I usually do mail order, but I was near the Albany store, so I took advantage of replenishing several of the spices I use frequently and buying a gift. Penzey's has the best specials! I am a longtime satisfied customer. I purchased the "Love Pack" special as a gift for a bridal shower in October. The 12 pack includes an assortment of commonly used spices that are perfect for a bride to be. It was on sale for $45. from $90. It was an excellent value! The "Love Box" only needs a bow since it is packaged so nicely. I will add a gift certificate to Trader Joe's to complement the shower gift. Service at the store is always attentive but not overwhelming. You are encouraged to browse and ask questions that you may have. They often have a free gift of a regular sized spice. If you order online, you can pick up at the store or you may have it delivered often free of charge. The website is very well organized and using it is quick and fun. Along with many others, I appreciate the support the company President provides to political causes. I purchased five gift certificates to support the company after it was criticized/threatened after Kamala Harris recently visited the Pittsburgh store during her campaign. $50. Certificates were on sale for $35. Good gifts to have on hand. read more

Penzeys Spices - One of their specials that interested me - Do-It-Yourself Food Near Me - Albany, New York

So happy to find the Penzeys store. Bruce was very helpful! We bought sumac and another spice he recommended. Also got a present for Poppy. The store is absolutely beautiful and smelled wonderful! read more

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So so sad that this location closed (due to issues with renewing the lease, not due to lack of business). I don't plan to buy spices anywhere else - great quality, excellent sales, and meaningful mission. I sincerely hope that they find another location in the Capital Region. read more

Spices are the best anywhere. I often order online when I can't get to a store. Highly recommend their cinnamons (I like Vietnamese the best), Fox Point seasoning blend, granulated roasted garlic - the closest taste to fresh garlic I've found. I love that you can buy small packets of seasonings to try them out. As for politics - they tell it like it is. read more

Nice selection , easy to navigate site . Too bad that this company doesn't want my , ( or my family ) buisness due to an obvious bias . Too bad as I have the means & i love to cook . Luckily due to a closed minded , ignorant individual that chose to insult at least 1/2 of a customer base. NEWSFLASH !!! ( Since you set the stage ) WE WON ! YOU LOST !! I hope that your buisness is half of what you want . I have found better deals with little effort . There are many alternatives , for those that may be looking for alternatives , they do exist & actually want to sell their products . read more

Truly good spices. I almost always hate spice blends, and in fact have mocked many, but Penzeys has some that are so delicious, I can't help buying them. I was super excited when we moved here to find that I no longer have to do mail order only! The people who work here are really cool and kind, and there's always tons of stuff to smell or taste. I still buy most of our stuff at the co-op--produce, nuts and snacks, dairy--, but most of my spices come from Penzeys. You've got to get their smoked paprika! read more

I generally order online, but make it to the store when I can. The quality is unsurpassed. The mixes are amazing. I even gave small jars of Revolution as part of my wedding favors. To those making up lies about cleanliness or poor quality, you know you're lying. Does that make you feel better? This is a business and an owner is still free to have an opinion. If you don't agree, don't shop. But boy, are you missing out! I'd go just for the pepper! read more

I was given a gift certificate from Penzey's and used part of it to buy a jar of roasted pork stock base. It blew my mind. It tasted just like every pork roast my mom used to make. When I run out of the boatload of spices I bought, I'll be back as a regular Penzey's customer. Keep doing the good work! read more

I usually order online but when I am in Albany NY I visit the store. It is a wonderful experience, thoughtfully designed with a friendly knowledgeable staff. I have used nothing but Penzey spices for at least ten years and will continue to so - the quality is excellent and beyond that I respect Bill for speaking out for truth and what is right and for spreading the love of cooking. It is sad to see the bad review mostly from those who probably never shopped at Penzey's and who continue to believe in the lies of the grifter. read more

I have been a HUGE fan of Penzey's since I discovered them while living in Texas. I make up baskets for family and friends at Christmas and other special occasions. After hearing about their stance on Republicans, I am No longer supporting their store and products because I will not support further division of American society. Ridiculous for a company to put out a statement like their "About Republicans ". Bye bye. read more

I sniffed so many spices my nose tingled for an hour past my visit. I love cooking, but I will be 100% honest that most of my spices are bottom of the barrel type. I have spent some good money on some good stuff, but I came to the thought I should add a little pizzazz to my dishes. I knew that the spices would be a little more pricey than i'm used to, but so far I have been quite impressed with the quality. I think that they are a lot more pungent than the usual stuff at the grocery stores. I love the minced ginger which I just tried out in a stir fry. The garlic powder is a lot more fragrant that normal. I just recently bought a pepper mill and these peppercorns are so fragrant and bold in my dishes. The smoked paprika also adds an amazing complex flavor. I will definitely return to get some more spices. I enjoy their variety however I was hoping for some more exotic spices. The spice blends I saw were very expensive, but maybe I'll get a small jar to try sometime. read more

