I have a little secret. I talk the talk when it comes to writing reviews and I have a highly critical motor mouth. However, when it comes to walking the walk my culinary skills just don't hold up. Lots of times I go to a restaurant and I say...hell this seems like a super simple dish if only I knew how to season it properly..... The answer to my troubles came from Penzeys. They have an unbelievable selection of spices from all areas of the world (middle eastern, african, korean, chinese, malaysian, you name it). I went in clueless, got some recommendations for spices for fish, meat, and veggies, walked out clueless and used those spices to cook up some dishes. It's really simple. Take food items (for example asparagus). Spray with olive oil, add sale and pepper, and add a bit of tuscan sunset spice from penzeys, cook it in the oven at 400ish degrees for 10-13 minutes and it'll taste better than 99% of asparagus sold in restaurants. Want to make your burger taste better? Add a bit of salt, pepper, and the tuscan sunset spice to a salmon patty and it'll blow your mind. Just like that I was a better cook. Penzeys has instilled a level of confidence in my cooking skills that was simply not possible before. I'm in absolute love with this place. I actually believe for once that I can cook things better than 4* yelp restaurants with a little bit of practice. Never before have I felt I could do this before Penzeys. For those who have not yet dared venture into the culinary arts, I strongly suggest going to Penzeys, getting some recommendations, and cooking some simple dishes. You'll be amazed as to how much you can do.....all under $20 (for several small shakers full of spices). Maybe I just really suck at cooking. But that's the point. Someone like me can do it so can you. If a dilettante like me can do wonders imagine what a seasoned cook can do with the stuff from Penzeys. You are limited to what you can imagine by using spices from Penzeys. read more

I don't cook. You can ask anyone (especially Alicia G). However, I watch a ton of cooking shows, peruse the cooking sites, and heck, at a drop of a hat, I can tell you the proper way to make a mole. However, all of my knowledge is intellectual and theoretical. When confronted with a stove and a recipe, I get confused and bored within a ten minutes, and before you know it, I'm using rice as a substitute for potatoes, because they are both starches, or using soy instead of salt because they both contain sodium, or using my husband's super expensive Scotch instead of cooking wine, because heck they are all alcohol, aren't they?!? My husband, however, has the complete opposite approach to cooking. He doesn't watch cooking shows and he mostly spurns recipes (although he keeps warning *me* to stick to the recipe and stop being so "creative"). He likes to experiment and will spend hours layering flavors on top of flavors. When I first took my husband to Lotte (the Korean market), he nearly died of joy. Cumin, chipotles, chili powders and weird spices galore...all at rock bottom prices! Before you knew it, our pantry were filled with large containers of garam masala, turmeric, coriander and star of anise. Most of it, we rarely use. Heh. But then...then through the power of Yelp and Olivia D, I read something about this place on Rockville Pike called...Penzey's. H'mmm...sounded snooty and yuppy-like. I immediately bookmarked it for a trip, however, we just never got around to it. Finally, after having an early lunch with my brother, we decided to swing by Penzey's and check it out. My husband's brain nearly blew out of his head. I'll admit...my mind was a little blown too! Did you know that there are multiple kinds of cinnamon or paprika? And a plethora of vanillas? Just the chili section made my husband weep with joy. He stood there for a good 20 minutes sniffing the various chilis - some spicy, others smoky, and some with an intriguing rich raisin scent. We stood spellbound in the spice blend section, squealing "ooooh!" and "smell this! Smell this!". In addition - there were some nifty gift boxes of spices that would be great gifts for anyone who cooks (sadly, most of my friends are like me - non-cookers). However, there is a downside to Penzey's - the prices. Now, I realize that this is a specialty spice store and as with all specialty stores, it's bound to be more expensive. However, I guess my real issue is that I've never reconciled with the fact that in American markets spices are infinitely more expensive then at Asian stores. Take for instance, cinnamon sticks. At Penzey's cinnamon sticks go for $1.85 for 3 sticks (1oz), which is about comparable to Giant's prices (when you can find it). At Lotte, I have been able to buy a 1/2lb box of cinnamon sticks for $4.99. Now, I know that the quality of Penzey's spices are probably better then Lotte's. However, at the same time, the cost differential does make me cringe a bit - especially for seasonings where I won't use more then a pinch or two for a special recipe that I probably won't make again. Still - Penzey's is a great resource for those who cook or have delusions of cookery. Or for when you're looking for that bizarre random seasoning (like Piquin Chilis). read more

