Love, love, love this cute little place. I could've spend two hours in this store, but I unfortunately showed up 20 minutes before they closed. It was so much fun going around to the different spices and smelling each one. I ended up with Mexican vanilla bean, Dutch process cocoa powder (that made the best home-made hot chocolate), and two different kinds of sesame seeds for salmon that night. I found their prices to be very reasonable, especially if you buy the spices in the bulk bags, and then empty those into your own containers from a less expensive store. The vanilla beans were a lot less than I had expected, and a little goes a long way. A great place to go on a rainy day when you feel like spending the day in your kitchen. Lastly, the service here is great, and they will happily answer questions for you about new and different spices. read more

Oh, Penzey's. I was actually shooting around the Heights (not literally shooting; I ain't no gangsta, yo) one day when I happened to drive by their storefront. "Oh gee whiz!", I likely thought to myself, "There are actual PENZEY'S *STORES*!" Ever since I was little my dad has ordered from the hallowed tome that is The Catalog, and I was impressed to step inside and see the manifestation of tasty wonder in true-life form. Their displays are cute - heck, the little kitchen display showcasing, in effulgent wonder (might have just been the strategic lighting), ingredients intended for baking was like someone took my grandma and personified her 50's decorating sense (can we say CUTE! again?) Anyway, enough glorified hemming and hawing, here's the bottom line: impressive quality spices, friendly & accommodating staff, well-organized interior with a little flair, and the reasonable prices all make this five-star worthy. Hey, I may not be rating hotels here, but heck - I'd stay at a Penzey's. read more

Not sure I can add much that others haven't already said. Great staff, amazing spices. We're slowly using up our other lesser spices and seasonings and replacing with Penzey's, can't wait until the entire pantry is full. -Shallot Pepper, it's become our go-to seasoning for vegetables most nights, ,works great as a tasty seasoning for broccoli, asparagus, brussel sprouts, etc. -Cake spice is a great addition to most any recipe. Little secret, I use some in my pancake and waffle batter for an awesome, subtle bit of extra flavor. Buy jars big enough for the bagged refills, it'll save money in the long run. read more

Cute and not-so-little spice shop in the Heights. I bought a tiny jar of za'atar for $3, and got a bag with a free spice mix and some other Penzey's goodies. Not sure that I'd have a reason to go back, but I signed up for their newsletter just in case. read more

One of just 35ish Penzey's stores, this small space will put you on aroma overload. Need 5 types of cinnamon, a "salad sprinkle", and some obscure cooking powders? Come on down! Prices can be kind of steep, and much of their selection is available elsewhere in Houston, but Penzey's has a loyal following thanks to its extensive catalog, and there is a quality standard that isn't found at the grocery store. The staff knows (nose?) their spices, so bring your cooking questions over. It's a good place to find some cooking inspiration or a spicy gift. read more

I can't get enough of Penzey's. This is THE place to go for spices in Houston. They have a huge selection of spices, herbs and seasonings for baking and cooking. It's one of the few places in Houston I've been able to find some of the more ethnic style spices, like sumac or ground horseradish and wasabi powder. I also love their spice and seasoning mixes--I am totally addicted to their Sicilian Salad Seasoning. It's also one of the few places I've been able to track down the actual, legitimate varieties of cinnamon (such as Vietnamese). They also sell a wide variety of dried whole chilies. The service here is always wonderful; the cashiers are friendly and personable and I always feel welcome here. The shop itself is laid out very nicely, is always well-kept and clean, and you can pick up recipes throughout the shop to try with their seasonings. The only downside is that the parking lot is a strip center, so it can possibly be an issue--otherwise I adore this place and usually leave spending more than I anticipated because there's always something new I want to try. read more

Great selection and helpful staff. You can get your spices in different quantities and forms, and you'll love them all.

I love Penzey's. LOVE. Their spices are absolutely the best and I'm thrilled that there is one in the Heights so close to me. My favorites are probably Bold Taco, Fox Point Seasoning and the Pumpkin Pie blend, but there are TONS of great blends and individual spices. I never get spices at the grocery store anymore with Penzey's so close. The store is well organized and they have tons of packages of spices that make excellent gifts. One year, I gave a number of my difficult to buy for relatives spice packs and they were a huge hit with everyone. The staff is also very friendly and extremely helpful. 5 stars all the way. read more

If you cook this place is a must visit! Spices from around the world, every dish can be enhanced with something from this store. Love love love it! read more

Penzey's Spices - Herbs & Spices Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Penseys spices haven my go to spices since 1998. At that time they had spices you could not get anywhere else. Even now a lot of their spice blends are my go to for great meals. One that stands out is their Prime Rib Rub. I would never make a prime rib without it. It is a big hit at Christmas time. Plus they are reasonably priced. I pay more in the store for some of the spices. Great place to shop. read more