Penzeys Spices - my haul. $22 - Do-It-Yourself Food Near Me - Albany, New York

I shouldn't be a Penzey's person. I like to mix my own combinations rather than buying someone else's, and I like buying in bulk so I don't waste. But I can't stay away. I have given countless Penzey's spice boxes as wedding presents (they still have a wide assortment of gift boxes, but without the loose cinnamon sticks and nutmegs of yore) and I have several favorites among the overall top-quality herbs and spices. (Try the bay leaves and you'll realize that all other bay leaves taste like paper.) I normally shop Penzey's by mail and add up my order to qualify for free shipping, but during COVID you can have the same experience at Stuyvesant Plaza. The store is closed for browsing, but you can order online or just call them (store staff is very knowledgeable; I needed an obscure South Asian spice called ajwan and they knew immediately it was in stock) and they will put it in a little bag and stick it out the door for you. It's like mail order with free shipping and no minimum! read more

This is a great company. I am happy to support them and I am really glad that we have a local store. I recently started shopping here and have been really enjoying the spices. They have a large selection of herbs, salts, peppers, and spice mixes. Nitewirthy: Sign up for their emails because they have a lot going on - deals, freebies, etc. read more

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My wife and I bought Penzey's Spices for years, both at this location and online. We thought our patronage was appreciated. But, alas, this turned out not to be so. Penzey's, you see, decided to alienate and disparage half of the American public over political party affiliation. Crazy! Who cares about political parties when you just want to cook and enjoy tasty food? read more

I confess I really didn't understand Penzeys fully when they had their location at the mall; it seemed like quite a bit of trouble to go to pick up some lemongrass and sumac, to brave the madding crowds, and the generic labels and sprawling display areas that make it hard to just go in and pick up a couple of things was a deterrent to shopping there. But the store in Stuyvesant plaza is very different, despite the interior layout being as far as I can tell identical to the mall. It's a standalone store, and as part of the smaller plaza is a little less intimidating to visit. (With Different Drummer in the same plaza, there's an excuse to do a "cooking run" as well.) It finally dawned on me that it's not a spice store, it's a spice boutique. The way the service is oriented is just like the perfume counter or a higher end clothing store. The staff will hover ever so slightly and when asked for help will gladly and knowledgeably dive right in. And the array of customized mixes and seasonings also is more the boutique experience than just a retail food store. I will also confess this isn't entirely my cup of tea, and I still want to get in and get out, and that's the only reason I'm not adding a fifth (personal) star, because now that I understand the schtick, there's no denying Penzey's is very, very good at it. If you want to have a little fun spice shopping, this is the place. (If you don't understand how spice shopping could be fun, it may be worth a visit to see how, but I totally understand this might not be your place.) As far as quality, I've never had any complaints, and while the prices aren't rock bottom they're not extortionate, either. Since I'm writing this in the yuletide, I will also note they have some nice gift packs and in general it's a good spot for stocking stuffer shopping as well. I will also echo some previous reviewers: having more organic options would bring me in more frequently. I admire the social responsibility stance, so I suggest extending that out to supporting organic growing practices as much as possible. read more

Shopped the Albany store while passing thru. I found the selection and staff abundant and competent. I feel that businesses should stay out of politics though. The CEO is entitled to an opinion and sentiment BUT should not tie it to the company as a whole or make it a company position statement. I am a liberal leaning independent but will decline ever shopping at Penzeys again because of the CEO decision to weaponize his company. Perhaps you should practice tolerance as opposed to spreading hate. read more

For those of you who live in the Albany/Colonie, NY area, I highly recommend Penzeys Spices in Stuyvesant Plaza. They have EVERYTHING and everything is awesome! I searched in vain for a particular spice that no one had anywhere except online which was too costly due to ridiculous shipping prices. Thanks to a friend, I was led to this store and immediately liked their vibes. After explaining what I was looking for, the manager told me to mix two spices together and see if I liked it. It was so good, I had two pieces of fish instead of one. I highly recommend this place--go there for your spices! You bet I'm going back there! They've got a customer for life. read more