0 stars for my experience at the store 5 stars for their spices and herbs This afternoon I went to the store to get a few items for Chistmas. It is very nice that you can smell pretty much everthing they have. Their atmosphere is super nice too. The problem was that the people who were working there just ignored me. The lady, who was walking around, greeting everyone and asking every single person in the store whether they had a question, didn't even look at me. I was about to say hello to her and she looked away. I noticed that but I didn't bother me since I knew what I needed and where they were. While I was shopping, I heard the cashier talking to everyone very nicely. Lots of small talks and "Happy Holiday!". Not to me. No hello, no eye contact, no thank you, no bye. Not even you are welcome after I thanked him. He gave me an angry face when I asked for a bag and walked away after handing me the receipt. Walking out the door, I remembered my previous visits to this store. There was one lady who was nice, but other than that one time, I walked out the store thinking "hmm, am I too sensitive?" every single time. I think I am done with this store. I love their spices and herbs, and I used to love going to the store in Iowa. I will continue getting spices from penzeys.com, but I will NEVER go back to this store. Probably that's what they want. read more

After reading the reviews for this place, I was worried I'd come in and leave spending a ton of money. As it turned out, the place was pretty reasonably priced and the customer service was quite amazing. Upon entering, we were immediately approached by someone to ask if we had been in before and needed any help finding anything. A little bit later in our trip around the globe's spices, we were asked again, by a different employee if we needed assistance. They were very friendly and helpful with the few questions we had. The place had 100's of spices and herbs, from 6 or 8 kinds of Indian curries to 10 or 12 various pepper and salt variates. It was pretty awesome being able to open a jar of each spice to smell. How else can you decide?! I ended up with about 8 small jars and a bag of sea salt and that all set me back $24.50. Really not that bad considering at whole foods you could buy one spice jar for $4-5. The things that cost more are what you wouldn't find in any grocery store. Definitely a place to check out if you love to cook. read more

I'm a huge fan of America's Test Kitchen, so when Christopher Kimball recommended spices from Penzey's, I knew what I had to do. I had no idea what the purpose of bay leaves were until I used Penzey's bay leaves. I always assumed they added -some- flavor, but I could never really detect it probably because the bay leaves I was using were completely flavorless! But Penzey's bay leaves are potent and add a whole new dimension of flavor to my soups. I've gotten tons of other herbs and spices from here: cayenne, California sweet paprika, Tellicherry Indian black peppercorn, coriander, ground turmeric root, garam masala, Italian seasoning, vanilla extract, Penzey's cinnamon...I could go on. The prices are reasonable, considering the high quality of the product. And you should know - Penzey's is a big deal. People who don't live near a Penzey's go as far as to order it online. You can see how extensive their online catalog is. So to live near one like we do is a blessing! So if you want your spices to actually make a difference in your cooking, you need to shop at Penzey's! Some more great things about Penzey's: - You can smell everything! - There are great descriptions. - The employees are really helpful and friendly. read more

Completely awesome and inspiring! This local retail outlet for the Wisconsin (and online/mailorder) spice emporium will really get your mouth drooling. An enormous number of spices and seasonings, great house blends and exceptional quality. Oh, and the store smells divine! Absolutely a must-visit for all cooks, food porn addicts, and anyone who just likes the thought of cooking. read more

Awesome spice shop! Always have something new every time I go in. People are super friendly and helpful. Place is clean and organized. And grouped. And there are recipes around if you need inspiration. And with all the choices you might. Wonderful gift boxes. Spices from around the world. I come in every few months to replenish... and the jars are sturdy... I've dropped a few ;p Great place. Check it out!! read more