I could spend all day here smelling spices and looking at the recipes they have positioned throughout the store. I am addicted to several of the blends from Penzey's including Vindaloo and Singapore which are both good on chicken. We put Vindaloo on everything. And I make all my fried rice and lo mein dishes with the Singapore blend. My other two favorites are the Bold Taco seasoning and the Baking Spice. I put baking spice on my toddler's french toast and in his pancakes and he loves it. My parents are constantly asking me to bring them a large container of baking spice every time I go to their house. I also get a lot of good quality basics here you can't find other places like vanilla beans and grey salt. Next time I am in I'm going to try their season salt. Basically, I love cooking and I love making things with fresh ingredients and simple recipes. Penzey's allows me to make a simple recipe that much more delicious with some good quality spices. read more

This place is a cook's dream! They carry a wider range of chili peppers (whole, flakes, ground, mixes) than I've seen anywhere, all types of peppercorns, great spice mixes (how can you not love something called "Sunny Paris"), baking spices and extracts, Asian spices I'd never even heard of, and more. I bought tons of stuff, including the most fragrant cinnamon I've ever smelled. In fact, everything here smelled yummier than the spices I buy at the grocery store. (You can smell anything in the store and buy it in various sizes.) And, most of it was no more than I'd have spent at a regular grocery story. Some of it was even cheaper. I don't live near one of the store locations, but since there's online ordering, I may have found a new addiction. read more

While spices from Penzey's are definitely more expensive than at the grocery store, the difference in quality is extremely worth it. They are just so much more flavorful that the price difference is balance out somewhat by not needing to use as much. We receive their magazine every couple months, and it usually comes with a coupon for a free sample of something, which I highly recommend if you shop there. It's also a great place to find low- or no-salt blends, which can be hard to find in good quality. I grew up on Lawry's salt, but my husband won't use seasonings with too much salt. I found the Penzey's Beef Roast seasoning is a great replacement - still has salt, but much lower on the ingredient list, and a similar flavor. read more

My Pantry is stocked full with their delightful Spices. It has been a real Treat experimenting with their Blends, and so far I like most all of them. My favorites Blends are the Zatar (so nice to find sumac), Tuscany Sunset and the Green Goddess Herbs. I use the Course Pepper, Red Chili Flakes, and Smoked Paprika all the time. I can highly recommend especially the air dried Shallots, Aleppo Pepper, Chipotle and the Tarragon. Prices are good. Oh and they have many different types of Cinnamon. You can go in and smell the samples they keep in wide mouth jars. I do alot of that.. this place smells great! The staff is very friendly and helpful. Always a pleasurable visit to their 19th Street Heights Location. What I Love the most, however, is the super duper email specials!~ you get free spices with purchases. Great way to try new spices and stock up! read more

one word, three syllables A-MAZ-ING. The second we entered this amazing spice-filled utopia, we were greeted with the aroma of coriander, cinnamon, thyme, cumin, turmeric... oh man, I could go on. The staff there is so helpful, and they have the best variety of so many spices. I picked up quite a few things, so I am excited to try them out! read more

Amazing products.. My wife and I never knew what Penzey's was until we received a gift box full of their products for our wedding many years ago.. We've been a repeat customer ever since.. IMO their best items are the double strength vanilla, Vietnamese cinnamon and Dutch cocoa. Penzey's honors expired coupons and everyone who works there has always been very professional and polite.. The prices are very low IMO for the quality of the products and service. read more

As always, love this place. From Minnesota to Phoenix to now Houston, we have been going there for so many years and I always get all of my basic spices from them. Consistent high quality keeps me coming back. read more

They offer touchless pickup. Their spices are fabulous, and their social consciousness makes me happy to do business with them.

Excellent spices that are definitely worth whatever minor premium they might carry here. If nothing else, get some good Tellicherry black peppercorns. Personally, I prefer the Whole Special Extra Bold Indian Black. If you don't have a good mill then get one. Unicornmills.com is a great source. You'll wonder how you ever put up with that flavorless preground dust from the grocery store. Check out the varieties of spices and herbs as well (e.g. there's not just one cinnamon). The aroma and taste of their spices and dried herbs are significantly better than the alternatives. I only buy spices and herbs from the grocery store if I'm cooking/baking and can't make it to Penzey's for some reason. Plan ahead to avoid this! Herbs and spices from Penzey's also make excellent gifts. I think I just converted my mother-in-law-to-be to their Italian Seasoning for her already famous spaghetti sauce. read more

I absolutely LOVE this place! I am here frequently picking up and replacing spices/seasoning. My favorite is Fox Pointe - which is great on eggs, veggies, seafood and chicken (and anything else, I am sure). This place is a staple in my life and in my kitchen... read more

