Trying to spice up your life, or just in need of cooking inspiration? Penzeys has an oasis of spices and I love how the store is organized. Each little treasure trove of spices is situated in its own little category. There are baking spices and salad spices. I was impressed with all the different kinds of cinnamon's. The people who work there are the nicest. A gentleman directed me to the cayenne pepper area. There was a variety of choices and I learned about the Scoville levels of heat. Now, you may be saying to yourself, why would Joy B. searching for the hot peppers? The truth of the matter is that I was looking to help out a friend. I found my cayenne pepper and I was pleasantly surprised at the price point. I bought a nice size bottle for about $6.00 and change. So, excellent variety, well organized, helpful staff, and reasonably priced... I can assure you that I will be returning soon. Great job, Penzeys. read more

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So excited to finally visit a Penzeys store in person and it was well worth it. Friendly helpful staff and incredible selection. Amazing discounts and free gifts as well. The dish towels are the best towels ever. It's been great fun using their unique blends in various recipes. Proud to support a store that represents my values as well. read more

The steak rub I purchased made me ill. Some kind of allergic reaction. Thanks alot.

I love Penzys. I've been a long-time customer, dating back to when I lived in Wisconsin and their home store was a few miles from my house. Their spices are fabulous, but what I really admire is their customer service. Back in November I had done a mail order, which included this free mug. Unfortunately, they ran out of mugs but said they would send me one when they came back in stock. Low and behold, several months went by but then I got a Penzeys box in the mail containing the mug. Great spices, great people- what more could you want? read more

Penzeys - Their mug - Herbs & Spices Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

We received a Penzeys gift box of several spices as a house warming present from our agent after the purchase of our first home. It was my favorite housewarming present that I had ever received. I am a huge fan of their spices and a lifelong customer! read more

Great selection! Happy to have found such an incredible company. Love all of the bakers spices.

Penzeys Spices is amazing. I can't recommend them highly enough! My son loves to cook, and loves trying all kinds of new things. Can't wait to make him a huge spice basket for Christmas! Not only does it make a great gift, but I get to eat all the delicious proceeds of the gift :). read more

I will never buy grocery store spices again. Take the 'little kid in a candy store' adage & multiply that by 100 & you will emerge into the season (pun intended) of spices. Spices here, spices there, spices everywhere. You'll find detailed descriptions of each spice, a smelling jar to get that spot on aroma with various sizes to choose from. & the easiest part for me, is that the spices are in alphabetical order. I thought I was doing my must have spices - Lemon Pepper, Garlic, Italian, Smoked Paprika & Cajun a favor by purchasing big containers from the market...forgive me Spice God, for I did not know about Penzeys. This local spice shop I'm dubbing as the Spice Lab offers a huge variety of seasonings, blends, & extracts, that really blew my nose away - this pun I couldn't resist. Speaking of extracts, I saw a bottle of pure Mexican Vanilla Extract that doesn't sell for those $1.99 grocery store prices. I must admit, aside from the quick reference in the book 'The Help', I didn't know Vanilla Extract from Mexico was so popular. There you have it Spice 101. There's Cookbooks for sale amongst other great gift ideas as with their colorful box of love aka spices. It comes with 8 1/4 Cup Jars, a booklet full of recipes/wonderful stories & a bumper sticker. Upon check out I took advantage of a special sale of Coriander for $1.99 & added that to my first trip findings. I signed up for their Newsletter and I just received my first one last night- offers insightful content of polite political perspectives, sales where coupons or codes are not needed (only while supplies last), more recipes & stories from customers. I absolutely enjoyed Indulging Penzey's land of spices & can't wait to return to learn more, sniff more & purchase more. read more

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The spices are fabulous! My entire spice rack is filled with Penzeys - I've slowly replaced pretty much all the crappy grocery spices I collected over the years with higher quality and fresher spices. Their cinnamon, paprika, roasted garlic, and cumin are seriously amazing. In this time of COVID, all stores are closed but curbside pickup is available. My mom and I had an issue with ordering online for pickup, but the store clerk walked us through it and helped us complete it, and then had it ready in less than 30 minutes. (Just as a side note, all of the store employees are always delightful and so, so helpful.) You just grab your spices from right outside the store. Definitely an easy way to pick up more cinnamon, cumin, paprika, etc! read more

