The Easiest Way to Save Money on Spices

I bet you didn’t know there’s a hidden gem in your grocery store to help you save a ton of money on spices and herbs.

There was a time in my life when I would look at a recipe with a long list of spices and immediately dismiss it. I would think to myself, no way am I going to buy one whole bottle of cloves for ~$6 only to use five of them in this recipe. I know you’ve been there too – spices can be expensive! That’s why I’m excited to share this little kitchen hack with you.

There are a few select grocery stores in my area that sell spices in bulk. My very favorite one to shop at is Sprouts – their spices are always fresh and you can get great deals. Just this weekend, they had all of their bulk goods on sale for 25% off including spices (and my favorite chocolates)! Even when they’re not on sale, most of your kitchen staple spices will cost less than $1 per ounce. Plus, Sprouts also offers a few exclusive spice blends that have become key ingredients in our kitchen, and which you may see me mention on the blog. Three of our favorites from Sprouts include:

• Italian herb blend
• Garlic and herb blend
• California paprika

The Italian herb blend is your standard salt-free mix of leafy green herbs like rosemary, oregano, marjoram, basil, etc. The garlic and herb blend includes garlic powder and many of the same herbs in the Italian blend, plus it gets a kick from cayenne powder. And last but not least, the California paprika is a bit different than Hungarian paprika; I think it has a clean and bright flavor, and it adds depth to dishes like shakshuka and chili.

Of course, these aren’t the only spices I buy at Sprouts. Their bulk spice bar is where I buy the majority of my spices, from allspice to turmeric, curry powder to fenugreek. They even have pumpkin pie spice and poultry seasoning, two key spices for the holidays, as well as all of the spices you need to make mulled wine and homemade mustard.

One of the best parts of the bulk spice bar is the freedom to experiment. I have discovered various spices that were brand-new to my senses, without the pressure of buying a whole jar. Since I learned to cook via experimentation, this adds a whole new level of fun.

Now that you’re in on the secret, I’d like to challenge you to discover a new spice, or even create a homemade spice blend like Jerusalem’s kebab spice blend (one of our favorites)! If there isn’t a Sprouts near you, some Whole Foods locations also have a bulk spice jar.

Spice Up Your Life with These Recipes:

Campfire Paella – The Best Camping Dinner

Spiced Mulled Wine

Heirloom Tomato Salad with Herbes de Provence