I love olive oil stores, especially the ones in California have wonderful products. Viva Oil on…read moreState Street in the heart of Santa Barbara didn't disappoint! The store has a nice decor, airy, it's welcoming, has a wide variety of olive oils and balsamic vinegars with nice flavors (some fruit based - fig anyone?), nice staff and reasonable prices. Great place to shop at, you can get a set for a nice gift or a couple of bottles for dipping and salads at home!

I absolutely adore this shop!! The vibe is very charming, intimate, and warm. I have never seen so…read moremany different infused olive oils and balsamic vinegars before. I really appreciate that you can taste the products. I found so many I loved and tasting the notes helped me better envision what I could use each one for and how it fit into my cooking style. I also like how they offer each product in two sizes. The people here are so warm, friendly, and knowledgeable as well. They were so ready to help and give information about their store and their products.

I can't get enough of this place. Located on Main in…read moreVentura. It should be held in honor to have such a powerhouse of Indian groceries here for locals and travelers alike Wonderful selection of spices, teas, and frozen items. I wish I lived closer. How convenient and fun to shop here. Service is family friendly, with a smile. The shop is well-organized, clean, and stocked full...ready to go! Support this business. Not every city has a gem like this.

Excellent assortment of authentic and hard to find products, spices and even some fresh produce…read more Super welcoming and inviting staff.

I was recommended to Ema's Herbs by a friend who has sworn by Sara and her team here. Having been…read moreexperiencing health issues for a bit now, I was optimistic to try a more holistic approach and see what their services are all about. Full transparency there is a pretty significant waitlist to see Sara and I did have to wait a few months to get an individual consult with her. If you're looking for a consult and one on one, this is the best service/way to do it - just know to be patient. I signed up online with an appointment date a few months out and I did notice that when there were cancelations by other clients, I would get an email notifying me in case I wanted to get the open appointment. However, with them being so popular, by the time I'd check my emails and try to sign up for the earlier appointment they were always taken. I learned you just have to be really patient to get into here. I felt that the wait was worth it though. Sara was very knowledgeable, approachable and kind. She touched my feet and without me disclosing any of my healthcare issues she was able to relay back what she believed/could read to be some of my health issues/areas in my body that had inflammation etc. After she was through I did provide more context or validate some points she made but the initial consult / reading was all to her credit for figuring out what she could. It was a very interesting experience and enjoyable. From there Sara recommended products and I bought about 85% of them. The different vitamins and products do add up but they also seem to last about 2-3 months before I'll run out so not bad. I've been on the supplements for about a month so I'll need more time to come back here and to report what differences I see. For now I'm just getting in the swing of consistently taking the different items I purchased. Lastly, if you don't make an appointment or want an assessment, you can simply walk in and buy any products you'd like. That's definitely nice for people who already know what they are looking for or for established customers who may not need a reading/one on one with staff every-time they come. From supplements, to drinks and teas, they have it all. One item of theirs that I have been using that seems to be working well is their sore throat tea. So if you are prone to sore throats or preparing for flu season I'd definitely recommend a can of this tea. Ema's herbs is a cute place and for years I wandered right past it. Despite the signage, the little house style shop was unassuming and I had never realized what this spot was. Definitely a great local business and staff who really want to support you with your wellness and healing journey. Excited to come back in another month and grateful I was referred to them.

All the ladies at Emma's are very kind,helpful and very knowledgeable on what works!! My boyfriend…read more& I have been drinking their joint relief tea for many months & succcessfully have been out of joint pain ever since drinking it! When we forget to drink our tea, our bodies remind us! I'm grateful to not have to take over the counter inflammatory pills or pain pills. We definitely keep going back when we run out

I wrote a previous review over five years ago. Time to write another one…read more The last review covered the fact that SpiceTopia sells creations by Judee Hauer. I have a collection of her figurines. Yesterday I visited to use my birthday coupon. I love the Cinnamon from Vietnam. that they sell. It's the best! Just to smell it is delightful and to taste it is Devine. I always leave the shop in a good mood

OMG. I gave SpiceTopia SO MUCH business yesterday! I was just browsing stores along Main St.,…read morethinking I wouldn't buy anything, and then I found this remarkable place. I wounds up with two bags (!!) of tea, olive oil, vinegar, spice, snacks, and barbecue sauce. I appreciated being able to sample some of their items before purchasing them. I can't wait to try all of the things I bought! This store is an absolute treasure, and I can't wait to visit it again the next time I'm in Ventura!

not only was the place run by very kind employees, but the selection was just beautiful!! i must…read morehave been inside looking at all of the tea for 15 minutes. they have a wonderful list of interesting tea blends, unique salt and sugar blends and an impressive collection of spices :) i would recommend that any cooking/tea enthusiasts stop by, you won't want to miss this cute shop!!