I went to This Penzeys today and had a very disappointing experience. The last time I was here was two years ago and also had an unpleasant experience. I came in 10 minutes before closing and the employee working made sure I knew by sighing loudly when I opened the door and without greeting me said that I needed to make my purchase very quickly. So I haven't been back until today. It's about a 20 minute drive for me to get to Penzeys and I was unaware that the store was curbside pick up only which I can understand during these troubling times. There was a sign on the window that said order online or call the phone number and maybe they can help me. I tried to use my phone to place my order online but there was no Wi-Fi service so I became frustrated. So then I called the phone number posted on the window and the woman who answered the phone made it very apparent to me that again I was inconveniencing her. Keep in mind this was 20 minutes after they opened and the parking lot was EMPTY so I'm sure how busy she could have been inside. I explained my situation politely and asked if I could give her an order over the phone since I was already in the parking lot. Even though I had just said I realize it's curbside pick up only and was supposed place the order online she felt it was necessary to re-explain what I had already just acknowledged. Her voice was so condescending she was even laughing to herself as if she was explaining this to me for the 50th time and I just couldn't comprehend it. It was so insulting I literally almost hung up the phone and left but I had driven 20 minutes and I didn't want to go home empty-handed. She told me she could help me only if I ordered one or two items which luckily I was only there for two items. When asking about the two spices I needed I asked what sizes they came in and the price. Again laughing to herself obviously annoyed by me for asking such a ridiculous question she begrudgingly gave me the information I requested. I placed my order and gave her my credit card information over the phone and she said OK I will be outside in 30 seconds with your order. It struck me as odd something It only took an employee 30 seconds to complete was so obviously a major inconvenience to her. I will never be coming back to this location. read more

Now in Rockville! VA location coming soon.... Anyone who cooks in the DC area -- Penzeys will change your life. The best spices available. Best spice house in DC area. read more

My family has been ordering from Penzey's online for eons, but I've never had a chance to go into an actual retail store - until today. I was thrilled to find out that there was one in Rockville, so I convinced my boyfriend to make the trip out there to check it out. I can only say that this is a dangerous, dangerous place to be if you're into cooking and experimenting in the kitchen as much as I do. We walked out with all kinds of spices and ideas for using them; I've always wanted to make pickled eggs, but never knew where to get pickling spices - until now. I've also always wanted to try making tandoori chicken, but never knew where to go to find the spices to make it - until now. The staff member on duty was very polite, pleasant, and offered to help us find anything we needed, even though it was close to closing time - exemplary customer service! We purchased about 10 jars of spices and it only came to 32 dollars - an absolute bargain for all that you get. They have cookbooks as well, and some limited kitchen supplies (pepper mills, shaker sets, etc.), as well as handy gift boxes. This would be a GREAT place to buy a wedding gift for a couple. They also have premixed spice flavors for certain types of food, such as barbecue, salad dressing bases, and similar. I loved the fact that you could open the sample jar and smell the contents. I never knew that bay leaves even had a fragrance until today, or that there was a marked difference between Ceylon (true) cinnamon and cassia cinnamon. And, of course, I got to see (and smell!) real saffron strands. The expensive kind. The hundreds-and-hundreds-of-dollars-a-strand kind. We're both in agreement that we'll probably have to start making trips to Rockville to get our spices now. The only things that I'd have on a wish list here is that 1. they carried things like spice racks (though the blank jars are a good start and we'll probably begin with those) and similar accessories, and 2. that they had better hours. Closing at 6pm is a bit early - I'm glad we made it there on time today. We'll definitely be back! read more

Beware during COVID. 24 hour delay or more in getting your spices. The website does NOT inform you that you place your order then it will be filled a day or more later. Don't show up until you hear from them! I'm sitting in front of the store now. People are pulling up, looking at the locked door and either leaving or getting out their phones and calling the store. What a major screw up that is so uncustomer friendly. There goes two more folks walking up and leaving. If they cared about their customers, they would put a notice on their website. How inconsiderate! Car next to me just left without getting a package. Wasting everybody's time. Don't the owners believe in communication? My opinion of the company has changed for the worse. read more

