Penzeys.com-Spiceworld Without the Short Skirts
Written: Sep 22 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Fresh spices, great variety, good prices
Cons: shipping costs
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| bdolcourt's Full Review: Archived Web Services Reviews |
I was once told that no one should eat bland food. I believe it. Food is one of the great things in life; it can be vibrant and alive or soft and subtle. When I moved away from home and started outfitting my own kitchen, I discovered just how expensive the spices of life could be. Not only were they expensive, but the spices I bought in the store seemed bland. They lacked the flavor kick I desired. I tried growing some in an herb garden, but I never had enough of what I wanted.
That has all changed. Last year, I happened to visit a Penzeys’ store, on my mother’s recommendation. I was flabbergasted. They have every spice I have ever heard of...plus a few more. They have all the basics, from allspice to vanilla. Plus, they have a lot more. Ever cooked with Zatar? How about Fenugreek? Well, maybe you have. We haven’t yet scratched into the surface of the power that is Penzeys. I didn’t realize that there are at least 4 different types of cinnamon, each with their own unique characteristics. It doesn’t stop there: 2 types of oregano, 3 types saffrons, 3 types of vanilla beans, etc. My favorite? The chili peppers. Simply amazing. Penzeys sell 12 different types of chili peppers. I learned about Chipolte peppers from Penzeys (roasted jalapeno—a fabulous flavor, but lethal). The chili peppers are a must have for any house.
If the variety of individual spices doesn’t get you, then the spice blends should. Penzeys creates multiple spice blends which are absolutely fabulous. I couldn’t list them all, but I will try to highlight. I like Indian food. They sell 9 separate Indian spice blends, from mild Tandoori to fiery Vindaloo. They also sell various meat rubs, which are dynamite. All the spice blends come with a recipe, in case you aren’t quite sure what to do with the stuff, but want to try. Many blends are salt free (noted next to each).
All spices are available in various amounts. Most come in bulk pouches or glass jars (you can choose which). I tend to buy the pouches since they are trivially cheaper per ounce, but the bottled spices are a great value. They sell glass bottles for around 99 cents if you want to start buying bulk.
One of the biggest powers of Penzeys is their volume. They go through spices so quickly, that everything is fresh. You never have to worry about how long something has been sitting on the shelf. They also grind their own, yet again, it improves freshness.
Oh, I almost forgot. Penzeys sell prepackaged boxes of various spices (often around a theme). They make great gifts and are attractively decorated with bay leaves and cinnamon stick as packing material. They make great gifts and start as low as $20.
Now that you know what Penzeys does, lets talk about the web site.
Penzeys website (www.penzeys.com) does not have any frills or large graphics. There is no flash. It is pretty easy and simple to navigate. There aren’t many button or any distractors. From the site, you can request a catalog, look through the online store, or order. I’d recommend the catalog. It is free and easier to order from. The online catalog has in inventory broken down into 3 parts, alphabetically. A long list of spices is present, clicking on each brings up a short description, picture, and quantity options. The lay out is workable, but not great: It can get a little bit long. The only real gripe I have with the site is based in the online catalog: the catalog uses javascript to bring up the various lists. The result being, if you hit the “back” button, it can appear that the page is not loading...in reality, you are just scrolled down and in the area where the list used to be. Scroll up. Minor, but it had me going for a minute.
The better way to order is to use express ordering. If you have a catalog, you can directly enter the product number(s) into a window and click the button. It gives a running total and a simple list of what you ordered, size, and quantity. You keep going until you click check out. This is the superior way to order. It is so fast and very efficient. No wasted time clicking through pages. Also, the catalog is just worth having. It is more than a catalog. It has great recipes and it full of information about the various spices. This is the first time I ever learned anything from a catalog. If you have a catalog, you’d never waste time using the online version.
Check out is just as easy. Everything is obvious. Anyone familiar with e-commerce or mail order will know what to do. The site is secured...of course and they take all major credit cards. Shipping options can be a bit confusing. While US mail is cheaper, it is slower than UPS. Spend the extra buck and go UPS. Penzeys will also package an order as a gift if requested.
Penzeys prices are better than the grocery store. Penzeys sells vanilla beans for $2.00 each. That is a three dollar savings over my grocery store, and 50 cents better than any other price I’ve seen. Similar savings can be seen for other spices. Not to mention that Penzeys’ spices are so much fresher and more flavorful than the stale spices in the grocery store. Shipping does eat up some of the savings. If you order one or two things you may not save enough to justify the cost directly…you will be able to justify the cost based on taste.
So, on the fifth day after I ordered, I found a small box on my doorstep when I got home. **SNIFF** They all smell wonderful. Strong and fresh. Plus, a hand written “Thank you” on the invoice...nice touch. I can't stress enough how much I love Penzeys spices. My cooking is better, with more flavor, and more variety. The online store means I can get them whenever I want. I’ll tell you what I want, what I really really want: Great, fresh spices, delivered to my home.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
bdolcourt
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Member: Bram Dolcourt
Location: Valhalla, NY
Reviews written: 33
Trusted by: 35 members
About Me:
After graduating in Chemistry from Brandeis and a short EMS career, I'm a Medical Student.
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