OH ME, OH MY! I've died and gone to heaven! First thought upon walking in, besides "mmmmm", is "where in the world do I start?" Luckily and wonderful employee must have recognized my reaction and came over to me to explain the layout of the store telling me how it's divided up. She also explained that each and everything they sell has an apothecary jar with the spice in it so that you have the opportunity to smell and taste. Here is a small look into what you'll find: Peppers (yes, there is a whole section on peppers!), blended spices for multiple different uses, world spices for things like Greek or Thai cooking, baking spices like cinnamon and vanilla, rubs, and multiple other spices that I wouldn't know what to do with but I'm on a mission to find out. You can purchase the spices in 2 sizes of jars, or in 2 sizes of bags. I went with the bags, because they're a bit cheaper. Yes, the prices are high, but that's what you get with high quality spices and herbs. They're not any more expensive than what you would pay for with the high end spices at a grocery store. I also purchased empty re-usable jars that are pretty cheap. I'm going to get more because I'm OCD in my cabinet when it comes to organizing. A friend commented to me this, "My only wish would be to have samples of food with the spices or cooking classes using the spices." I have to agree. They do offer some recipes throughout the store, as well as their catalog with multiple recipes inside, but tasting is always nice. Perhaps a suggestion! *wink-wink* read more

I was absolutely delighted with my first venture in to Penzey's today! I found Gumbo File, a sweet California Paprika, small pungent cloves from Madagascar and lots of other hard to find goodies. I haven't had this much fun buying spices since wandering through spice bazaars in India! What fun. Santa rode up with me and loaded up with some fun stocking stuffers for friends and family! Prices on some items are a bit high but everything is very fresh and appears to be of excellent quality. I can't wait to try all my purchases and head back soon for more goodies. read more

Just stopped by to see if they sold Thai spice, no they don't. Really surprised. Maybe they should change their name to "Some spices".

This is my go-to resource for spices and seasonings! Their vanilla is the best I've used and I love their gift boxes, too. I've been going here and ordered online from them for a few years now, and I really admire the integrity of their products, as well as their social responsibility. read more

Finally got around to checking the store out last night and I'm glad I did. I'm not a big cook but still like to have some decent selections, spice-wise, stashed away in my pantry and this is the place for it instead of dealing with not-the-greatest quality supermarket-bought ones.(those are alright, mind you, but this store's stuff is a few notches better) . Landed up getting the Italian Spice mix which I tried on dinner and definitely recommend that plus bottles of Allspice, cloves, and cinnamon. Speaking of cinnamon, they have a great cinnamon and chocolate area! The store offers two different size bottles of everything plus a few spices in bag form (like the variety of oreganos they carry) as well as a sampling jar for everything so you can take a whiff of each spice. Nicely laid out, pretty place with friendly, helpful staff. Their catalogues also have recipes. A P.S. They don't carry regular table salt. That you can get at the regular stores but they do have kosher salt. read more

One of those placed where my eyes are bigger than my stomach. .er..wallet. Staff is very friendly, knowledgeable, make recommendations, but also leave you to enjoy the aromas. All spices are presented so you can open and sniff away; some invite immediate salivating, others make you think.."ok, how can I use this". Special section for baking essentials, bbq, and well thought out out sampler sets. I leave content and inspired to cook. read more

We were looking for a curry spice and I had remembered that this place had just recently opened so we deiced to stop in. Ok I get that spices cost a lot, but I think that some of the prices for the spices could have been much less. Walking into the store almost felt like I was in bath and body works/crate and barrel instead of a spice store. (Like I know what a store should look like) Anyway I am sure that you can find a lot here, the only plus is that on some of the stations they had recipes that you can tear off a piece of paper and take home and use some of the offered spices. read more

If you like to cook or bake and do it semi-regularly, stop messing around with those low-end supermarket McCormick cans and/or explosive $.99 bags of flavor dust and sail on over to Penzey's for a local stop on the spice route. What will you find at port? Essentially anything your heart desires in a clean, spacious, well-organized, friendly, and shockingly reasonably priced environment. If you're not going to replace your entire spice cabinet, at least treat yourself to a few items, especially if you've driven by and are curious. You can't go wrong with their aleppo pepper, which has all but replaced crushed red pepper in my house. I put it in pasta sauce, soups, pizza, watermelon gin slushes, frozen mango, etc. Which isn't to say their red pepper isn't great, cause it is. Have you ever suspected your crushed red pepper is really maroon paint chips and seeds? The thought will never again cross your mind when you sprinkle veritable chunks of glossy, crimson, piquant goodness on your foods. Bakers need to get right on their unbelievable selection of cinnamon and cocoa. A spice emporium may seem luxurious and unnecessary in these dark times, but cooking at home is such a joy with Penzey's 4 oz. jars of magic. You should see what my husband can do with a generic frozen pizza, aleppo pepper, garlic granules, onion, and oregano, not to mention all the psuedo-Indian food I've whipped up with a can of chickpeas and the fruits of my latest Penzey's haul. It doesn't take much and it's totally worth it. Another tip - sign up for the catalog. All of Penzey's products at your fingertips and delicious recipes, too. read more

