This shop is easy to miss. It's small, and you have to walk down a set of steps to enter. But once…read moreinside, you can't help but smile -- it feels like you've been transported straight into an Indian bazaar. They surprisingly have a wide variety of organic spices, nuts, lentils, and ingredients you wouldn't even imagine they would have, such as their organic cocoa butter, which we have yet to find at another local shop. It was so much fun just wandering around the store and discovering everything. Everyone there is so nice and welcoming too. My absolute favorite thing here is their Mango Lassi, it is $4.95 and it is perfection. It may be the only lassi better than the one I make at home. If you are as obsessed with mango lassis as I am and want to try one the makes it better than most (if not all) of our local restaurants, then please save one for me.

This store has everything you could ever need. Tea, curry, pani puri, colon cleanse, and much more!…read moreHelpful staff as well

It's a great place if you're looking for herbs & other nicknacks. Family run which is cute.read more

My search for certain Chinese medicinal fruits & herbs led me here. There are quite a few herbal…read moremedicine stores around this block but many of them seem to be selling them openly, letting in all the germs and the dust from the streets. That seems counter productive doesn't it? Well these guys have some stuff that are in the open, but most are either inside or packed and sealed in a bag if outside. The store inside is clean as well. The products I was looking for were hong zao (jujube aka Chinese dates) and gouqi (goji berries or wolf berries) in order to make black chicken soup. Both were properly packed and looked clean. I was happy with their products and so when my wife wanted chuan bei mu (Fritillaria extract) for a Chinese pear recipe, I went back to them for it. Sure enough they had them inside, sealed tightly in a glass jar. However, they were of the smaller kind. Buying herbs can be a daunting task for a non Chinese speaker... I mean the sheer thought of going home and cooking for my wife with the wrong herbs is enough to give me nightmares ... but they actually understood my Google Translate Chinese and helped me out big time. They seem a little more expensive than some of the other ones but surely the cleanliness is worth an extra few cents. What? Don't call you Shirley? Dude you need some Chinese herbs.

It is a nice little shop with a great selection of teas and spices. The store has a cozy feel, and…read moreit's a great place to stop by if you enjoy trying different flavors of tea. They have many options to choose from. It's also a good place to pick up something unique for yourself or as a gift. They also have natural honey and other items you can use for kitchen and making tea.

Knowledgeable staff and a nice selection of loose teas as well as sachets (tea bags). It is located…read morevery close to NYU and only 2 blocks from subway. We were visiting from out of town and it was great to find such a place. I recently ordered some more of the Ruby Oolong I purchased there. Very clean store and very high quality inventory with good variety of black, green and oolong and flavored teas (which I don't care for). I will make it a stop whenever I am in the city.

Great spice shop inside the Essex Market. Friendly service and reasonable pricing. I live buying…read moretheir insanely fragrant saffron from Afghanistan. Other spices I have bought include their garam masala, turmeric, za'atar, and ground cumin.

I've been patronizing Essex Olive & Spice for years -- fantastic shop with delicious olives, oils,…read morespices, and other goods. And, like, the other reviewer wrote, Saad is the best -- a passionate business owner & super friendly dude.

The lady doctor makes the most amazing herbal medicine tinctures that are incredibly healing!…read moreFlower Power is an East Village neighborhood GemTheir Kindness is exceeded by their amazing knowledge of herbalism. They contribute greatly to the cultural fabric of our community.

This place has the most amazing tea selection in New York City in the east village. I was on a…read morequest going to different tea places walla flower power was the place. I purchased gun power green tea, chamomile tea and some sage. I absolutely love this gem of a store.

Walked into Porto Rico Coffee in Greenwich Village and suddenly felt underqualified to drink…read morecoffee. This place has been around since 1907. Meanwhile, I still need GPS to find my car in a parking lot. Over 130 coffees from around the world, shelves packed with teas, spices, and enough coffee beans to keep New York awake until 2126. Also the ambiance is what a coffee shop should look like. I came in for a cup of coffee and left feeling like I just completed a history lesson, a world tour, and a caffeine-fueled life upgrade. Some guys collect watches. Some collect sneakers. Today, I collected coffee and good decisions.

Stopped in while visiting the city in search of some coffee beans as a gift. As soon as you walk…read morein, you instantly smell the sweet smell of coffee. It's incredible! There were so many beans to choose from and they also have a coffee shop inside too. A staff member asked a few questions about what kind of beans I was looking for and instantly recommended two different ones. It was the easiest process ever and the gift recipient absolutely loved it! I will definitely return next time for a cup of coffee and beans for myself. Highly recommend!

I've been using Dr. Gabriel Francis' 24K Gold Skincare Collection since late summer, and it's…read morehonestly amazing. The products feel luxurious and deliver real results. My skin looks more clear, hydrated and plumped. The Gold-Infused Serum and the both Day and Night creams are my favorites within the collection. The whole skincare system is healthy -- and my skin soaks up all the clean ingredients. It leaves my skin glowing and super soft. I highly recommend her 24K skincare line for everyone.

I've worked with Dr. G for over 17 years and followed her from San Francisco to NYC. She is…read moreprofessional, extremely knowledgeable, caring and has provided our family with the best recommendations to be our best (healthy) selves. She listens and will work with you wherever you're at. She's the real deal and you and your health should be a priority.