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Poke bowls with salmon, avocado, vegetables, sprouts and ponzu dressing on marble background
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Indian Curry Meal
A well-stocked spice cabinet allows you to travel the world one flavorful meal at a time without leaving your kitchen. To get a taste of India, season a chicken curry with earthy, aromatic garam masala, or grab a bite of Barcelona by stirring floral, slightly sweet Spanish saffron into paella. For four decades, scouts at The Spice Hunter have scoured the globe to bring home cooks these exact gourmet, high-quality spices and seasonings—and now, they’re sharing their bounty in 96 Schnucks stores across the St. Louis area.
Wanderlust and a passion for cooking is at the very heart of the brand, which was founded by Lucia Cleveland in 1980. At the time, Cleveland was living on the Central Coast of California, but her work as a biologist had previously taken her on backpacking trips across the U.S., during which she would experiment with flavoring bland bowls of mac ‘n’ cheese with spices. Cleveland’s curiosity in the kitchen gradually developed into a full-fledged company, The Spice Hunter, which was initially based out of a spare bedroom in her home.
From the very beginning, Cleveland sought to offer fresh jars of spices made with the finest ingredients. Today, all of The Spice Hunter’s spices and herbs are Non-GMO Project Verified, and the brand offers organic spices, salt-free spices, and other products (including dip and seasoning packets, two turkey brines, and holiday drink mixes). The brand has grown by leaps and bounds in the past 40 years, expanding distribution to 35 states and adding new herbs, spices, seasoning blends, and rubs along the way.
The company’s best-selling products still reflect this confluence of culture and culinary creativity. Traditional spices such as sweet, floral Guatemalan Cardamom and robust Smoked Paprika remain customer favorites for their ability to enhance the flavor and aroma of a diverse cast of dishes. One of the newest products, Japanese 7 Spice, a traditional spice blend from Japan, features citrus, seaweed, and chile. This blend can be used to top soups and noodle dishes or in seafood, salads, rice dishes, or vegetables.
Some of The Spice Hunter’s new products capture more specific flavors from regional food cultures. One of the company’s latest offerings, Green Hatch Chile Global Fusion Rub, makes it easy to add authentic New Mexico green chile flavor to grilled or sautéed meat, poultry, or vegetables. The Mango Habanero Global Fusion Rub draws inspiration from tropical regions in Mexico, adding sweet heat to any dish, while the Korean BBQ Global Fusion Rub bottles the flavor of traditional Korean bulgogi with a blend of tamari, roasted sesame seeds, garlic, and ginger.
Another new—and already best-selling—product from The Spice Hunter is its Everything Bagel Crunch. This seasoning adds the crunch and savory flavor of an everything bagel without salt, proving that well-seasoned and flavorful meals do not have to be heavily salted. Everything Bagel Crunch is one of The Spice Hunter’s 30 salt-free seasonings, and it enhances a range of dishes, from eggs and avocado toast to salads and grilled salmon.
In an effort to make sure that home cooks find plenty of ways to experiment with new spices and seasonings, The Spice Hunter includes a unique recipe incorporating that item on each jar. Grab a jar of Everything Bagel Crunch, for example, and you’ll find a recipe for Honey Soy Salmon. More common pantry staples, such as Chili Powder, find new life in a spicy Avocado Hummus, while sesame seeds add savory flavor to a recipe for Peanut Butter Sesame Bites.
With a focus on quality and freshness, The Spice Hunter also offers in-depth information about proper storage and the shelf life of its products. Spices should be stored in a cool, dark place, and when cooking with them, be sure to pre-measure and not sprinkle from the jar directly over heat. Although spices don’t technically ever expire, The Spice Hunter suggests periodically taste-testing them, as spices gradually lose their flavor and potency.
If you crave more variety and creativity in the kitchen, The Spice Hunter makes it easy to stock up on gourmet spices that reflect the flavor of food cultures near and far. Seek out The Spice Hunter products in the spice aisle at your local Schnucks store today, and get started on your next culinary adventure.