Absolutely ridiculous they haven't opened up in store shopping. You could limit the number of people! And everyone wears masks! How disappointing. The online system sucks, their curbside is nonexistent. read more

Doesn't even desire one star! Horrible non existence customer service. Don't waste your time here. I drove 45 minutes only to be told to order online and they will call me when to come back. Really?!!!! I was there with cash for two items and they said they were too busy to help me. So I waited in front of their store for 45 minutes and NO ONE NOT ONE PERSON came to the door. Didn't look that busy inside from the front window. Guess they really don't want our business! I'm done with them! read more

Going into Penzeys Spices was kind of a magical experience for me. At the time I was creating homemade rubs as gifts for friends/family and needed clear spice containers. I was also on the hunt for various specialty spices to use in my concoctions. The staff was super helpful when I was trying to locate specific spices (in my case smoked paprika and certain kinds of rock salts and cinnamon). The smells alone are worth taking the trip down there for; I was in heaven. What makes this place stand out (even though it's a corporation) are the little pods (think: wood farmer's market stands) of spices. Each pod has variants of a particular spice, and then tacked to the wooden slats might be a recipe or two to use the spice in. It's kind of fun going around the room picking up the recipes to use for later. You can uncap some of the display spices and take a big whiff. Mmmm. Makes you want to buy it all up. They have packaged gift collections like "Teachers Gift Box" or "Some Like It Hot 8 Jar" if you can dream it, they probably have a gift box for it. Overall, the prices seemed a little high, but I'm used to buying spices at places like Safeway or Frys, so I might not have the best perspective for cost vs. quality. I'd go back and I'd recommend this place to my friends/family. read more

The wonderful world of spices is well represented at Penzeys. When the grocery store just doesn't do it for you, head here to pick from 4 kinds of paprika, 3 kinds of saffron, many of kinds of basil, etc. Everything is high quality and I found the prices to b reasonable. Plus, I'm not usually into buying pre-made spice blends, but here they are truly mouthwatering things. I also liked the ability to chose various sizes of the all the different spice. I tip my spoon to you. read more

I've spent a lot of money in this store, and the spices available there are good, but they are also available elsewhere. I made the mistake of getting on the mailing list last time I was in the store. Recently I got a couple of emails that were extremely political in nature, and also ill-informed and offensive. I get enough of that elsewhere and don't appreciate it from a place I go to in order to get away from all that nonsense. No thanks. Unsubscribed and won't be back. read more

I drove 30 miles from Vail, AZ to stock up. I buy a lot from the store and also have a home in Mass, where I buy from the store in Arlington. Today I was running late and made it to the store at 5:42. Instead of "Hello welcome to Penzy's can I help you?" I got "You know, we're closing at 6:00." We looked at each other and said let's go. I'm sure I would've spent more than the person made that day and in wages. Fix this store. read more

The best quality and selection of spices on the market today. Extremely friendly and knowledgeable staff make it a joy to shop. "Arizona Dreaming" is a wonderful salt-free combination. If you sign up as a shopper you will receive amazing offers online on a regular basis. We are lucky to have a Penzeys in Tucson! read more

The 2 star rating is not about the products sold but about the rudeness of the manager. I have been purchasing both on line and in person for many years. On my last visit this week I attempted to ask the manager a question about the company and he interrupted me and would not allow me the courtesy to finish. His attitude was not about taking care of a customer but more about his own agenda. Regretfully I still purchased the spice I came in for but will no longer buy from Penzeys. There are other quality spice dealers who have more respect for the customer than did this manager. Caravan on North Country Club excels in customer service and is LOCALLY OWNED. read more

One of the best and brightest stores in the whole area - cannot wait to shop there again. They are brilliant in their knowledgeable staff, excellent selection, and contributions to humanity. I am delighted they are a socially-responsible business and I am more than pleased and proud to patronize them. Also, they are located close to our Tucson home and we are adventurous cooks who enjoy shaking it up. The catalog is an extra, the icing on a very flavorful cake! read more

