Disclaimer: This is not an ad and I have not been paid or incentivised to write this review. The contents of this blog are my own opinions and conclusions.
As avid home cooks, we’re always striving to perfect our recipes and create authentic tasting dishes at home. I’m sure you’ve experienced times when a dish wasn’t as flavourful as you had hoped, even though you were heavy-handed with the seasoning.
In the UK, I’ve noticed that spices, rubs and seasonings by well-known household brands tend to be quite mild in flavour and smell. For example, ground cumin doesn’t have that pungent earthy aroma that I’m used to or dried basil doesn’t effectively permeate through my tomato sauces. In the end, I use more than what’s stated in a recipe and I feel that’s a complete waste.
About a year ago, I researched alternative spice brands that could improve my recipes. I bought a few and experimented with them. They turned out ok but I kept looking. Soon, I came across Spice Kitchen. Since discovering them on my Instagram feed, I have been introduced to a whole new world of spices and aromas. If you don’t think the quality of spices matter, they’ll change your mind.
Spice Kitchen is a small artisanal spice and tea company run by a mother and son team, Sanjay and Shashi Aggarwal. They’re super keen for home cooks to experience the full-bodied flavors of high-quality spices and they truly want to inspire many to create high-quality authentic dishes at home.
I can confirm their spices live up to that expectation. When I ordered a range of their spices (oregano, ground allspice, garam masala, etc.), I could smell them through the packaging! It was the freshest smell I have ever come across. My recipes, particularly my curries, have improved significantly since using their wonderful spices – no wonder they have won awards.
With Spice Kitchen’s products, I rarely add the full amount a recipe requires. Their fresh, high-quality spices are integral to the dishes I create at home. On top of that, their quality comes at a fair price. As an avid cook, I was forever spending money on spices. Since I’m not needing to use so much of their product, it works out to be more cost-effective than the commercial brands.
I also admire that this family-owned business is so proud of its heritage. Shashi (also known as the ‘fountain of spice knowledge’), created these colourful sari wraps for her spice tins, which are inspired by the sari she wore when she first arrived in the UK. It’s a lovely touch and it feels incredibly special to receive her hand-prepared tins.
The team at Spice Kitchen also have heart to serve others. Every order they receive, they donate to The Akshaya Patra Foundation to support children with nutritious meals in the UK and India. They also donate the spices needed by the Curry for Change fundraising campaign. These spices are used by home cooks to make curries and raise money to support families suffering from hunger in Africa and Asia. For me, it’s reassuring to know that when I support Sanjay and Shashi’s business, I am also helping them to support others in need.
If the pandemic of 2020 has taught me anything, it has made me more conscious to buy from businesses that genuinely care and actively make a difference to society.
Don’t take my word for it. Explore Spice Kitchen and their spices via www.spicekitchenuk.com. Not only will you be supporting a small business, you will be guaranteed the freshest, high-quality spices that you can get in the UK. (International deliveries are also available)