I love penzey's. No really. I LOVE PENZEYS. only problem is that now that I've used their spices, I'm spoiled and detest all else. If they ever closed I don't know what I'd do. My personal go to favorite is the Italian blend. I use it constantly and buy the huge bulk bag. Also love the penzey's cinnamon blend. They take all the good cinnamons and blend them together for the kind of cinnamon-y awesomeness of your dreams! read more

Penzey's Spices - Tomatoes i'm roasting today w/olive oil, kosher salt, pepper, garlic & a heaping tablespoon of penzey's Italian seasoning. YUM - Herbs & Spices Near Me - Houston, Texas

There's not much more I could say about Penzey's that hasn't already been said by most. This is my absolute favorite place to get spices. I grumble when I'm in a pinch and have to buy spices from the grocery store now. The prices are seriously comparable, if not cheaper. Emphasis on "if not cheaper." I have paid an arm and a leg for crud from the grocery store when I could get the $3-4 small jars of stuff from Penzey's. It lasts long enough to actually get used up, and really, who needs a big tall bottle of spices anyway? Throw that stuff out after a year or so (in most cases). Anyway, I digress...but who doesn't love having multiple cinnamons/peppercorns/etc to choose from? Mmmm! read more

I've been shopping at Penzey's for about 15 years. First it was by catalog, but when I moved to Houston years ago and found the store I was so excited! Now I'm addicted to so many of Penzey's blends like Ruth Ann's Muskeego Ave, Northwoods, Tuscan Sunset, Chicago Steak, Sunny Paris, The Now Curry, etc. I could go on and on. Be sure to sign up for emails...they give away so much and have great bargains to build your spice collection. read more

He who controls the spice, controls the universe. As I walk into Penzeys, I see somethings I like, I also see somethings I did not like. Allow me to give you the run down Pros: Samples for you smell. So I smelled the samples sue me! You have a choice of ground, or whole. They had at least three weight options to choose from anywhere from 2 to 16 oz. The prices were fair and the staff was knowledgeable and courteous. Cons: They offered chili spices as well as taco spices, and pizza herbs. I find this to be...gimmicky? I guess I'm a bit of a food snob. I don't know it just kind of rubbed me the wrong way. It almost seemed as if it was there to fill empty space. You could've put Tea blends or something of that sort in there. Its really my only complaint and not even a big deal at that. Below are reasons to buy spices from places like Penzey's. Your food will only be as good as your ingredients, also the dish will only be authentic if you use the proper ingredients for whatever cuisine you are cooking. You can't put Half and Half and butter on Fettuccine and call it Alfredo. That being said, I'm always looking for quality and authentic ingredients whenever I grocery shop. Spices can make or break your dish, and in most big box stores they can also break the bank. I don't like paying 8 dollars for 2 oz of Allspice berries. So I tend to be frugal when I spice shop. Here's a few tips to save yourself some hard earned dollars, and how to keep spices. 1.) Grind your own spices, frankly they last longer if kept in their whole form and they taste better freshly ground. Once you grind the clock is ticking on the actual potency of your spices. Break out the mortar and pestle, or buy a coffee grinder and use it solely for grinding spices. 2.)Buy in bulk, The way I see it buy for 3 months worth if you are like me and cook something everyday you end up saving a boat load on spices and get to enjoy great meals you cook yourself. 3.) Most spices will keep for up to one year(some less) if stored in an air tight container, like a glass jar, or a tin. I will continue to shop at Penzeys, I like their setup and I believe if the prices stay on point, I have no need to take my business elsewhere. Truly a gem for anyone who really loves to cook. read more

How have I gone so long without checking this place out? I am truly in love. I really wasn't knowing what to expect when I went out to Penzey's Spices. I figured it'd just be row after row of spices. Yes, there are tons of spices, but this is more of an experience. You can smell everything. You can read about each spice. I walked out knowing a lot more about different spices than I did walking in. I thought it was really cool that there are several sizes to choose from on all of the spices. This was great for me since I'm on a budget, but want to try a little bit of everything. I got out of the store for under $20 (easily could have spent over $50!), and left with about 6 or 7 new spices to try. They also have a catalog (with lots of recipes using the spices) and many gift ideas. I will definitely consider this place when it comes time to buy some Christmas gifts for cooks! read more

Penzey's is fabulous! I found out about them through my family in Birmingham, Alabama and am completely hooked. They have a Chip and Dip Spice that tastes different than your typical ranch-style dip; it's perfect to have on hand for unexpected guests, or when you want something a little special with your lunch. The spices are wonderful in quality. You will not want to go back to even a "good" grocery store spice again. read more

Love this store! They have everything! I buy all my spices from them. I cook a lot of pho, no need to go to Chinatown.

