Rows of glass spice jars filling four wire shelves of single origin spices at The Ambrosian Pantry

Single-Origin Spices: Complete Guide

Published 14 Apr 20265 min read

Filed under Spices Burlap & Barrel Daphnis And Chloe Jacobsen Salt Co. Maldon New York Shuk Saltverk Villa Jerada

Single-origin spices, as Burlap & Barrel defines them, can be traced back to a single farm or cooperative rather than a vague region or supply chain. This guide covers Burlap & Barrel's spices, a Greek herb grower, three salt makers and two blend makers, then suggests where to start.

The Problem with Supermarket Spices

By Burlap & Barrel's account, most commodity spices have taken years to reach the supermarket shelf and have changed hands 15 or more times on the way. Over time, air and humidity degrade the essential oils that carry a spice's flavor.

Burlap & Barrel buys directly from partner farms instead. Ethan Frisch, a former chef who worked in a Michelin-starred New York restaurant, founded the company with Ori Zohar in 2016. The company says it works with hundreds of partner farmers across more than 20 countries and pays them significantly more than commodity prices, often two to ten times more.

The Spice and Salt Producers

Burlap & Barrel (shop Burlap & Barrel) sources Royal Cinnamon (shop Royal Cinnamon) from the Quang Nam mountains of Vietnam, with tasting notes of brown butter, buckwheat honey and orange peel. Its Wild Mountain Cumin (shop Wild Mountain Cumin) grows wild in Badakhshan, Afghanistan. Silk Chili (shop Silk Chili) is a Marash pepper from Kahramanmaraş, Turkey, with mild heat and a roasted-tomato depth. The range also runs to blends, among them Bolognese (shop Bolognese), Tandoori (shop Tandoori) and Curry (shop Curry).

Daphnis and Chloe (shop Daphnis and Chloe) sources herbs from small farms in Greece, harvested and processed entirely by hand. Among them are Wild Thyme Flowers (shop Wild Thyme Flowers) and Greek sage (shop Greek Sage).

Jacobsen Salt Co. (shop Jacobsen Salt Co.) harvests salt from the cold waters of Netarts Bay on the Oregon coast. The company describes its flake salt as bright and briny, with a delicate crunch.

Saltverk (shop Saltverk) makes sea salt in Iceland's remote Westfjords using only geothermal energy from hot springs. Its Lava Salt (shop Lava Salt) blends the sea salt with activated charcoal, which turns it black on the plate. The company suggests it as a finishing salt over herb butter, grilled fish or dark chocolate.

Maldon (shop Maldon) has been making sea salt from the Blackwater Estuary in Essex since 1882. The Osborne family has run the company for four generations, and the pyramid-shaped flake is its signature.

Villa Jerada (shop Villa Jerada), in Seattle, makes Moroccan and Levantine spreads, sauces and spices from recipes passed down through generations. Its range includes a Shakshuka blend (shop Shakshuka Blend) and a Kefta rub (shop Kefta Rub).

New York Shuk (shop New York Shuk), Ron and Leetal Arazi's Brooklyn company, makes handcrafted Middle Eastern pantry staples, among them a Shawarma BBQ Sauce & Marinade (shop Shawarma BBQ Sauce) and a line of Middle Eastern spices.

Where to Start

Buy one jar of Burlap & Barrel Royal Cinnamon (shop Royal Cinnamon). Sprinkle it on your morning oatmeal or brew it with your coffee, and compare it to whatever is in your cabinet now.

Next, try Ground Black Lime (shop Ground Black Lime), which the company describes as savory and tart and suggests sprinkling into rice, soups, fish and kebabs. Then add Silk Chili (shop Silk Chili) and one of the blends named above.

For salt, start with Maldon Sea Salt (shop Maldon Sea Salt) or Saltverk Flaky Sea Salt (shop Saltverk Flaky Sea Salt). Use them as finishing salts, added near the end of cooking. The finishing salt and flaky sea salt guide goes further.

Visit Us

The shop is at 263 Josephine Street in Cherry Creek, Denver, and visitors can ask staff questions in the shop. Products ship across the continental U.S. from theambrosianpantry.com.