tsp spices

Sarah & Katie were friends and moms. Apparently, they had a shared vision of spices that would stay fresh, as well as orderly, on their shelves. Together, they created a most unusual company, TSP Spices. They now offer individual spices and spice gift sets (without additives or fillers) with a difference. These TSP spices are individually packaged in tear-open packettes to preserve real freshness, in teaspoon measures. You always have what you need, but you won't have to buy an entire bottle of a spice that just sits and spoils because you don't normally use enough of it. What's more, the spices are packed a dozen individual servings in a silvery tin, so you can stack them on your shelf without having to deal with different sized containers. Now that's, organization!




I was introduced to TSP Spices at the Holiday Gift fair at the Marriott in Times Square in May. The company was promoting spices as gifts for the holidays, but I think a gift of spice is such an appropriate gift right now, and for so many reasons. Here's a photo of their display, but I couldn't wait to share this "spice find" with you!


For Father's Day, for example, a spice set is an affordable, unique gift that he won't return. So many men are into cooking (or at least taking charge of the backyard grill), a gift set from TSP Spices would make a great father's day gift. One set I really like is this Sun Shine Set $16.00. A dozen, individual, packettes of orange zest and lemon zest, good for barbecues and drinks, are beautifully packed in their silvery tins, and then nestled into a hard-sized, brown cardboard presentation box with white trim. How many times have you read a recipe that called for orange or lemon zest, and you didn't didn't have the fruit on hand? Now you'll never have to run out for a lemon (or an orange) at the last minute. Other sets for Dad that I like include the Sweet Heat Set $16.00 tin each of Anco Chili Pepper and true cinnamon, and the Herb Sampler $16.00 , with four teaspoon packettes of six organic herbs: basil, dill weed, tarragon, thyme, oregano and rosemary.


A more extravagant and very impressive gift set (for the holidays to come--they'll be here before we know it) is the Set For The Holidays, an organic spice extravaganza featuring 72, one-teaspoon packettes of holiday-centric spices in six silvery tins. They're all nestled into a slide open, hard-sided, brown cardboard presentation box with white trim. You get "Cookie Jar" with 4 true cinnamon, 2 cardamom, 2 ginger, 1 lemon and 1 orange zest. Let the cookie fun, begin!
"Peace of the Pie" has 3 packettes of ginter, 3 Korintje cinnamon, 2 anise seed, 2 nutmeg, 1 allspice and 2 cardamom for holiday pies. "Bird in Hand" features 5 safe, 4 thyme, 2 rosemary, and 1 marjarom perfect for the turkey of your dreams, while "Roast to Roast" perks up holiday roasts with packettes of 3 orange zet, 2 ancho chili pepper, 2 corriander, 2 rosemary 2thyme, and 12 allspice. You also get "Game Day Chili" with packettes of 3 cumin, 3 mild chili pepper, 2 ancho chili pepper, 2 oregano, 1 fennel and 1 karintje cinnamon. And no holiday would be complete without classic, mulled cider. You also get "Mull this Over" with enough spice packettes for a punchbowl or two: 3 orange zest, 3 true cinnamon, 2 cardamom, 2 lemon zest, 1 allspice, and 1 clove. You also get 18 recipies! What a fabulous idea. At just $42.00 it is an absolute steal! There are enough spices in this gift set to last way past the holidays depending upon how much time you're spending in the kitchen.

Give yourself a little gift and get some of the individual spice tins for yourself. If you want to outfit your entire spice cabinet, Get the entire sit of individual tins with a dozen packettes of each spice for $125.00. You'll get: Allspice, Ancho Chili, Anise Seed, Basil, Mild Chili Pepper, Cloves, Coriander, Cumin, Dill Weed, Fennel Seed, Ginger, Cardamom, Korintje Cinnamon, Lemon Zest, Marjoram, Nutmeg, Orange Zest, Oregano, Rosemary, Sage, Tarragon, Thyme, True Cinnamon, and Tumeric.


Even if you're not in the market for spices right now, go to the TSP spices web site for all sorts of recipes that use a specific spice. For example, I found this recipe for Spiced Nuts using "Ancho Chili":

Spiced Nuts

1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
2 cups raw pecans (or almonds, or any other nut)
1 egg white, lightly beaten
1/4 cup sugar
1 packet tsp spices Organic Korintje Cinnamon (cassia, ground)
1 packet tsp spices Organic Ancho Chile (ground)
1 tsp salt
Preheat oven to 300 degrees

Lightly grease cookie sheet with oil . Mix almonds and egg whites together and stir to coat. Drain in a colander. In a zip lock bag, mix sugar with salt and spices. Add almonds to plastic bag and shake to coat. Spread nuts in a single layer on cookie sheet and roast 40-45 minutes.

Let cool, then enjoy! Note: If you like more spice flavor, use 2 packets each of cinnamon and chile. These freeze very well

Any or all of these spices would also make a unique idea of a gift for a couples shower, or get a tin of something special for your weekend host or hostess this Summer. visit www.tspspices.com to everything they offer.