World Spice Merchants

Someone posted a comment about Tony Hill the owner being rude & arrogant recently (which has been flagged down). I've been going to WS since he opened it and disagree but more importantly, he sold the store over three years ago so she had to have the wrong person in mind (unless she waited three years to post). He now writes books and lives abroad according to his former staff. Apart from that, the spices are just as amazing today as they were when they started. It has to be over a decade now. LOVE the Chai and the curries. Plan to spend lots of time there, I do every trip. more

OK, so they are a bit snobby, but oh man, their spice blends and teas are amazing. If you're willing to go out of your way, your dinners will taste amazing. To add more tofu to your diet, add their tofu scramble spices to your pan. You'll look forward to eating the stuff, and not out of virtue alone. My favorite is the Shitake Tofu. When the temperature continues to drop and you need a spot of warm-you-from-the-inside-out tea, try their Chipotle Chai. You'll need to do two steps - steep the Chai mix, then add black tea (and a third step to steam milk and add it if you choose, I skip that) and blend together, but nothing warms in the world like this. It's for serious spice addicts. Great staples can be found there, too, and prices are truly reasonable. enjoy! more

The best location I've found locally for spices is World Spice behind Pike Place Market downtown. http://www.worldspice.com/ They will grind the spices for you . Harissa is on the 'menu' on their website... more

An excursion to World Spice Merchants is a quick round-the-world adventure for the senses. This place is the closest you'll get in Seattle to an exotic third-world spice bazaar. If you need an obscue spice for a recipe and can't find it anywhere else, you'll find it here. It's also nice that you can open the jars and smell and check out what's in there. These spices (and teas) are so different from the horribly bland stuff sold in supermarkets, they're worth a special trip. more

I have never seen another store quite like this in America. Sure, the east coast and California have places where you can purchase less accessible spices but never all in one place like this. World Spice has spices and unique blends from all over the world organized by area. The employees are happy to give you advice about which spice to buy and also will grind and package the spices on site. The prices are reasonable. The only problem here, as with the entire market area, is parking. more

World Merchants is home to a jaw-dropping assortment of spices and teas, of unbelievable freshness. Traveling around the world (having established working relationships of an impressive caliber) to seek out the freshest, purest, best, the owner personifies passion for his craft. Samples are stashed in small jars you can shake, open, and smell; the descriptive cards accompanying each spice make for delightful reading. more

I first went to the World Spice Merchant looking for ingredients for a medieval recipe I was trying to make. They have *everything*! I especially like their pre-blended spices. Some of my favourites are the Mayan cocoa with chili powder, the Japanese rice seasonings, and the Pacific seafood rub. Spice really *does* bring variety to life! more

I am a self professed "foodie" and Tony Hills store has changed my cooking forever. If you do one thing with your cooking visit them and throw out all of those crappy McCormicks spices that you have owned since 1989. I make dishes around his diifferent curries and rubs, the best! more