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Hard-to-find? Not if you know where to look. The right spice is an essential ingredient of many recipes. Can't find it here? Check our FREE RECIPES section for more!

Primary Sites:
* Epicureal.com, Qualifirst and Far-Met *****
Hard to find gourmet food item? Good news: Now you can shop online for those heretofore hard-to-find specialty food items! [More]

All about Mustard *
Everything you needed to know about the culinary and medicinal uses of mustard, its seeds and its leaves. [More]

Cumin, a nutty, peppery spice (AKA Roman Caraway) *
In ancient times when it was necessary to conserve foods with salt, herbs and spices were used to correct the taste of meals. Cumin -- also known as "Roman caraway" -- was one of these spices. [More]

Garber Gastronomic: All about salt *
Some cooks swear by the differences between sea, kosher and table salt, though most of us just buy a standard brand, without giving the matter a second thought. Some chefs will keep powdered, flaked, sea and kosher salt in their kitchens. [More]

Garber Gastronomic: Partial to Peppercorns *
All about the spice we think of paired with salt -- but which really has mythology and intrigue of its own. [More]

Juniper berries *
Reduce the "gamey" taste of wild meats [More]

Massaman Curry Paste *****
A common sound in the Thai countryside kitchen is the steady pound-pound-pound of a mortar and pestle to make these pastes. Make it yourself and keep it in the fridge for when you need it. [More]

Oil of Oregano *
The word "Oregano" comes from the Greek, and means "mountain of joy." Oil of oregano is one of nature's best natural antiseptics. It was used to sterilize pre-operative instruments until 1950. [More]

Time to shake that salty food habit *
If you think setting down the shaker will make a difference, take that advice with a grain of salt; most salt comes from processed foods and restaurants. [More]

When Spice was 'Nice,' it was a Pirates' Hangout *
Madagascar was always one of the world's poorest countries. Today, two-thirds of the world's vanilla is produced in Madagascar. Similarly, peppercorns, native to India, grow on the island, in all colours -- black, white, red and green. Many of the famed Indonesian Moluccan Islands' spices are raised here, as well. [More]

Secondary Sites:
Bay Leaves (Sweet Bay) *
You can grow your own bay leaves anywhere in North America. Most plants are not winter hardy in zones where there are winter freezes, but the plants adapt easily to an indoors environment. High aromatic. [More]

Epazote *
Epazote is a traditional spice used in Mexican cooking. [More]

Stonewall Kitchen *
One of the most trusted brands in gourmet and specialty foods and products. [More]