Dried Herbs

nabowla

Having got back into the swing of this cooking-from-scratch lark I'm now running dangerously low on dried herbs. I used to buy small refill packs of Swartz herbs but I'm sure that this isn't particularly OS! How/where do you guys buy your dried herbs?

I know that some of my local Asian supermarkets sell huge bags of dried herbs but, to be honest, they look like packs of dried sawdust. I'd like to track down a really good quality supplier, perhaps organic??? Is there somewhere on the web that does mail orders?

Cullumpster

Hi Nabowla,

have you tried growing your own and then freezing them chopped ??

I'm currently growing Chives, coriander and Basil, and they seem to be doing ok.

When they are ready to use i'm going to chop them up and freeze them in ice cubes to be able to use in my cooking.


HTH

nabowla

Growing herbs would be the ideal solution if a) I had a garden or b) I wasn't absolutely terrible at keeping pot plants alive. Buying pot plants of any description is definitely not moneysaving for me because I manage to kill them all off within 72hrs of ownership!!!

bugs

If you're set on dry herbs then mail order is the way to go...if you can place an order with Suma or possibly Infinity (there's a minimum value of about £250, but they are fine suppliers of all sorts of wholefood stuff, it works out often at least 30% cheaper than a shop, and more if you buy in bulk, and you can share an order with friends) you can buy in 500g or 1k bags - https://www.suma.coop - I can recommend Suma as I've had several orders from them now and the service is about the best I've met with anywhere.

For smaller quantities you could look at http://www.organicherbtrading.co.uk/ who supply Infinity with herbs - again you are looking at a kilo for each but split between friends it might be quite easy and minimum order is only about £50 or so.

Finally, not shopped here but the owner is a member of Downsizer and is a genuine helpful chap, and has just added herbs, including organic, to his range - http://www.saltpepper.co.uk

terriermama

If you have a local cash and carry, they more than likely will have large containers 500g (and larger) of dried herbs for under a fiver. I've just checked my chicken cupboard and the brand I have most of is called 'Kitchen King' - course ground black pepper cost £4.29 for 500g. Much cheaper than supermarket. I also have Italian seasoning and other dried herbs but no price stickers but I think they'd be same price point.

I also agree with other post about growing ones own. I'm gungho on growing my own organic veg from seeds, and going to grow some herbs too.

leonie_2

I am growing my own herbs for the first time this year and I just have a big trough and when I see the growing herbs reduced in the supermarket I simply buy them and stick em in my trough!

Chives are growing like weeds and the coriander is all seeding now so I shall have a good crop of coriander seeds for my curries, yummy! As they are all together, its simply a matter of watering one container every so often, they keep moist as its a big container, rather than messing with little pots.

And all this for approx 20p for a reduced plant, much cheaper than buying from a garden center!

Loadsabob

https://www.steenbergs.co.uk is nice for organic herbs, pepper and spices. I haven't used them, but I receive their newsletter and enjoy it! I get my herbs dried and organic, weighed out at my health food shop.

We_Laugh_Indoors

i got a massive bag of herbs de provence the last time the european market was in town, they are the best mixed herbs ever.

keep an eye out for one!

lady_lucan

While I really enjoy growing herbs and salad, I buy my dried herbs and spices from a lovely lady on ebay who sells as kbal121. She operates from London and sells loads of different stuff for around 40p buy it now, cheap postage too. Even exotic stuff such as mace and saffron is way cheaper. She will also combine postage on multiple orders. They are seriously potent and great for grinding in a pestle and mortar as you need them - small quantities so you don't find packets of dust in the cupboard months later. OH made a cheap turkey curry a few nights ago with them which tasted better than any restaurant curry I've had - best way is to toast or dry fry the spices before you use em to release the flavours, and pound the herbs. Hope this helps.

Oh, and hi to the OSers! (first post here)

squeaky

Hiya

Thanks for the ebay tip, and tell me... where's his Lordship these days?

telly-addict

terriermama wrote:

If you have a local cash and carry, they more than likely will have large containers 500g (and larger) of dried herbs for under a fiver.QUOTE]

Costco sell large size, 150g tubs from Schwartz of herbs, salt, pepper, flavourings etc. From recollection the Oregano cost about £2. Although 150g doesn't sound much, the tub is about the size of a jar of Splenda. I suspect that any larger, they would start to lose their flavour by the time you got to the bottom of the jar.