If you cook and you’re still buying spices from the grocery store, listen up: you’re doing it wrong. Byron, after being ‘Penzey-ized’ by his Texas friends, the Persers, has slowly but surely converted several people—including his sister—to buying their spices from Penzey’s, a spice-only store known for sourcing the freshest spices.
They’re also, fairly outspoken about social and political issues*, which, depending on your leanings, could be a good thing or a bad thing. Regardless of their political view, one whiff of Penzey’s cinnamon, vanilla, Sunny Paris blend, Sandwich Sprinkle, or any number of other spices will make you a convert, and potentially cause brief bouts of sneezing.
Diane’s visits to Colorado almost always include a quick trip to the Littleton Penzeys store to stock up. The two siblings sniff every sample container, carry complete lists of their seasoning inventories on their phone (w/ pictures), and are always looking to add a new blend to the growing collection. Sometimes the seasoning gets used immediately with Diane taking over the kitchen to turn out something ethnic she learned in a recent cooking class, other times the spice sits, stashed in the growing spice drawer.. a secret weapon waiting to be pinched or grated into something scrumptious.
*Please note, we love Penzeys, but must provide the caveat that Bill Penzey often uses his store, catalog, and emails to promote his political beliefs. Often this includes love and kindness, but more recently includes a very strong stand that declaring the Republican Party as “the party of hate” and has been critical of its support for former President Donald Trump. Byron, a “reluctant Republican”, hates rhetoric on both sides, and hopes both parties find their way back to cooperation and “the middle.” If the politics of a company’s founder, or CEO prevents you in good conscience from frequenting those establishments- hey, we understand, and you do you.