I absolutely love Old Town Tea Merchant! I come almost once a week and always leave with something…read morenew. My grandma loves it too, and we're both huge fans of Carol--she's the sweetest, kindest part of the experience. Whenever Carol is there, the whole visit feels amazing. She always helps me pick new, fun teas and knows exactly what I like, as well as what my grandma might enjoy. I also struggle with sleeping, and the Sweet Dreams tea from here literally helps me--it's become a must-have for winding down at night. If you're a tea lover or just looking for a friendly, welcoming shop, Old Town Tea Merchant is the place to go, and Carol makes it truly special. We were even able to do a wine and spice pairing at my family's restaurant it was a blast.

I wanted to get some local honey for my tea, so I stopped by after lunch. This cute little somewhat…read morehard to find shop is hidden to the right of Landeros Mexican Restaurant & you have to walk down a little arcade and then the entrance is on the left. They have tons of interesting spices, teas, rubs and other paraphernalia for cooking & tea drinking. I ended up getting two small bags of tea & a wildflower honey bear. I appreciated how everything has clearly marked prices as well as detailed ingredient lists & explanations. Service was fine. There was one customer in front of me who was buying a lot of items. One employee was helping her and the other was on the phone. No one acknowledged me for a few minutes and finally the employee helping the other customer asked me if I was ready to check out. I said yes, and she rang me up. It was slightly awkward as I'd been standing there for a bit. Oh well. Despite that little setback, this is a cute shop and they have interesting blends and items that you may not be able to find elsewhere. It is worth a visit! Peace.

Thank you, Ground 2 Table, for making me look like a better chef than I am! Love that their spice…read moreblends are salt and sugar-free. Someone pointed out to me that we focus on cooking organic but the finishing touch is spices, so they should be organic too. (Cue my head hanging in shame as I think of my cabinet full of musty God-knows-when-I-bought-them spices). Great locally-based option and the on-the-go spices have become a staple of my purse. #12 in coffee? Yes please!

What an incredible find! I love experimenting with the different blends (my favorites are Spice…read moreBlend 1 & 4). I've been introduced to a whole new way of thinking about food thanks to G2T. Everyone I cook for loves the new spice additions! They ship fast too. I'm on the east coast and I've gotten them in as little as a day! Tip: they send in 3 packs so to save on shipping I always buy in multiples of 3.

I love the selection of organic goods they have! All of my products came in great condition. Highly…read morerecommend them for that

I bought different organic flours and among them buckwheat flours. I liked all of them and will…read morereorder.

We're addicted! Family owned and the staff is fantastic - especially Kelsey! Went with the intent…read moreof buying two bottles, left with 6 w/ great recommendations by Kelsey. Highly recommend!

Baker and Olive is a specialty store known for its high-quality olive oils, balsamic vinegars, and…read moregourmet food products. I love going to specialty stores for specific products, in my opinion the products are better curated and higher quality. This shop is my go-to for balsamic vinegars and their impressive gift boxes, containing four bottles of oils and vinegars. They're perfect for housewarmings or gifts for cooking enthusiasts. Before buying, you can sample every oil and vinegar they offer. My latest obsession has been fruit vinegars and soda water, prompting me to purchase several bottles of white sweet vinegars to create my own flavored beverages.

This place is like heaven on earth to me. Lol only draw back I have is that many of the herbs is…read morejust out in the open w/o a l8f or covering over them. Other than that the prices and selections is amazing. I will definitely be back soon. This was my 1st time here. Boi am I impressed

From the owner: On Brenda´s you will find an extensive variety of gastronomic supplies and natural products:…read moremedicinal herbs, condiments, spices, dried chilies, grains, seeds, organic products, nuts and more, much more! Since 1973, our commitment is to provide a service of excellence and quality, bringing our customers the greatest diversity of products, from the traditional to the most recent consumer demands.

The prices are high but so is the quality!! I love my penzey's spices and think they really make a…read moredifference in recipes. They have several promotions too where you can get free spice blends or jars if you're subscribed to the newsletter. The staff at the store is always helpful directing me to different parts of the store depending on what spice I need. Parking can be tricky. There's a parking lot but it's almost always full.

I found out about Penzey spices by KH in a book and ordered some things from their website…read more Love the colorful packaging and the spices available are amazing. The order was taken quickly and shipped out promptly. I will now go to Penzey's when I need spices. The website is also easily managed and accessible.

TW: Sexual Harassment I was so excited to discover this…read moreplace, as I need herbs on an ongoing basis for my business. It seemed cool and not of this time when I went in and saw all the jars and met the man who owns the shop. He gave me the herbs I needed and started commenting on my looks, saying he likes a woman like me. I was uncomfortable and wouldn't go back, but it got worse when he kept asking for a hug, to which I declined. Then he came out from behind the register area and tried to hug me. I pushed him off of me various times and felt super unsafe and just wanted to get out of there, so I booked it and never went back. I see many other reviews saying he's so cool and nice. I guess I was just his type. Gross. It's really sad because herb shops are hard to come by in San Diego, but thankfully Datura in North Park is a reliable apothecary with kind/ non-rapey staff to boot. So I get all my stuff there now.

I was on the hunt for Arnica and stopped by this location after researching a bit. The shop is…read moreunassuming from the outside and parking is on the street. Step inside and you'll see a vast array of labeled, empty glass jars. The shop owner is kind, knowledgeable and generous. He explained that he keeps his products sealed in the back to retain freshness, which I really appreciated. Though he was out of Arnica, I decided to purchase other items including a toothpaste powder that he recommended for tooth pain. I noted how lovely everything smelled and mentioned lavender was a favorite of mine. He disappeared in the back and then reappeared with a large bag of the most fragrant lavender I've ever smelled. It was from Provence! He offered me a sample to take home and I happily accepted. It continues to smell like lavender in my kitchen. No doubt I'll be back to support this local gem. Tip: this is a cash only vendor; stop by the ATM ahead of time.

I just received my first order of Panache Pantry bread crumbs I purchased the Vintage Sicilian…read more(traditional) and the Zucchini Rosemary. Tonight my husband and I made zucchini boats basically half-ed zucchinis scraped and stuffed with other veggies and cheese and of coarse these divine bread crumbs. I used the Vintage Sicilian bread crumbs and topped my boats with them baked them and holy mouth watering smell throughout out my home coming from this meal we just made all because of these amazing bread crumbs! I couldn't wait to eat and taste them!! They are made with a variety of artisan breads and made fresh with no additives or fillers you are getting the best of the best in bread crumbs when you order from this company. My home smells so wonderful and I wish I had more food to eat but they were such a hit its all gone :( I want to make something else just to taste these crumbs again but not until the morning cause I'm going to have me some eggies topped with these divine, deli-sh bread crumbs!! You must try them if you cannot order from them on-line then the head on down to the farmers market in little Italy (San Diego) and find their booth you will not be disappointed!!

We have been making our own Sicilian bread crumbs for decades. Panache Pantry bread crumbs are…read moreabsolutely authentic Sicilian, with no additives...just good basic ingredients. We no longer have to make our own bread crumbs because Panache Pantry makes them even better than our family does! We buy them at the Mercato (Farmers Market) in Little Italy, San Diego but one can order any of the four or five lines on the internet. Progresso bread crumbs will never be found in our home.