domesticity: herbs and spices

[redbird]

Now that we have a plant cart large enough to hold bigger flowerpots, I repotted the rosemary. The process went smoothly, without the old pot clinging to the plant (or vice versa), so I am hopeful. The thyme and sage can wait a day or two, but the rosemary that was crowding the little plastic container it came in.

Prompted by an online discussion and memories of the long-departed Moroccan Star restaurant, I put a cardamom pod in with the tea leaves when I made my last cup of tea. The cardamom worked well: the flavor was noticeable but didn't overpower the tea. I expect to do this again, though maybe not often right now: Penzey's is closed for at least another week, and I don't have another source of good cardamom.

We're already out of oregano and low on thyme, but the supermarket seems more likely to have good-enough jars of those. (mrissa pointed out yesterday that even if Penzey's reopens on April 13th, which seems unlikely, there's going to be a backlog of orders, and shipping takes time. I'm used to walking into their shop on Mass Ave in Arlington.) I am vaguely annoyed at this, because I looked at their "stock up for a few months" emails in February, looked at my spice cabinet, and decided we had all the herbs and spices we needed for a while.

Comments

[jenett]

I do not have whole pods, but I do have a couple of tablespoons of crushed that still smells good. (As well as my Penzey's stash of ground, which is my usual default for use.)

(being a witch, at least apparently my kind of witch, means you have random stuff floating around? Apparently?)

I was contemplating doing a curbside pickup order at Sophia's in Belmont sometime this week, and could drop same on your door or some other suitable location if you wanted.

[maellenkleth]

Yeah, we blew our chance to visit Penzeys in Lynwood (Washington) on our last trip down before the border closed.

Going to run out of some of my favourite savouries soon. Rice won't be the same without them, especially galangal.

[redbird]

Yes thank you. Let me talk to Andy about what things we might like from there.

[ranunculus]

Take a look at Burlap and Barrel, they have really exquisite spices. Their Zanzibar Pepper is strong enough that you will need quite a lot less than usual, and it is really flavorful.
https://www.burlapandbarrel.com

[sine_nomine]

I get my cardamom at Indian groceries. Way less expensive than Penzey's, but I don't know how accessible one might be to you at present. Sweetheart reminds me going to the post office right now might not be smart but happy to help get you some if you need it.

[redbird]

The last cardamom I got at a South Asian grocery wasn't very good/fresh.

I have a reasonable cardamom supply, but if I was using two/day in tea that would go through them a lot faster than I usually do.

[sine_nomine]

Well that's unfortunate re not very fresh.

I understand re using more in tea; I should get back to doing that, in fact!

[redbird]

I tried using the whole seeds, not in pods, this morning, and didn't notice any flavor from two of those in a mug of tea. When I opened the container, there was a definite strong cardamom smell. This is odd.

[sine_nomine]

When I put cardomom in tea I crack the pods first. Put in tea cup with tea. Pour water and let steep. I do find that it takes rather more than two of them though - but that's me. I really like cardomom to come throgh in taste.

[redbird]

Taking one pod, cracking it, and putting it in with the tea leaves worked.

I got two cups, following adrian_turtle's suggestion to reuse the cardamom, but the third cup I tried to use it for wasn't cardamom-flavored.

[sine_nomine]

So glad you found a satisfactory solution!