Recipes
Shrimp Fajitas
Few dishes make an entrance quite like fajitas. Their loud sizzle and wafting steam is mouth watering and a crowd favorite. For a quick and easy meal, we seasoned shrimp with some of our Fajita Taco Spice. This blend has taco staples like cumin, paprika, onion, garlic and black pepper. Not surprisingly, this blend has consistently been one of our best sellers for decades. What makes our Fajita & Taco Spice special compared to the standard store-bought packet is that it is salt- and preservative-free. We grind it fresh, keeping the flavor and brightness of the tomato and guajillo chile. Colorful bell pepper, sweet yellow onion, and juicy gulf shrimp make for fantastic fajitas. Now, treat yourself to taco night because you earned this! Cheers!
Learn moreCaribbean Pineapple Upside Down Cake
Pineapple upside down cake has been a cherished dessert for generations, with fond memories going back before the 1950's. We decided it was about time to give the recipe a bit of a facelift while still keeping true to the its roots. What we ended up with is a cake that's fruity, bold, and more flavorful than ever. A melody of allspice and bay leaves give this upside down cake a vibrant Caribbean flair, although the true star of the show here is long pepper. The pine cone-shaped spice is gingery and has notes of cardamom and black pepper. This flavor in the gooey caramel at the bottom layer of this cake is simply other-worldly. Buttery, fluffy, fruity, spicey — this is everything you'd want wrapped up in one drool-worthy dessert!
Learn moreTabil Plantain Chips
At the shop, we are frequently asked, "what spice is underrated?" The Tunisian blend Tabil is our go-to answer. It's a simple blend consisting of caraway, garlic, chile flakes, and coriander. All of the spices get toasted to bring out their nutty, umami notes. We took green (under ripened) plantains to another level by thinly slicing, then frying them until crispy. Once done, we added a mixture of Tabil, salt and a little bit of brown sugar. This snack is addictive and full of flavor. These are delicious with a dip like hummus or as a crunchy topping on rice and beans or a salad. Have fun playing with this blend - it's bold, savory flavor has found its way into most of our daily staples.
Learn moreGalaxy Pops
While ice pops are a classic, summertime staple; these are simply out of this world. They naturally get their starry night color from Butterfly Pea Flowers. This recipe was inspired by our Butterfly Pea Flower Horchata. Horchata is a Mexican rice milk beverage that is traditionally flavored with cinnamon. We made these pops a little richer using sweetened condensed milk to add creaminess. Additionally, we took some of the rice pudding base and pureed butterfly pea flowers that have a slight green tea flavor. A galaxy-like effect was created by pouring the creamy white horchata mix on top of the beautiful, deep blue, butterfly base. These pops easily freeze in Dixie cups as a mold. For the green Martian pops, we used some basil and lime juice. Treat yourself to one of each! They're sure to be the star of your hot summer day.To make this a completely vegan/dairy-free recipe, substitute cream of coconut for the sweetened condensed milk in the horchata mix.
Learn moreMayan Cocoa Frozen Custard
Frozen custard is luscious, silky, and decadent. When it melts, its creamy richness cools you off as you enjoy the explosion of chocolate flavor. In this recipe, we used our Mayan Cocoa which not only makes a tasty drinking chocolate but also a seasoned custard with warm spices like true cinnamon, allspice and ancho chile flake for a kick. To transport us to a chocoholic's paradise, we melted dark chocolate and swirled cherries into the custard to give brightness. Making ice cream is an experience, and this one will make you guilty of constantly taste testing. Give this base a quick spin in an ice cream machine and enjoy it with a sprinkle of toasted White Sesame Seed.
Learn moreRooster Spice Asparagus
Songkran (สงกรานต์) is the traditional Thai New Year water festival which starts on April 13 every year. Traditionally, the throwing of water is said to be a symbol of luck to bring good rain for the crops. Well, we are swimming in good luck with a bountiful asparagus harvest this year and one of our favorite go-to blends, Rooster Spice! We designed this spicy chili powder drawing inspiration from Indonesian sambal, Sriracha, Thai nam phrik, and Vietnamese tuong ot toi. Rooster Spice has limitless possibilities, but here we combine the seasonality of asparagus with the celebration of Thai New Year. Enjoy!
Learn morePiña Colada
One sip of this cocktail will take you right to the beach. This creamy, frozen drink is ridiculously easy to drink. There's a reason you'll find these in paradise destinations. So make yourself a pitcher of this Caribbean favorite, kick back in a beach chair, and enjoy! For a layer of aromatic bliss, shave some nutmeg on top before taking a sip. Nothing compares to freshly grated Nutmeg - the warmth compliments the rum and coconut. Experiment further and add Jamaican Allspice or our Kashmiri Garam Masala to give a little extra something-something to your staycation.
Learn morePiment d'Espelette Pan de Tomate
Tomato season is here! And this recipe is a wonderfully simple way to make pantry staples shine. While all spices are special, Piment d'Espelette has the terroir of Basque country. This rare chile is only grown and cultivated in the Espelette commune in France's Nive Valley. Espelette pepper is similar to a red hatch chile and is traditionally used for fish stews or as a black pepper substitute in dishes. We took sliced ciabatta and smothered the toast in grated heirloom tomatoes, garlic, and olive oil to make a perfect bite. Finish it off with a sprinkle of Fleur de Sel and Piment d'Espelette for a pop of flavor.Piment d'Espelette is one of the appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) products which France certifies as having the true terroir of the region. This spice is as genuine as champagne from the Champagne region of France or Roquefort from Roquefort-sur-Soulzon. It doesn't get more time-honored than this!
Learn moreMango Rooibos Iced Tea
Rooibos is an herbal tea from South Africa. It has delicate hints of caramel and woody flavors. Once steeped, it turns a gorgeous rusty-red color. We added aromatic Jamaican Allspice as the secret ingredient in this brew, having notes of nutmeg, cloves and black pepper. For a touch of warmth we added Cassia Chip Cinnamon and sweet mango puree to brighten your glass. Delicious, thirst quenching, and good for you; sipping this tea is a great way to keep cool on a hot summer day!
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