The spice trade was once one of the most intricate and sought after commodites in history with…read moremonarchs and sultans devising the best routes to get their hands onto the rarest of spices showing their wealth and class of not only themselves but their representative countries. Although nowadays spices are much more easier to come by (just drive down to your nearest supermarket!); many spices are still on the scarcer side and represent luxury. Have no fear, though, because you no longer have to board a ship and find the passage to the Middle East but can simply head to the Solvang Spice Merchant. Solvang Spice Merchant is a female-owned (shout out to girl bosses!) spice boutique located in the central hub of the famous Danish tourist city of Solvang near Santa Barbara. Opening its doors a couple years before the Covid pandemic in 2018; Solvang Spice Merchant not only survived but thrived with a brick and mortar storefront and an online shipping option (flat rate of $10 shipping no matter the size of purchase!). The business features hand-crafted spices and seasonings, teas, and foodie gift sets serving both tourists and Solvang residents, alike. My boyfriend and I ventured into the Solvang Spice Merchant when visiting Solvang from Los Angeles for the city's Christmas-time Julefest and gazed our eyes on a shop that would make any King or emperor proud. The store is filled with floor to ceiling shelves of spices/seasoning mixes categorized by country/region and then further sub-categorized by ingredients, styles (BBQ, Pickling, etc) available in various bottle sizes (plus some can be purchased at the counter in bulk, as well). If you can conceive a certain spice or seasoning, trust me that Solvang Spice Merchant has it! Even if you are not in the market for spices; the store is fun to browse and discover all of the spices from around the world. My personal spice journey has endlessly been looking for Garam Masala (an Indian spice) which I could have purchased at the Indian shop by my apartment in Los Angeles - but what fun is that?! It is much better to come across Garam Masala at Solvang Spice Merchant where the spices are combined by hand and with love while enjoying the world of spices! We purchased a 2.3 oz bottle (the smallest) of Garam Masala for $10.25 which isn't cheap: but expected from a boutique spice store. I have since used the spice mix on chicken, Steelhead trout and steamed veggies and it is absolute perfection and makes my apartment smell delightful with its warm spices. The only complaint? None of the two young females behind the counter welcomed us into the store, offered any samples (which I learned the store does indeed do), ask if we needed help, etc. Solvang's main gimmick is being a welcoming tourist city ESPECIALLY during Christmas as it is known as the, "Most Christmas-y City in the Nation". Unfortunately, that Hallmark Christmas movie customer service was absent the night of our visit. Despite this minor qualm; Solvang Spice Merchant is a charming spice shop fit for a King, emperor, sultan or just Averages Joes like you and I visiting Solvang. Not only will you find whatever spice your heart desires but you will have an enjoyable time simply scanning the shelves.

When I'm not feeling well, I slow down and brew a cup of Jasmine Dragon Pearls tea…read more Watching the delicate pearls unfurl is calming on its own, and that soft jasmine aroma instantly wraps me in comfort. Light, floral, and soothing -- it's like a warm reset button in a cup.

As an avid tea drinker I adore this place. They have a great variety of high quality teas and…read moreherbs. The service is always apex. The atmosphere is modern , eco friendly and clean. For the quality they are selling the price is competitive. This place is a mainstay for me at least every 45 to 90 day to keep my tea supply plentiful.

Anna's Spices offers unique gourmet world blends of spices and salt. There are 13 spice blends and…read more7 gourmet salts. My favorite are the Old Europe Seasonin and the California Fresh Blend. Each unique spice blend and salt has been handcrafted from natural ingredients from every corner of the world.

I recently placed an order with Anna's Spices in an attempt to liven up my rather bland and boring…read moreculinary creations. I now have Anna's Rub - haven't tried it yet but I'm so intrigued by the fact that it has coffee in it. What I really want to rave about is the jar of truffle mushroom salt. I have been adding it to my salads and omelets. Some kind of magic happens when the flavor of truffles and the sensation of salt fuse. I'm looking forward to experiencing the various other spices I ordered!

Amazing selection and knowledgeable staff. A hidden gem. Really appreciated the help provided. I…read morewould certainly recommend this store.

If you are looking for a local family-owned place to get your health supplements, this is the…read moreplace. The staff is knowledgeable. Trulaine, Lori, and Brian know their products inside and out. And, if it's something special you are looking for, they can order it. If you are only shopping price, buy online. The owners here deal first hand with their suppliers and know the quality and integrity of the products they sell. If quality is important, shop at a place you trust. That's Cones.

What a great cheese shop! We purchased a container of La Tur, from Italy. We asked for a sample…read morebefore buying because it was a bit pricey and we wanted to be sure. One taste and we knew it was going home with us. We also bought a bag of Jose Andrés potato chips from Spain, that happened to complement the creamy cheese very nicely. Fun stop in Santa Barbara with a good vibe. We'll be back!

Absolutely love this shop! It's a must every time we road trip to Santa Barbara. We sampled quite…read morea few cheeses and bought more than we needed but couldn't decide between them picked up some tasty cured meat with fennel, some snacks from the shevles, some marinated sheep and goat cheese... It was a successful trip, to say the least.