Boy me and the finomcee love us some Penzeys. If you fancy yourself a foodie, gourmand, budding chef, want to spice up your top ramen, this place is a must. Every time I come here, I end up spending way too much money, but with no regrets. What Penzey's has to offer is unique and top quality. Among favorites are freeze dried shallots, shallot salt (putting rice in to suck up the moisture is a must), Turkish bay leaves, garlic salt, toasted granulated onion, Parisien Bonnes Herbes, and Szechuan pepper salt. A good way to go (and what seems like the intuitive design approach) if you've never been is to start on one side and gradually work the perimeter and island stations, sniffing all the smell jars along the way. Also, buying in the resealable bags is always the best value. Pro Tip - subscribe to the newsletter/mailer/catalog. They actually do a nice job with providing recipes, meal ideas, and coupons for new/featured spices that are free to pick up in store. read more

Amazing spices! Big fan of there blends they have found the perfect pepper and cinnamon blends but i cant have eggs without fox point, adobe is the southwest go to spice read more

I love the smell as soon as you walk in the door. And the variety of spices and herbs is amazing. I get their catalog in the mail each month with a lot of good recipes and there is usually a coupon for a free spice. Of course, that lures me to the store where I find plenty of other things to buy. It's also a great place to find gifts, especially for the "person who has everything." In addition to a wide assortment of gift boxes, they have sets of 4 small spices for around $10.00. I like to keep a few on hand for when I need a "just a little something" gift. read more

One of my favorite stores in Rockville. Infinite choices. Friendly environment. Fun to shop. If it wasn't for Penzeys I'd never dare to buy something unfamiliar. Here you can come and smell each and every spice before you buy it. It is life enhancing experience! As an uneducated cook, I have experimented with lots of new aromas and flavors. Within a few adventurous years I made couple of mistakes, but eventually selected my top 20+ favorite spices and can't live without them. Thank you for being awesome Penzeys! read more

I love this place so much. Everything is so fresh. I team here to pick up a Father's Day gift of no salt spices because of his high blood pressure. They had a whole chart for me to pick from which made it really easy and the employees are super helpful and friendly. I have always bought enough to get free items so make sure you sign up for the emails that tell you what the specials are. I'm really surprised at how much I've been enjoying the free bottle of Arizona Dreaming that I picked up a couple weeks ago. Make sure you try their balloons, like Tsardust Memories, which is amazing. read more

Penzeys - Free stuff! - Herbs & Spices Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

Customer service is great at this store. As you enter, you are always greeted. That's great, but this is a spice store. And the spices are the stars of this shop. Fresh Fresh Fresh! The ability to sample-smell the spices is a wonderful idea. I signed up for the newsletters and was surprised to get coupons for full size freebies. I would never have tried some of the freebies and 2 of them have become favorites. Their prices are very reasonable and make you realize how badly priced spices are in the grocery stores. read more

This place is great! I was a little skeptical like some thinking how great could a spice shop be? But if you love cooking as much as I do, you'll love all the different varieties and nuances than you would expect from getting a spice from a regular grocery shop. I bought the vietnamese cinnamon and paris sunrise spices and loved them both! read more

If you cook at all, Penzey's will become your favorite place for inspiration and key ingredients. The store is clean, well-organized, has a huge selection of fresh spices and a staff that is both cordial and helpful. And yes, as others have stated, allow plenty of time to browse. Try the Chili 9000! Suggested to me at checkout last year, it has become a kitchen staple. I've added it to almost everything with tasty results. Particularly good on burgers and popcorn. Since most people cook, this is a wonderful place to buy gifts that are sure to be appreciated. read more

Have you discovered Penzey's Spices yet? If you are not within driving distance of one of their outposts, I can only offer my condolences. The first time I stepped into Penzey's I felt like Augustus Gloop facing Willy Wonka's Room of Edible Everything. Penzey's features over 250 herbs, spices and spice blends. All of their product is ground fresh in Wisconsin and is not allowed to remain on the shelf for more than 3 weeks. If you are among the unfortunate geographically challenged, then you can always order it online. Their entire stock is available at www.Penzeys.com www.hardypartyreview.blogspot.com read more

So despite my utter lack of culinary ability, I have started trying to cook more often at home. Enough that I started going through spices and needed to replace them. I always thought their catalogue pretty neat, but being able to smell and taste the spices is great. Also, price wise they are comparable to what you would pay in the grocery stored for the better McCormick spices. It is worth the drive to Rockville. Also, if you sign up for their mailing list, they will give you a free cumin (at least they did for me). In addition, when you get their catalogue it usually includes a coupon for a free spice in the store. This past month, it was a 4oz jar of their northwoods seasoning. I didn't think I would like it, but it was phenomenal on burgers. read more