Always amazed by the variety and quality of their spices. The staff is very helpful too. Can't wait to go back

My experience at Penzey's could not have been more pleasant. I've been into the store before, and remember spending some time looking through different spices... casually opening the jars to sniff. This time, I was on a mission. I had a long list of spices I needed (I'm going to attempt to make homemade Chinese chili oil), and I just wanted to get in and out. I asked one of the workers there if she could help me find a few spices. She was just so nice, patient, and eager to help. She helped me find cardamom, star anise, paprika, fennel seeds, and a couple of other things. She let me know about all the options that were available. She also opened the jars for me to smell each of the spices. Though the prices on the spices are a bit more than you'd get at an Asian Supermarket... truly the customer service made it worth it. And the prices are definitely not outrageous. I think they're fair. Not only that, the cashier ( a young man) was so nice and asked me about what I was making and was genuinely interested. For being part of the Penzey's spice club too, they sent me home with a free small jar of curry powder. From the moment I stepped in the door, to the moment I stepped out, I was taken care. It just feels great to have a REALLY epic Customer Service experience. Cheers to the employees working Feb. 10th at around 5:30pm. :) read more

Visited this store in Feb 2023 for my birthday. Enjoyed trying several spices, and bought a few, but the standout was their cinnamon (Penzey's blend)! Best cinnamon I've ever had - and I used to work for McCormick's! Just ordered more - this time in a larger size because I look for reasons to use it. Only complaint is that it isn't closer to home! read more

I have noticed that the quality is different from previous years. I was stunned to read a political comment on their website. I am not sure why corporations are getting involved in politics instead of giving all the attention to customers. read more

The spice selection at Penney's is excellent! We go through the oregano very quickly and also love the mixed cinnamon sugar. The service is friendly and professional and the store is clean and well-organized. A great shopping experience. read more

Top notch product. If you care enough to cook, do yourself a favor and use Penzey's herbs and spices. I buy all of their different cinnamons, vanilla beans, and am addicted to the French Thyme. Also a great source for stuff that may be difficult to find at your local grocer. I had a recipe that called for chervil and I could not find it anywhere but Penzey's has it. The flavor and aroma of everything I've purchased there has been sublime. read more

Penzey's spices are simply the best quality spices at the best prices! I wish they would open a store in Baltimore!

Love the store for the variety of quality spices available. I have bought the Greek Seasoning for my baked salmon. Since I don't like spicy, I like the sweet curry that Penzeys carry for making chicken or tofu curry. I dropped a star because when I was standing in line to pay, the cashier asked if the person ahead of me if she would like to sign up for their emails and get a free offer. However, she didn't ask me. And as I was putting away my wallet, the person behind me showed an email from her phone and got a free offer. I had to ask what was the offer that everyone was getting. She finally told me. read more

A quaint little spice shop in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Rockville Pike. In addition to selling your average everyday spices, the shop also sells custom created spice blends to add an extra bit of 'oomph' to your culinary creations. I came in to pick up some filé powder for my gumbo... not an easy thing to find, especially around these parts, but they had plenty. The staff was friendly and check out was a breeze. In no time at all, I had what I needed and I was on my way. There are quite a few businesses in this busy little shopping center so parking may be a bit tricky. Pack your patience. read more

Beware of the expiration dates of their products. Spent good money for spices that will go out of date too soon. I would have to pay for return shipping and was told that there is no guarantee of the date of the product. Not for me!!! read more

If you love spices then you'll love this place. Great spot for high quality, bulk and smaller sized spices from across the globe. They aren't allowing in person shopping but you can place an order online and schedule it for pick-up. They have a small bookshelf outside where they place the orders when they're ready for a contact-less hand off. I was having trouble purchasing a gift card online so I called instead. The woman I talked to (Paula) was really nice and even though they had 60+ orders to fill, was able to process my purchase over the phone since it was so small. She had me call when I arrived so she put the card on the shelf as it would've likely blown away otherwise. I was running errands so it was really great that she helped me so quickly and kindly. On the spice side of things, they have black salt, pink salt, sea salt, like five different types of cinnamon and amazing blends. It's great and I recommend checking them out if you don't have a spice spot. read more

One of my favorite spice stores ever. So awesome! Love their product and their values. Also the nicest people there too.

