There are not many places to get supplements (besides Whole Foods), so I shop here periodically,…read morebut I do not appreciate the staff's demeanor, and have not met a helpful one yet. I think I need to stop going there...the treatment by the last employee has stayed with me for days. When going to a place to get healed it doesn't help to feel like crap after an interaction.

Alex is the epitome of cool. He took my (phone) order to ensure the shipping would get to us in…read moretime. He was SO friendly and I absolutely LOVED that he narrated the clacking the computer keys "do do do...doing computer stuff." If you're ever in Berkeley, stop by!

All. The. Spices! I…read moremay have temporarily lost my sense of smell while so, so excitedly sniffing ALL the scents, but I finally made a decision (with a little help from the nice employees). My favorite so far is the smoked salt because it's so versatile! I also bought a guava jam that looked so divine, but sadly the airport trashed it (I am convinced they just ate it because again...it looked so yummy), so maybe one day I'll try again! I will be back next time I'm in the bay to stock up on more spices.

You'll know you're right at home as soon as you walk through the door. For anybody that's wondered…read morerows of disorganized shelves of stuff all over the place or spots that are less than well kept, look no further. Oaktown Spice Shop is immaculate, well organized, and staffed with folks that are quite passionate about the goods! Also helps that it smells amazing, but it really speaks to the quality of their stuff. If you had any doubts about them, put that to rest and just visit or use their online store! Any foodie worth their salt (hah get it) will be able to appreciate what this place has to offer.

Good colors--red and black--of HENNA! As well as prices in bulk…read more Have been buying both colors I mix for my hair since 1984, with very positive compliments for same length of time! Receiving excellent service too. Carol B.

I was going to purchase about $100 worth of herbs as I'm currently on disability , but when…read moredisability called to discuss my case, I simply ducked into their outdoor sheltered area to get a little more quiet - mind you, I WAS NOT IN THE STORE. The owner then sent his bitchy little worker to loudly and forcefully slam the door in my face. My friend still wanted to go in so after my call I went in and apologized for the disturbance. Instead of saying thank you, this mofo has the audacity to say some bull shit about using his store like a phone booth. Don't EVER shop here if you're disabled. They have ZERO compassion. Will NEVER shop here again.

My friend told me about this great spice shop I had to go to, so happy I did!…read moreThey had so much to look at everyone was really welcoming and friendly. Any questions or welcomed I was looking for two particular spices and my daughter wanted some loose tea. The lady that was helping me was so nice. She actually gave me a recipe for one of the spices that was recommended to me. Very excited to go back to Los Angeles and try what we purchased, even more excited to come back to the San Francisco area and come back to this Oaktown spice shop. I found street parking quite easy. They did have 20 minute parking so be careful where you are parked. I found a one hour parking right across the street.

On our stroll of Solano Ave, we stopped by this spice shop. Talk about spices. This shop has an…read moreamazing large selection of spices from all over the world. Two in our group bought several types of spices. The workers were friendly and answered their questions. If you are in need of spices and hard to find spices, you will find it here. I must shop for you home cooks out there.

Nice selection of good smelling handmade soaps - I enjoy just looking around here as well as…read moreshopping. They organize their herbs and teas by intention and I find that logical and accessible. Friendly service and tasty tea, recommend coming in if you're looking for a healthy looseleaf tea blend.

Groovy shop with helpful wonderful people and magical potions. They have the far out items I need…read moreand of quality source.

Just walking into all those smells makes me happy. The people that work there are so informed, and…read moresuper friendly. I LOVE this store. The store is so clean and organized. The herbs there are the best quality!

On Labor Day Monday, Penzey's was one of the few stores open during the holiday…read more This visit, I found some small bottles of "Resist", which consists of black pepper, salt, paprika, cayenne red pepper, white pepper, and chipotle pepper, discounted to only $2 a jar. These will become Christmas stocking stuffers. If you are on their email subscriber list, you might receive a bonus mystery spice jar with your purchase. (I didn't get the jar because I had taken myself off their list.) No biggie.