You will feel you have died and gone to spice heaven! It is a great experience and the quality of their product are amazing. Not a sermon, just a review. read more

I wanted to check this place out because I am new to the DC Area. I stumbled upon The Spice and Tea Exchange in Georgetown due to a search for Matcha Green Tea Powder. When I Yelped spice stores in the area Penzey's was highly recommended-- and I can see why. When you walk in, I can say it is very welcoming and not too overwhelming. They have sections in the store such as Curry, Spices, Herbs, etc. They have great spices for many different meats or seafood that you fancy. I found a Peri-Peri Seasoning. If you are familiar and LOVE Nando's Peri Peri like I do, this might be the answer. It smells great. I have yet to try it since I just bought it earlier today. The cashier also mentioned that they just put this new season out today-,SCORE! I bought a 4 ounce bag of Peri Peri Seasoning and 1 ounce bag of Parsley, making my grand total out to be $7.44. Pay attention to the weight and the prices between bottled and bagged because the bagged items seems to be cheaper. I think it is because you are paying for the bottle. I don't mind the plastic ziplocks. Make sure you smell everything. Especially the Minced Garlic!!! *Had to drive to this area from downtown DC* read more

I got here just when they opened - the store originated from a guy out in Wisconsin, who passed along to one of his daughters, and the store has expanded across the states. This is one location I checked out, and inside, it was really nicely laid out with different 'sections.' I liked how they use all natural herbs and mixtures, some that are low or no salt, and others that might have additional 'flavor enhancers' (but, very rare, and that is also listed in their ingredients). I bought a small size of the Tuscan Sunset to spruce up on future protein/vegetable meals - I like how they have 2 sizes (one small and one regular-sized) so that you can actually try them out for a few meals instead of wasting the rest. The employees in there were really friendly; one was extremely informative in her suggestions and recommendations on different types of recipes and which seasonings she used. There's also a catalog that you can order and shipping is free on purchases that total $30 or more. I did ask if they have any in-store demonstrations and stuff, but something was stated about MoCo's rules and regulations and that the decision has to come from the headquarters out in WI. Either way, I'm glad I stopped by and I'm looking forward to using my seasoning soon! +spices galore! read more

I love this place. I'm a cooking nerd, so go figure. I feel like a little kid in a candy store when I walk in here. I had to seriously restrain myself from buying way too many seasoning blends! On my first round, I bought the Fox Point seasoning, Sunny Paris, Tsardust Memories, and the Trinidad-style lemon-garlic marinade. Wow, talk about an explosion of flavor. Can't wait to cook more with them and try more things from the store. They also have great gift baskets and soup starters! read more

A great selection of high-quality spices at reasonable prices. This is like Sephora for spices, with more helpful store personnel and more patrons I have something in common with. Compared to spices you'll get anywhere else, these are generally better and comparable or even better in prices (the only exception being the bulk spices you can sometimes find in the Latin foods aisle). There are custom mixes and a wide variety of the regulars. They have an especially nice range of different peppers, peppercorns, cinnamons, and salts. The mixes are sort of to your taste, but I highly recommend Sunny Paris, Balti, and the Turkish seasoning. The only thing that would make this better would be if they actually had the little canisters of coffee (like Sephora), so you could clear your nose between smelling all the different spices. read more

I have always loved penzeys and have always been grateful there is a penzeys not too far from me. Highest quality spices and fun shop to explore and find new spices. Now I have another reason to LOVE penzeys. As I am high risk and have been avoiding indoor places and minimizing my indoor shopping experiences, I have not been to penzeys since right before covid hit. I needed to replenish some spices and was in the same shopping picking up take out from CS New York pizza (bonus they are in same center!). So I was going to sneak quickly into to penzeys - but I could not because they are taking great care to protect employees and customers so customers are not allowed into store - they are open for curbside pickup for online orders. I had not placed an order as I didn't know that was their process. I was able to call and received excellent service from staff member who took my phone order and safely delivered my order on the table outside for contactless pickup. So nice and I'm committed to supporting business that are taking these precautions. This kind of model is not the most efficient to increase profit margins so any business going to these lengths deserve our support, in my opinion. They sell orange peel, which is great in teas and actually find to add to al kinds of baking dishes. I miss perusing through there for sure. And by the way cs New York at the other end of this strip mall is practicing the same kinds of precautions. Thank you Penzeys! read more