Enjoyed the store until I got home and found the political booklet in my "free" gift. Not cool. Sorry to have to scratch this store off my list. read more

Penzeys, where have you been all my life? When I walked in, a sense of calm and serenity washed over me. Suddenly, I was a spice maven with every obscure ingredient close at hand, master of all in the kitchen. Anything seemed possible. Schezuan peppercorns: I think I will. Whole allspice berries: this will be the jerk they talk about for years to come. Vanilla that sets your salivary glands into overdrive: wait until you meet my apple pie. The place is so orderly, neat, and useful. Recipes are posted around the store. The staff is nice, but they didn't try too hard to be helpful. Never you mind. Step inside and let your imagination wander. read more

So much goodness in this store! Wandering through the stands checking out the vast varieties of spices is an amazing adventure. The staff are friendly and very helpful. LOVE this store and the principles they stand for. read more

I admit that it takes me at least a year to finish the spices in one jar. There is no way that I would need a Costco size seasoning. And I get tired of the MSG-laden taco seasoning packets and the lemon zest in the lemon pepper blends. And honestly, though I love cooking, I am probably not going to make my own lavender marshmallows or need Himalayan pink salt. I like Penzey's, and I love that we have a location in Tucson. If you subscribe to their catalog, you get recipes and also usually a coupon for the free spice of the month (usually worth $4-$6). Penzey's is set up like a general store, and they have crates of spices in glass jars and plastic bags. For every spice they have, there is a jar that you can open up and smell it. You can get spices like exotic cinnamons, different peppers, different curry powder, vanilla beans, salt-free seasonings, and other types of spices and seasonings. I am a big fan. I have been using the Balti Seasoning lately. I would definitely check Penzey's out, especially if you need a gift for a foodie! read more

I LOVE walking into this store - the staff is friendly and happy to answer questions and make recommendations. The selection is amazing, and the quality of the spices is excellent. I love that I can try a small jar for a few dollars and don't have a reason to buy spices in the grocery store ever again! read more

Be still my heart. Any place that has a whole section devoted to cinnamon is beyond awesome in my book! This is a great store for anyone that likes to cook or learning to cook. They not only carry every spice imaginable, they also have bbq rubs, soup bases, and gift sets. The store is bright and well laid out. It's located at Oracle/Limberlost, in the old Play it Again Sports space. Kind of a random location but who cares, I'm just glad it's here in Tucson! Love people, cook them tasty food. read more

My favorite cooking store! Every spice available. I appreciate how they use sampler jars so that I can smell each spice. The employees are always extremely nice and very helpful! Make sure that you join their mailing list. They send out their catalog on a regular basis (full of tips and recipes PLUS every now and then it includes a coupon for a free spice). My kitchen is stocked with Penzeys spices! read more

My dad had been needing a spice for chicken soup from a long time ago recipe and we tracked it down here. So that was the reason for first time stopping in - taking care of belated father's day. Very glad we did. Amazing store. Worth the trip for spices. Prices were reasonable. I loved the jars with samples so you could smell the spices. It was fun to be able to research what spices smell like and do comparison on the spot. Like shopping at a spice museum. read more

This Store is A Real Asset to Tucson. Lots of Variety and Cheap. I load up every time I go there . They Have it all. The Sales People are Friendly and know how to help you. Thanks for Moving Into Tucson !! read more

Oh the spices!! Did you know there is Turkish Oregano and Oriental Mustard? There are multiple types of cinnamon and salt, it is like a treasure hunt. The staff is very helpful and they even given free bumper stickers that say "Love People. Cook them tasty food." This is a great place for gifts as well, you can find some amazing gift sets of all different prices. Worth checking out before your next dinner! read more

I give one star only because the place smells amazing. Otherwise, it was a waste of time. Staff couldn't be bothered to listen to my question before very rudely stating that the spice I was looking for (one that would impart a smokiness to chai tea) did not exist. It does exist, it is not star anise (which she tried to sell me instead), and I will find it--elsewhere. The store was empty and it was not near closing time. Yet, when I continued to browse, she called across the store "Is there something else you want, or not?" Not. read more

Great place! Just walking thru the displays makes you want to try new recipes. Wish they had cooking classes to demonstrate how to use some spices and herbs. The Arizona Spice Mix is outstanding! read more

My wife's best friend told us about this place and now all of our meals taste better! Prices are good, its easy to get in and out,and we've even picked up some good recipe cards here. I recommend this place highly. read more