When I first walked in this place it reminded me of the Body Shop, but for the epicure, not your epidermis. It is huge and spacious with spices grouped by categories and arranged on stacked wooden crates. I wandered around aimlessly, not really sure what I wanted. I have several recipes that call for almond extract, so that's where I started. The smallest bottle they carry is 4oz. and $7.35 seemed like a lot to pay until I remembered that Yes! Organic Market carried a 2oz. bottle of vanilla for $4.59, so Evan H. is right; they are reasonably priced. I also purchased some cloves and cinnamon sticks for an awesome warm citrus cider recipe I am excited to make for my guests during the chilly winter months to come. I deducted a star because it would have been nice if the only salesperson in the store wasn't on the phone the entire time I was haplessly wandering around (Maybe I would have bought more if I had his help). read more

I like that I have the option for no-contact pickup at Penzey's. It's a little inconvenient to not be able to go in, but since we live an hour from them, I'd rather pick up than put more packages in the USPS system with shipping. The pick-up area is a crate that you don't have to touch since your order will be in a paper bag with a handle to pick up. Your order is ready within 24 hours of placing and they call when your order is ready so you can go pickup. You're able to text or call when you've arrived for your order if it's not outside already. Your order gets labeled with your name on the bag and they also write "Thank you!" I feel like this system is efficient for getting their spices and sustainable read more

I have been a loyal customer for years now; and have purchased consistently outstanding quality seasonings and spices. I especially appreciate their excellent specials on Items, which are easily ordered online and either delivered or picked up at the store. This is very convenient, of course; but if you really want to enjoy the full Penzeys experience, go inside and mill around. The perfume of the spices is delightful; and the employees are friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. Part of the reason I love this company so much is that they make a point of treating their employees well. The world needs more companies like Penzeys! read more

Get ready for a spicy review... haha see what I did there? Any who, I fell in love with Penzey's online...more specifically on Facebook. Yup I'm one of those crazy millennials. Penzey's views are pretty straight forward and because this is Yelp I'm going to leave them out of the review because I'm not trying to get deleted! The point of bringing up their social media is that they offer freebies and awesome deals. After following them for a while I realized there was a location right down the street... oh the money I would've saved on shipping. I stopped in last weekend and I'm impressed. The store is very well organized and clean. Spices and mixes were in sections that actually made sense! I was able to locate both my baking and cooking needs within minutes. I browsed the rest of the store before checking out and was overly impressed with the prices. In my honest opinion Penzey's spices are top notch which means I'm okay with spending a little more. Unfortunately, I really wanted to buy their vanilla but it was expensive and I couldn't bring myself to buy it. However; if there's a sale going on I will definitely pick it up next time. Penzey's is all over, so not totally a local business but you'll get the local loving feel when you go in. Staff were helpful and very friendly. I even called a couple days after my visit to see if something was back in stock and the woman acted like I was the queen-so polite and informative. Clearly Penzey's knows how to treat their customers to insure they will be back. If you haven't checked this place out and are in need of some kitchen spices stop it. read more

The quality of Penzey spices is disappointing. I have found better spices from other companies and will not purchase from Penzeys again.