The Pros: Massive Variety: Truly a "one-stop shop" for tea…read moreenthusiasts. Low Pressure: The staff greeted me and then stayed hands-off until I had questions. The Price: Easily some of the best values in the city. The Con: Sealed Packaging: Everything is pre-sealed in 1lb plastic bags. Because of the sealing, you can't smell the tea before buying. I'd love to see them implement scent jars in the future to help with the selection process. Neutral Observations In-House Packaging: All the tea is packaged identically in 1lb bags, which suggests they likely process and bag everything in-house. Labeling: I didn't notice any specific organic labels on the packaging, though I didn't explicitly ask. If this is a deal breaker, you may want to ask. Review If you're looking for a genuine loose leaf tea source -- your search ends here. I stumbled upon this place after endless online searching (blogs, search engines, etc) and it was well worth the effort! Just a heads-up on navigation: G-Maps is slightly off. If you rely solely on that, you'll be a few doors down. Look for the Volvo mechanics and the shop is located just on the other side. The exterior is unassuming, no windows, just a sandwich board on the sidewalk and a door. Looking inside it's a bit of a mysterious vibe, you'll see a stairway to the left and a hallway ahead. Go for it. Ignore the single pane glass, bank-teller-style window to your right (which directs you to the main door) and just head in. Also, keep an eye on the clock because, per the phone tree, they close for lunch from 12:30 to 1:00. I arrived right after 1pm and was able to park right in front. There was also plenty of other parking spot around at that time. IDK why, but before walking in, my imagination had prepared me for an old-world San Francisco opium den. I was thinking there was going to be this lingering aromatic smoke, plush floor pillows, people lounging, sipping tea, and the soft, ambient melodies of an upscale spa. I had also pictured rows of heavy, whiskey-style wooden barrels overflowing with loose leaf tea, topped with clear lids and metal scoops. The reality is much more utilitarian. This is not a den or a spa. It's clean, straightforward, and focused entirely on their product. The selection is robust and incredibly diverse. While they claim "wholesale to the public", I can't verify the industry margins, but I can tell you the prices are very good for the quality you receive. The employee greeted me and then stayed hands-off while I browsed, which I appreciated. When I did ask specifics, they had basic foundational knowledge. Honestly with the diversity and sheer quantity of products offered, it would take forever to earn a Tea Master badge. No harm no foul. The only real bummer here is that everything is pre-sealed in 1lb plastic bags, so there is no way to smell the product. I'd really appreciate scent jars in front of the bags. Since they seem to be doing the packaging in-house anyway, it makes me wonder why they haven't set aside a small amount of each batch for scent jars. It wouldn't require a change in their supply chain, just a few ounces and a glass jar to help customers navigate that massive variety. That aside, I absolutely loved this place. I've been searching for a spot like this for a long time. I'm just glad I finally found it. If you're at all interested in loose leaf tea, I'd suggest giving these folks an honest try.

I needed dried lavender for simple syrup and ice cream and found this place online. Prices are very…read moreaffordable and they have so many options! I'm not able to post all my photos but this is some of what they offer! Will definitely come back.

One of the best places to buy spices. It's been a while since I was over to restock my spices but…read moreoh boy. The owner of this shop never lets you down with a warm smile and kind words. As I happen to walk around thinking of what I needed I happen to see he was selling some beaituful Clad pans . Absolutly to die for if you love to cook as I do. This one just happen to have my name on it look at the side when I tell you will never find this price any place else. Support small business all year long that what I do . For of you looking for a great buy on a wonderful clad pan stop in and check them out. And the price will make you not believe what you see. Have look and support this wonderful small family business you will never be disappointed.

Really cool Indian grocery with hard to find Indian groceries, I got some pre packaged meals to put…read moreover rice. They were excellent and a good price.

I stopped at this cute shop a few years ago. We were in the area as tourists and found the shop…read moreperfect for the neighborhood. The guy inside was very friendly and gracious. He answered all of our questions as we looked around the shop. He gave us a ton of attention although we were looking around and didn't purchase anything. I hope it is still open the next time I'm in the area because I'd stop in again.

Extremely helpful and friendly. They love to help and answer questions you have about herbs and…read moregetting the most out of them. They have a wide selection of remedies to help you get over drugs in a more natural way versus pills from the doctors. Also having a selection of things to help you have more energy or help to relax is wonderful. Plus they have sexy time herbs for you and your partner along with some really good tea for sexy times or tea to really relax you. The staff is super knowledgable and eggar to share their knowledge. Katie is my favorite, really cool and always offers up great recommendations depending on what I'm looking for.

I've been a really big fan of Strong Arm Farm's/The Sonoma Coast Seaweed Company's seaweed since…read moreour visit to Point Reyes, so when I saw that Preserved carried them, we stopped right in. Parking is a bit of a fight, but I loved that they carried an array of fermentation items for things like kefir, bread, and cheese. They had quite a few kitchen supplies and books, and I was able to clean them out of the Kombu seaweed they had. All in all, Preserved's service as incredibly friendly and helpful, plus they have a great selection so we will absolutely be back.

Love this store. Like the new location even if parking can be a pain. Got a new vinegar mother and…read moresome sour dough starters for a friend on my last visit.