6 Tips To Keep In Mind Before You Buy Spices For The First Time

When you enter the world of cooking, it feels like you are entering a treasure chest full of colours, flavours and fragrances. Well! If you are starting your journey as a cook, let me promise you that you’re in for a treat! You’ll be blown away, quite literally, by the richness of spices in our Indian cooking tradition. Feeling unsure about how to buy spices? Relax; we’ve got you covered! Whether you’re planning to buy spices online or in a store, we’ve got some super-simple tips to buy spices to help you get started. Let’s make this easy and fun so you can focus on what really matters—cooking up delicious meals with balanced spices!

Here are some of the most popular Indian Spices that you must focus on while buying spices online:

Jeera (cumin) Elaichi (cardamom) Rai (Mustard seeds) Sabut Dhania (Coriander) Dalchini (Cinnamon) Laung (Cloves) Saunf (Fennel) Methi dana (Fenugreek)

Here are Six Super-Simple and Fun Tips to Buy Spices Like a Pro!

Tip 1: Identify the Best Spices

When buying spices in a store, make sure to use your nose! Fresh spices have a strong and wonderful aroma that can instantly remind you of your favorite dishes. The smell is a good way to check if the spice is fresh or not. If it smells weak, dull, or boring, it’s probably stale and won’t add much flavor to your food. Now, if you’re buying spices online, don’t worry—you can still make a good choice by focusing on spice packaging and reading reviews. Take some time to read reviews from other customers to be sure the brand is trusted and known for delivering fresh, high-quality spices. Freshness makes all the difference!

Tip 2: How to Choose Whole Vs. Ground Spices?

Here’s a little secret: Whole spices last longer! If you want to stock up and make your spices last, go for whole ones like cinnamon sticks or cumin seeds. They retain their flavor for months. Ground spices, though super convenient, lose their flavour faster. Moreover, whole spices bring a bagful of health benefits that you just can’t ignore. So, if you’re new to the spice world and unsure how to choose spices, start with a mix of whole and ground spices to suit your cooking needs. Also, it works best if the packaging has a zipper lock so that the essence of these spices stays intact.

Tip 3: Buy Fresh Spices Online

Not all spices are created equal. Some might have sneaky fillers, artificial colors, or preservatives. Also, once you open their packaging, the spices start losing their flavours. So, to get your hands on the best spices online, look for pure and natural spices with zipper lock. If you’re into buying spices online, always go for trusted websites or brands with good customer feedback. Your taste buds—and health—deserve nothing but the best!

Tip 4: Start with a Small Quantity

It’s tempting to buy that jumbo jar of turmeric because it’s on sale, but here’s the deal: spices have a shelf life. Buy in small amounts so they stay fresh and flavorful. This is one of the most important fresh spices buying tips—don’t let your spices retire before you use them!

Tip 5: How to Store Fresh Spices?

After bringing home your spicy treasures, store them like royalty. Keep spices in airtight containers and away from sunlight or heat. Glass jars are chic, but plastic works too—just don’t let moisture crash the party. Fresh spices love cool, dark places, so tuck them in your pantry.

Tip 6: Buying Spices Online? Start With The Basics

Trying new spices is exciting, but don’t buy too many at once! Start with simple ones like cumin, coriander, or cinnamon. Once you get used to these, you can try fancy ones like sumac or saffron. This way, you won’t feel confused and can learn the basics first before adding more spices to your collection.

Pro Tip: Keep a checklist of the dishes you want to try and pick spices

accordingly. That way, you don’t end up with random ones you never use. For example, if you want to cook some delish homemade curd rice, stock up some cumin seeds, black pepper, and salt- that’s it, NOTHING MORE!

Buying spices for the first time doesn’t have to be intimidating. Just follow these simple tips to buy spices, and you’ll be cooking flavorful meals in no time. Whether shopping in person or buying spices online, always aim for quality and freshness. Remember, spices are the soul of any dish—treat them with love!

So, ready to sprinkle some magic into your kitchen? Let the spice adventures begin! 🌶️✨