Spice It Up With Penzeys
Apr 21, 2009 13:15 - 6 Comments
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While spending a few hours in a store to buy my cell phone in December, I passed the time by chatting with everyone. A fellow customer told me about Penzeys Spices, her favorite shop in Rockville. I’d never noticed it, but due to her rave review I discovered a treasure trove of herbs and spices.
Penzeys bright lighting, hardwood floors, and mellow colors invite exploration. Since taste is so closely associated with smell, the shop has “smellevision”, large jars of the spices to sniff. As we know, when 
your nose is stuffed with a cold, you can’t taste very well. By taking a whiff of the spices, you’ll know whether you’ll like the taste instantly, and most likely find a new favorite.
You’ll never again simply say “pepper”. They sell six different kinds from coarse to fine, including white pepper. The array of cinnamons will have you running home to pull out a recipe in order to find the best use for either Karintje Cassia, Ceylon, China Cassia, or Vietamese Cassia (my favorite). The southwest chili section fills a corner and you won’t want to simmer a batch without these spices from mild to very hot.
The store goes beyond every imaginable spice and herb to sell dressing bases for Greek, salsa, & Italian salads, jerk mixes for chicken & fish, and spices for chips & dips. Sandwich sprinkles, cocoa powders, and popcorn toppings are tucked in the crates. The shop carries salt-free versions of standard blends.
Our Rockville Penzeys Spices turned two-years old yesterday. If you haven’t stop
ped by, I recommend a visit. Bill Penzey owns 41 stores across the country and hires knowledgeable managers who attend trainings to become “encyclopedias of food”, valuable resources for cooks. The free store catalogue overflows with recipes and spice descriptions. The store has a cute coloring station to keep the little ones busy (if you have one in tow).
Penzeys can add some pizzazz to your home-cooked meals. Your best dishes might taste even better with these fresh and potent spices.
1048 Rockville Pike, in the strip mall just south of Edmonston Drive.
301) 738-8707
Mon-Sat: 10 AM – 6 PM, Sun: 11 AM – 5 PM
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I don’t remember how I found Penzeys, but I had been ordering from them for years. When I did a year in Pittsburgh for graduate school, I shopped them when they opened up a store in the Shady Side area.>
Now that they are back in the area, I don’t shop their website but buy directly from the store.
The only thing I do not buy is the saffron. I found a more inexpensive source. Saffron is a very expensive spice and you can find a better source, then save some money. Otherwise, get everything else from Penzeys!
I agree – Penzeys is great! Try their Chili 9000 seasoning – mild but wonderfully deep flavor, just as I like it.>
Their toasted onion powder is good as well. Heck, everything I’ve tried from there has been great!
Love Penzey’s found them when i lived in MN and was happy to see one here in Rockville! It’s a great place to find spice mixes–especially for someone like me who is cooking challenged…
My husband got me the big gift box for Christmas 2007. It was the best gift I received that year. >
Once you start using Penzey’s spices you won’t buy from the grocery store again! I get compliments all the time on the dishes that I make using their spices. Or better yet, I get the, “this tastes better this time, why?” Because I switched out all of my spices to Penzey’s spices.
Thanks for telling us about this. I don’t pay enough attention to local businesses as I drive by, and so I didn’t know about this. I stopped by this evening, and bought an assortment. Definitely fresher than the stuff available at the grocery store!
I’m glad that I took the time to write up the review. I had no idea the store had such a dedicated following. It’s one of those places you can tell is special right away. Also, when someone makes a point of telling you about a shop they’ve discovered, it’s usually worth a look.