Aldi in the cabinet currently. Should I just throw it out?

Nah you might just have to use more than normal as it ages

You were being sarcastic weren’t you

I sure was.

i always add sumac to my salads. it's fantastic.

I tend to get smaller amounts of bulk, for both space saving and freshness. Paprika is a staple in our cabinet, and I’ve tried several different stores’ bulk sections and can definitely taste a difference. For instance, the generic Kroger paprika was way more bland than the paprika I get from our co-op. I guess it depends where they source it, and where those sources are sourcing it. I’ve tested conventional vs organic as well, and sometimes can taste a difference in flavor strength.

My brother-in-law brought me this XO Sauce from Hong Kong. It appears to be oil, garlic, dried onion, dried peppers, and a couple kinds of dried seafood. It seems disgusting. It has no expiration date. I doubt any government even knows this company exists. It's probably just a jar of COVID.

... but it tastes pretty damned good in Ramen.

XO sauce rules...use it

yeah xo is great!

Just received a shipment of two Hungarian paprikas: one smoked and one sweet. Paprikash or Goulash happening imminently.