Review of Flavorbank Spice Market, Tucson, Arizona

Walking into the Flavorbank Spice Market on a blustery spring day, I was enveloped by the sumptuous scent of spices and drawn in by the inviting atmosphere of the store. The walls are painted deep, warm colors and indirect lighting spotlights artful arrangements of products on wooden tables and sideboards. In one alcove there are different sized glass jars displayed on wire wall racks behind a wooden table laid out with mortar and pestle and a tray of different colored salts. The place has an air of magic; if I had come in search of dragon scale or unicorn hair, I thought, I would be able to find it here.

What I had come in search of was my favorite Flavorbank spice blend, Spice Delight, a piquant blend of cinnamon, ginger, allspice, nutmeg, cloves and chipotle pepper. I use it in everything; soups, stews, vegetable casseroles, desserts, even hot cocoa, and up until now, I could only purchase it online. Though Flavorbank has been in business since 1969 it sold to distributors and mail order customers from their warehouse until new owner, Jennifer English, recently moved the business to their retail store in El Mercado.

Chatting with Jennifer I could see that this was a woman who is passionate about food and very knowledgeable about spices. In fact, she and her company, Brandnewmedia, are the founders of the Food and Wine Radio Network. She is also professionally affiliated with the James Beard Culinary Guild, The American Institute of Wine & Food, The Tucson Originals, and several other food and beverage organizations.

As we toured the shop, tasting and smelling as we went, I received a lesson in peppercorns, sampled several kinds of sea salt, including a new smoky blend that would be perfect for grilling, discussed the different uses for their spice blends and got a peek into those glass jars on the wall of the alcove.

This area is Jennifer's spice bar, a treasure trove of exotic spices and aromatics that can be purchased individually or mixed into a special blend. If you are making a recipe that call for a number of spices and only need small amounts, you can bring in your recipe and she will sell you what you need, from a teaspoon to several ounces. Jennifer told me she loves to mix and match spices and aromatics and would be happy to create personalized blends, much like a perfumer would create a signature scent.

Since Flavorbank is based in Tucson, it stands to reason that they would sell a wide variety of chili peppers such as the Ancho and Chipotle used in our local Mexican dishes, African Devil or Birds Eye chili's, a key ingredient in Thai and Vietnamese cuisine, and the fiercely hot Habanero that is essential to a good Jamaican Jerk recipe.

If you enjoy baking, you will find Flavorbank's selection of sweet spices irresistible: whole and ground nutmeg, several types of cinnamon, whole cloves and allspice, Tahitian vanilla beans and my beloved Spice Delight blend. They also have a best selling line of gourmet decorating sugars in a rainbow of colors such as Emerald Green, Impetuous Purple, Outrageous Orange, Fools Gold and Bewitching Black.

Whether you are an experienced cook looking for adventure, or a nervous novice in need of guidance, the Flavorbank Spice Market is the place to go.

Flavorbank Spice Market is located at 6372 E. Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85710 in the El Mercado Shops at Broadway and Wilmot. Phone: (520)-747-5431. Hours: Monday through Saturday from 12-6, closed Sunday. If you are outside of Tucson you can shop on line at http://www.flavorbank.com.