Frequently Asked Questions

For any additional help or for more information about your order, contact us here or email hello@flavorkicker.com

Ordering & Shipping Questions

To which locations do we deliver?
Our shipping services cover the entire United States and Canada, including Hawaii, Alaska, U.S. territories, and military bases located overseas.

Currently we are only shipping to USA.

If you spend over $70, shipping is always free. For any other purchases, shipping will be calculated at checkout.

During non-holiday times, you can expect your order to be shipped within 3 business days. Once it has been shipped, you will receive a confirmation email with your tracking number. During holidays, please allow additional time for your order to be shipped

Because of our Safe Quality Food Certification, we cannot accept returns or exchanges on grocery products. However, if we made an error on an order, we will make it right through either a refund or a replacement.

Product Questions

We are a local company and all merchandise is made with love here in USA.

FlavorKicker's products are produced in a facility that processes allergens including soy, tree nuts, wheat/gluten, mustard, celery, dairy and sesame. Further allergen declarations are included in the ingredient section of each product.

We offer French square glass jars which are sealed with foil to lock in flavor and lock out moisture. The easiest way to remove the foil seal is to puncture it with a knife and peel it off the jar. The cap is a PP Plastic Screw Top.

While most spices do not "expire," they gradually lose flavor and color as the volatile oils (responsible for aromas and flavors) evaporate over time. Spoilage is not a concern for the majority of our products, with exceptions like cheese powders/blends and sesame seeds, which we recommend replacing annually. For optimal flavor, use our ground spices and blends within 12 to 18 months of opening. Beyond this timeframe, they remain usable, but you may need to use more to achieve the original flavor intensity.

Our commitment to fresh spices, ground and blended in small batches, ensures that nothing you purchase from us has been sitting on a shelf for an extended period.

Absolutely! Our spices are certified as Kosher, with only a few exceptions.

Our spices are inherently gluten-free, and as we oversee the entire supply chain, the risk of cross-contamination with gluten-containing products is minimal. While some of our blends may include gluten, all ingredients are transparently listed on both the product page and the jar.

It's important to note that our spices lack third-party gluten-free certification, and we don't routinely conduct allergen testing. If there's a heightened sensitivity to gluten, we advise using caution.

Great news: our spices are free from genetically modified organisms! You can be confident that all our spices are non-GMO.

If you reside in California, you may have observed a Prop 65 notification on the packing slip accompanying your order.

California mandates that various consumer products, including herbs and spices, sold within the state, bear this warning. The inclusion of herbs and spices is attributed to naturally occurring compounds from the soil that could be present in the final product at minimal levels.

We rigorously test all our spices to ensure they meet or surpass federal and international safety standards. Nevertheless, in adherence to Prop 65 regulations, we include the warning on packing slips for orders dispatched to California.

For additional information about Proposition 65, you can visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.

Wholesale & Commercial Inquiries

We offer quantities as large as you need and also offer our spices at a discount price for our wholesale account holders.

Please fill out all applicable information in the application on our Wholesale page. This information is for our records only and will never be shared or released to any other party.

Thank you for considering our spices as a gift for your clientele. Please explore our Company & Holiday Gifting options.

Culinary Creations with Spices

Confident you'll love our spices! We scout the globe for unique, top-quality selections from expert farmers. Trusted by top restaurants, we offer a 100% quality guarantee.

Enhancing your culinary creations with spices is a delightful journey of flavors, aromas, and vibrant hues. Embrace the art of experimentation when incorporating spices into your dishes, particularly considering the elevated richness of our specially sourced spices compared to typical grocery store varieties. Begin by adding slightly less than the recommended amount in your recipes and adjust to your taste preferences.

Whether using whole or ground spices, both options offer unique advantages. However, when opting for whole spices, be mindful of potential inconveniences during serving, especially with spices like cloves and cardamom that may need to be removed.

Should you choose to grind your spices, a coffee grinder, pepper mill, or mortar and pestle are effective tools. A simple blade grinder is versatile and adept at grinding various spices, such as cinnamon bark, cardamom husks, peppercorns, and even hibiscus flowers.

A word of caution: Spices contain volatile oils that can cling to grinders. To avoid flavor crossover, it is advisable to designate a specific and inexpensive coffee grinder solely for grinding spices. This precaution ensures that the next use of the grinder won't unexpectedly carry the scent of previously ground spices, creating a sensory experience that may either enhance or alter your culinary expectations.

The quality of spices does not improve over time; their peak flavor is achieved when used promptly. Generally, spices retain their optimal aroma and taste for approximately three years from the harvest date. However, this duration can vary depending on the type of spice and the plant part harvested.

Supermarket spices often undergo extended periods of transit, storage in warehouses and distribution centers, as well as shelf time. By the time they reach the store, a significant portion of their original flavor and aroma may have diminished. Commodity spices frequently change hands multiple times, taking years to finally reach supermarket shelves.

At our company, we source our spices directly from partner farms to ensure they reach you at their freshest and with an extended shelf life in your kitchen.

To gauge the freshness of spices in your pantry, consider factors such as their color Has it faded? Are there signs of insects or mold?, aroma Has it diminished?, and taste a small amount Has it lost its flavor?.

Review spice jars, whether they're ours or other brands, for a "Manufacturing Date" on the label. If it's been more than a year or two since packing, it might be worth considering replacement with fresher alternatives.

How to properly store your spices is a common query, and the advice is straightforward: avoid storing them altogether! Spices are meant for culinary use, so it's best to have them accessible while you're cooking, ideally within arm's reach.

Recognizing that you might not use every spice daily, consider placing them in a dark, dry cabinet situated away from the stove's heat and shielded from direct sunlight. Protecting them from light, heat, and humidity is key. Refrigeration isn't advisable due to potential condensation buildup as you retrieve and return them.

Essential Methods for Cooking with Spices

Enhance the flavor of your spices by gently toasting them in a dry pan. This technique brings out their natural oils and intensifies the aroma.

Freshly ground spices offer superior flavor compared to pre-ground versions. Invest in a good quality spice grinder to unlock the full potential of your spices.

Release the flavors of ground spices by blooming them in hot oil or ghee. This technique adds depth and richness to your dishes.

Allow spices to infuse their essence into liquids by simmering them. This method is excellent for soups, stews, and sauces.

Elevate the taste of your dishes by tempering whole spices in hot oil before adding other ingredients. This technique is commonly used in Indian cuisine.

Create flavorful marinades by combining spices with liquids and letting proteins absorb the aromatic blend. This method is ideal for grilling and roasting.

Infuse spices into meats by incorporating them into a brine. This not only imparts flavor but also helps in tenderizing the meat.

Coat meats with a blend of dry spices before cooking. This technique adds a robust crust and enhances the overall taste.

Build complexity by adding spices at different stages of cooking. Start with foundational flavors and gradually introduce more delicate ones.

Achieve a harmonious flavor profile by balancing different spices. Experiment with sweet, savory, bitter, and heat elements for a well-rounded result.

Combine spices with fresh herbs to add brightness and depth. The synergy between the two enhances the overall culinary experience.

Create your spice blends to suit your taste preferences. Experiment with ratios to achieve a unique and personalized flavor profile.

Understand the heat levels of spices and use them judiciously. Adjust quantities based on personal preference and the desired level of spiciness in your dishes.