Penzeys Spices - Do-It-Yourself Food Near Me - Albany, New York

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Penzeys seems to have a new marketing strategy. I love it, but I'm not so sure I understand how it will work in the long run. Maybe, more than anything else, the problem is my perception of time. Because it seems like every time I'm in the shop, they are giving something away for free. Once I was in specifically to buy Arizona Dreaming. It's a smokey spice blend I use for my crockpot pulled pork. Cheating, I know. But at least it results in an easy protein that has a hint of smoked flavor. Well, on that trip, Penzeys was giving away free jars of the stuff. Just this weekend, only a week or so after announcing a new even higher price on vanilla extract, Penzeys was giving away free two once bottles of Mexican vanilla. Yeah. I got mine. I made a special trip to do it too. While I was there, I was curious to check out one of their herbed cheese sprinkles. I though my wife would it enjoy it on popcorn. They had the 1/2 cup jars on the shelf, which would have set me back about ten bucks, so I asked about the 1/4 cup jars. Well, those were out of stock. So, they sold me the 1/2 cup jar at the 1/4 jar price. Wow! I want Penzeys to stay in business forever. I remember they weren't quite able to make a go of it at Crossgates. Hopefully this location will be more sustainable. But I would buy more from them if they stopped giving me so much stuff for free. So why not five stars? Good question. I would really like to see some more organic, biodynamic, or other options beyond conventionally produced herbs and spices. Especially in those categories that typically use high volumes of synthetic pesticides. Additionally, many of the spice blends have salt added to them. I'm not opposed to salt, but I do like controlling the salt of my dishes. So I find there are some interesting blends that I simply avoid. read more

I've been using Penzeys spices and seasonings since 1992, when we lived in the Milwaukee area. In all these years, I've never stopped shopping there -- either at a local store or online. Keep up the great work procuring the best in spices and seasonings from around the world! read more

YAY! It's BACK! I am so happy that Penzeys opened a new store in Albany! Cinnamon! Vanilla! It's so nice to have a physical store to see and smell. I'm so glad that they're back. The staff is LOVELY. Very friendly and helpful. Pro tip: Buy the bags! If you get two you get deeper discounts! read more

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It's about thyme! I can't believe I have never heard of Penzeys before my last trip upstate. We were walking around the shops and stumbled upon this gem. I love spices and I could not get over just how many they offered and the range of sizes and prices. I could've spent all day perusing if I could. The staff was so attentive and knowledgeable. I made my own ginger ale with the dried ginger pieces and I used the candied ginger in an Asian marinade. I can't wait to try the taco seasoning next! I wish there was a location on Long Island!! read more

I will forever prioritize giving my money to businesses that stand up for what is right, and it's a bonus that the quality and availability of products here is excellent. I always leave with more than I intended to buy when I walked through the door. read more

I am so glad to see Penzey's reopened in Albany, in a plaza which I find more convenient and generally nicer overall than its previous location. Compared to its previous location, the store is just as well laid out, if not better, more brightly lit, and with a larger checkout area. The featured specials are displayed prominently too. Thanks for spicing up Albany again! read more

Overpriced garbage and unhelpful staff. I don't like wasting money so I definitely will not be back.

Great spices, terrible marketing pushing political agendas during the Christmas season. Can't we shop in a store free of political opinions ? Stick to what you do best which is making great spices. read more

The best spices, best deals and outstanding customer service. I've swapped out all my sprices for Penzey's!! I like their politics as well.

Great selection of spices. They seem a little pricey but they are packed densely and also, they have specials going on all the time. A gem.

Penzey's is amazing and I am so happy I can block out that period of my life when the Crossgates store closed before they found this even better location in Stuyvesant Plaza. I love to bake and the spices at Penzey's are the best - their cinnamon is a personal favorite. For making soups, definitely check out their soup base - the vegetarian one is a staple in our household and something I'm using weekend after weekend every winter. Also big favorites are the "very hot crushed red pepper", the "granulated garlic" and the chili powder. I love when spices bring not only the flavor, but a side of heat! If you haven't checked out Penzey's yet and you like to cook, you're certainly missing out! read more

I love Penzeys. I have always loved Penzeys. I did not know I could love Penzeys more. Today I stopped in for some mulled wine spices and chicken soup starter. As I am getting ready to pay, the cashier takes a jar of cocoa powder and garlic powder and adds them to my bag, scanning coupons as she goes. I was about to say I don't need those thinking she thought they were mine by mistake, but they were totally free! Definitely doing some holiday shopping here this season. read more

Very sad at the way the store employee and how she acted. She said and I quote "What are you doing you can't come in." Wow really that's kinda rude I won't be shopping there. This is after she was wiping down the doors handles. If no one has been in there then why wipe it down. Thanks I will let my mother in-law to shop other places this year for me for Christmas. read more

I love shopping in this store! The spices seem much fresher than the traditional grocery store's spices and there is always a special going on for additional discounts or a free item. read more

Great products! Their spices are noticeably more flavorful than any grocery store I've ever bought from. Favorites? Italian Herb Mix, Florida Seasoned Pepper (lemon pepper), Onion Minced, Cinnamon, paprika smoked Spanish style, Creamy Peppercorn, India Malabar Peppercorns, and Mexican Vanilla! Newer customer to Penzey's so I'm still growing my stock but have refilled many of these, some a few times already. Plus, I think Bill Penzey is a good man, fighting the good fight. I like the way he thinks! Thanks Penzeys! read more