This store is great. Huge selection. Recipes scattered along the store. Lady working was very helpful. Clean. Organized. It was great and I will def be coming back here. read more

If I could make a list of 10 places I miss that are in Houston....it would take me a while to think of 9 more. But I'm certain that Penzey's would be on the list. Oh why, oh why won't they open an Austin branch? So Penzey's is a great place to go get your fresh spices. No McCormick's flavorless powdered spices on the shelves here, this place deals in three different areas: whole spices, prepared spice mixes and liquid spices. I try to stop by Penzey's whenever I'm in Houston to stock up on some of their delicious offerings. As a home cook who has watched far too many hours of the Food Network, I do enjoy experimentation in the kitchen. And there's nothing more interesting that trying to fit in a new flavor to your rotation. The Penzey's spice mixes really do add some new twists to your cooking, with my current favorite being the smoked paprika salt mixture they're selling in a shaker jar. It adds a deep smokiness to anything you sprinkle it on. Also fantastic are their salt-free mixes. I try to pick a few up for my parents every year. So, if I'm ranting and raving, why only 4 stars? Well, I spend far too much in this place. Some of their whole spices are insanely high priced (vanilla beans, I'm looking at you), and you can get a much better deal on some of the spices at an ethnic grocery store. But this place is definitely worth a stop when you're in the Heights. Just pick up a small jar of something wonderful, and try to make yourself a great dinner. You'll be back.... read more

I've been buying penzey's spices for a number of years now. It started with gifting my cooking friends with spices with little clever pun notes attached. Last week, I was in the area while finishing up my Christmas shopping and stopped in as my personal spice rack needed new seasonings. I didn't have a list of all the spices I needed and bought about 15-20 blindly (some as Christmas presents too). Not being prepared with a list of spices, some of the spices I actually didn't need. I went back to Penzey's and they gladly took them back a few of the unopened spices I had. It was great not having to explain myself and that they are confident in their customer's satisfaction. The spices here are fresh. I recommend everyone going to Penzey's. read more

Penzey's Spices - Herbs & Spices Near Me - Houston, Texas

Everyone should have the Garlic Salt in their pantry. Its amazing and makes everything taste better!!!! The place is a great inspiration for cooks or chefs. Amazing ideas flow through that place. I found some great spices including but not limited to Saffron. Check it out. Just fun to go in and smell all of the different spices in the jars. FYI-This place is really reasonably priced. read more

I love this company. They have amazing spices and blends. They also have great offers if you subscribe to their emails. The staff is generally friendly. read more

I will say I once shopped here. Never super impressed but it's the only spice shop I know of. However I got on their mailing list and received propaganda about Trump and other issues from the owner! I expressed my dissatisfaction regarding political garbage during the Christmas season and asked to be taken off their email list. Now, the owner is spouting his political views about slaughtering the unborn, and other political views in private emails to me. Super disturbing, disgusting and unwelcomed. He keeps sending them and now I'm worried this lunatic has my private information. We all have beliefs but to bombard your (former) customers with your opinions is disrespectful and again unwanted! If it keeps up I'll file a complaint. Geezz, they ask for your email to notify you of sales but it's for propaganda! Beware of this lunatic!!! read more

My friends & I have always really enjoyed going to Pensey's in Houston, but there is a mean, witchy woman working there now who is very rude to the customers. She really must Hate her job, because she demeans the customers with her condescending tone. God forbid if you happen to have a coupon that is past date. She tears them up in front of you. Many other places to get spices..... Will not return to Pensey's.... read more

Love this place I could spend forever here. They have the best spices, seasonings and ingredients. You cannot find 1/2 this stuff anywhere! Even more I love what the company stands for and their customer service they are seriously amazing read more

I enjoy the variety of spices available. Something in the packaging is faulty, however. Everything I have purchased there has clumped up and become unable to use within a month. Bummer. read more

Love the cinnamon selection!! The Florida Seasoned Pepper is great on veggies. I really enjoy the BBQ 3000 on chicken and pork. I always find something new to try when I visit. Some items are pretty pricey so watch your budget read more

Great place for buying gifts too! Everyone I have ever bought Penzeys box of yummy spice selections for, absolutely love it! I am so glad they are in the Heights! read more

Love love this place! Ask for ideas and recommendations... you'll be inspired to get in the kitchen

I have been a dedicated Penzeys convert since before the Houston store opened. I used to place big mail orders several times a year. Naturally, I was delighted when the Houston store opened (maybe 10 years ago?), and was even MORE delighted that it's only 10 minutes from my house! I love the option to buy varying sizes of the products. It's a definite plus so you don't over buy the items that you do not use frequently. I save the original glass bottles and just purchase the plastic bags for making refills. Saves money in the long run. The quality and freshness are superb! The staff is friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. I buy ALL of my spices and dried herbs from Penzeys. I would recommend them in a heartbeat! read more