As someone who cooks foods from across the globe, going to a grocery store doesn't cut it for my needs. And it can be a pain to hop from ethnic store to ethnic store to collect spices. Penzeys is a one-stop solution. The first time I came here with my boyfriend, we spent about 2 hours in the store and were tempted to buy ALL the things. We walked away with about a basket's worth. Do sign up for the mailing. You'll get wonderful recipes and great coupons. I've used my coupons to redeem two free items (no purchase required!) in the past six months. One was raspberry enlightenment jam, the other was a BBQ seasoning. Yes, the prices are a bit high. But you can save by purchasing bigger quantities in plastic bags instead of the glass jars, which are definitely pricey. read more

Incredible selection of spices from all over the world. You can literally spend hours in the place just trying to think of ideas for their beautiful, organic cocoa. Penzeys,I believe was originally founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on old world third-but I could be wrong, however, I spent many years visiting the shop in Milwaukee. They have everything from herb base rubs to use on roasts, to soup starters to spices for breads and a thousand other things I know nothing about. Love their chocoalte and cocoa-because it is the dark authentic kind like Droste. It is very difficult to find cocoa in the USA that isn't Hershey's -so I am blown away by Penzey's cocoa. read more

I think we are all fortunate to have a Penzey store in our metropolitan. There are so many superlatives I can write about the store, but, they can all be summarized by one inhale of the amazing smell every time someone walks into the store. So many spices from all over the world, most of which are very very fresh. They grind the spices on the spot and care for their life shelf. For those of you who are immigrants and/or lived overseas, you know how important spices are in food; before finding about Penzeys I had to work with the stale and old spices form the local grocery store which were more expensive and old. Too sad that the prices went up in Penzeys lately. I remember when they just opened; in three years the prices almost doubled. Also, I think the place will be perfect if they will also sell coffee beans -- I know, it's not a spice - but still.... If you haven't been there - you have to go! read more

I love Penzeys! Ever since a coworker told me about the online store a few years ago, I've found it VERY difficult to ever go back to supermarket and store-brand spices. It's like taking your first steps in a pair of manolos then having to put on your candies pumps to make the walk of (painful) shame out of the shoe department. So imagine my joy when I found out that the DC area has two retail stores!! (this location and another in NoVA at Falls Church). Considering that there are some states that I have yet to experience the flavorful joy of having just one lone location, I'd count us as lucky ones. The staff is very friendly, helpful, and NOT pushy *side eye to Teavana*, the store is neatly laid out and not overwhelming, and should you not care to drive up to the store in person there's always the website online. And when you order online they normally toss in a small sample with your order. Oh and these spices are cheaper than what you find in most grocery stores and (in my opinion) waaay much better quality. totally worth it. the plaza where this store is located in is off of Rockville Pike which can be a bit of the pain to get into and out of. If you can avoid coming to the store during the afternoon work hour otherwise you may never be able to escape the plaza parking lot. read more

This is absolutely DANGEROUS store for me to set foot in, and I mean that in the best possible way. It's a home (or even professional chef) cook's mecca. There's such a wide variety of spices and dried herbs in here across an extremely expansive range of ethnic cuisines. I initially planned to only purchase 1 item, but in the end, I walked out with 3 things. - Chinese Tung Hing Cinnamon - Also Chinese dried hot peppers - Cajun spice blend What's exciting about Penzeys is that they have the standard fare (cinnamon, pepper, salt, dried basil, etc.) but then they have the EXOTIC versions of all of those, and then many other spices you've never heard of but that you want to buy anyway because you've suddenly realized you NEED Ajwain seeds and Dundicut peppers in your pantry NOW (you'll use them eventually, obviously). Again, a dangerous place for ye foodies with low inhibitions. Tread carefully. read more

