Keeping Spice “NICE” August 25 2015

It’s always a good idea to take an occasional inventory of the spices in your pantry. In doing so, they should be checked for freshness to ensure they’ve retained their potency - using the “ACT” principal:


AROMA: THE NOSE KNOWS
Crush a small amount of the selected spice in the palm of your hand and sniff gently. If the aroma isn’t rich, and immediate, the spice has likely lost most of its potency. For whole spices, crush or cut the spice open in order to release its full scent.

COLOR ME FRESH
Fading herbs will fade from a vibrant green to lighter colors, and spices with a reddish hue (think chili powder, red pepper) will shade toward brown. Do remember, different herbs naturally vary in color and should not always be compared against each other for color.

TOSS WITH FLAVOR LOSS
If your spices and herbs smell or taste lackluster, don’t think twice - toss the spice. Even if the spice “should” have lasted you a bit longer, other components can come into play. Make sure all spices have their caps on tight and are stored away from heat, moisture, and direct sunlight!

If after your inventory check you’re in need of some spice replacement, be sure to browse our website for products as well as visit us in stores. When taste is everything, La Flor is all you need to transform your everyday meal into a FRESH and extraordinary culinary delight - keep it spicy America!