Foodie haven! Not the the least expensive but the highest quality and best selection anywhere. Be sure to subscribe to their catalog for the news, recipes and coupons for free spices. It is organized so that a foodie or non foodie alike can find what they need and the employees are always helpful and foodies as well so they have lots of ideas. There are descriptions and jars that you can smell the aroma to see what you are getting which for some people is the way to their heart! You can also go in and have a mini grown up field trip and come away with some excellent free recipe cards for your finds. For the guys who don't know what to get their foodie SO's...Penzey's is a GREAT spot for stocking stuffers! My husband loves having a retail store in the Metro Washington DC area. Makes his gift shopping dilemma ever so easy. And when I call him at the office and tell him I need what to him may seem like an obscure spice; Penzey's nearly always has it! Looking for salt free? Look no further. Penzey's has some excellent salt free blends that aren't run of the mill boring with plenty of flavor. read more

I love spice stores and this one is no exception. My favorite thing is to try all the custom blends, and I found a really good one here, Tsardust something or other. It's a savory blend with cinnamon in it and I'm putting it on everything. Service was fine, I don't think anyone offered help while I was looking but they were friendly at checkout. read more

This is the greatest spice/specialty food place I've come across. When you go, have enough time to thoroughly browse. You can smell everything, and will be intrigued by the difference between the different types of spices. A great place to go to for gifts of foodies. They do sell pre-fab gift baskets with a common variety of spices in different sizes and prices, but I like to be creative and pick out a personalized spice blend. Be careful the price does add up real quick, an average price is $3-4 a bottle, and when you impulse buy, you can easily walk out spending $50 on spices. Go multiple times to match spices to dishes, and really know what kind of spices you like, because they're usually cheaper in bulk. Or go with a friend and split your purchase. Since the price is not much more than the grocery store, it's totally worth a trip there to check out what they have, you won't settle for grocery store spices again. They do have a catalog and website, so once you know what you want, you can refill through the mail. read more

We were on a mission to buy some stuff for our Chinese cooking project. Our original destination was Oriental Market in Rockville, a dingy Chinese grocery store that nonetheless satisfied our cooking needs for the past decade. When we arrived to a boarded up, empty storefront, we were crestfallen. But thanks to Yelp and our smart phone, we have discovered Penzeys nearby. From the outside, Penzeys looks rather non-descript; just another store in a shopping strip. We must have driven past it a billion times, but inside is a trove of spices -- they supply both common and rare items. I was impressed by the variety and the quality. Take cinnamon for example: they stock not only multiple variants of cassia cinnamon (China, Vietnam, etc) but also the harder-to-source Ceylon cinnamon. For us, the quest ended happily. We got both the star anise and the harder to find Chinese brown peppercorns our recipe called for. I also couldn't resist grabbing a lb of richly colored cocoa powder. From the brochure, I found out that there are multiple Penzeys across the U.S., and they also ship. read more

I love to cook and this is the place to get your spices. Let me tell you why you should shop here, grocery store spices are over priced. At Penzeys you can buy a little or a lot. They have several sizes of each item. The prices are super reasonable, much better than the grocery store. With the turn over the spices and seasonings are much fresher than the grocery store. Well worth the trip and kinda an adventure. read more

Best spice shop anywhere. The selection is incredible, and their blends are excellent. Their sweet curry is the best curry mix I've ever used, and I buy it by the bag now. The staff are friendly and extremely knowledgeable. read more

So glad to have access to a Penzey's storefront - wish there was one in DC. Sure, you can catalog shop, but, there is nothing like being able to smell the spices up close! Truthfully, I probably buy more because of all the tempting scents, but, I'm ok with that. My love of spices for my cooking arsenal is a known, happy obsession! I always have their Vietnamese Extra Fancy cinnamon on hand - it has a natural sweet and spiciness. It's just the best whether used in baking or sprinkled on a latte. Give it a try. You will never see cinnamon the same. read more

I went into the store because their spices are always rated highest by food shows and professional testers. They are generous with regular deals. Now they're my go-to place for sending gifts for Christmas and birthdays. And the heal-the-world values of the owner make me feel good about spending money there. The aromas you experience in the store make you want to go home and make something!! read more