This store makes me wax nostalgic over the times of yore when having spices were a sign of wealth. They were rare and would be imported from the far corners of the world. Go, poke around, sniff the jars, and take home something you've never tried before. The best thing about Penzey's? Hard to say. Besides their incredible products, great customer service, and fabulous vibe, they also give away lots of free stuff! Love this store, this company, this family owned business. read more

Service at Penzys is always first rate. Ask any question and they are awesome at responding. And, my experience has been that they know spices. Love the feel of the store too. read more

High quality, excellent selection. I prefer to order online, then pick up in the store. Ensures I order everything I need while staring into my pantry, then I get to walk around the store to discover something new. Smoked paprika, justice, chili 9000, and sunny paris are among my favorites. Around the holidays there is usually an online special where $50 gift cards are $35, in addition to their other wonderful specials. read more

I love this store. It is so welcoming and easy to shop in. Perfect for anyone that wants something to whip up a quick dish to an experienced chef looking for something special. The store is well organized and has a wide variety of spices. There are jars there that welcome you to smell the spice and they are labeled with ideas for how to use them in your everyday cooking. I love how many fun blends they have and how many are salt free. While I love having specialty spices on hand, it's really nice to have a well made blend to jazz up even the simplest of dishes. Today I picked up some Tandoori seasoning, hoping to make a quick Tandoori chicken to go along with some pre-made Indian sides I have at home. Keeping things simple today. It even came with a free bonus spice of Arizona Dreaming (mexican blend) with a promotion they have going on currently. Can't beat that. This store makes me feel inspired. I never walk out empty handed. Stop by and enjoy. read more

Penzeys - Herbs & Spices Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

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This review comes with a caveat. Although the products are good, as a black person, I don't need this company to automatically apply a set of ten free Black Lives Matter stickers to my online purchase. You can remove the stickers before checking out, but they will be automatically added to your cart without your consent. It especially bugs me because as a black woman who shopped here before the pandemic forced the store to do online only orders, I was frequently ignored by middle aged white women who would only help women that looked like them. Just saying--it's hard for me to overlook the hypocrisy. To further point out its hypocrisy, I have a black friend who is a professional chef who frequently bought spices from Penzeys and she had similar experiences with staff, so this was not an isolated case. I mentioned this in an email once to corporate and never got a response back. This was around the same time that Penzeys had told all its customers in an email that if they voted for a particular candidate four years ago, then they could buy their spices elsewhere. Right before the pandemic, I went in and was ignored again, so how seriously does Penzeys expect me take its woke BLM stickers? I'm black and don't need to be reminded by Penzeys that my life matters. Go patronize someone else, or better yet, stick to just selling spices and training staff to be more friendly--that would be great . Thanks! read more

I'm not the type to pamper myself with spa days and I don't wear makeup. Nope, when I need some retail therapy I head to my local spice shop. I can't believe how lucky I am that one of my local spice shops is Penzey's! This shop carries everything a cook might need, running from simple salt and pepper (two or three kinds of each!) to garlic, ginger, juniper berries, and an entire section of cinnamon. They also have an amazing array of blends- some with salt, some without. Their vanilla extract is amazing. The double vanilla is the stuff of dreams. Not only do they have almost everything a cook might want, they also have a group of salespeople who are interested in cooking and who enjoy sharing cooking tips. They hear about so many recipes throughout the day, and share their new knowledge as they learn. What a treat! Penzey's spices have also become my standby gift. I've handed out LOVE boxes at weddings, Soul boxes as housewarming gifts, and even mini boxes (which I packed myself) as end of year teacher gifts. I've only ever had positive feedback, even from people with a limited interest in cooking. As to their politics and their pricing (these honestly go hand in hand) the company's motto is "Love people, cook them tasty food" and they live by the concept that a good meal goes a long way towards building community connections. Their regular emails reflect this concept and are generally filled with political context. Their sales and specials are designed to continue the discussion. Boycott them if you wish, but this past year of politically charged marketing has been their best year ever. read more

Conceptually I love this place. It is like the Disney World of spices. My mantra is "I don't cook. Not that I can't cook--- but I don't." But if I were to cook...I would use the best ingredients I could find. This place makes me dream about having a chef's kitchen and being on Food Network. And I have had purchased some wonderful spices. My favorite is the "Herbs De Provence" And I love receiving their monthly catalogue which is free and has cool recipes. The only reason its not 5 stars is because I recently bought "Mural of Flavor", "Chicago Steak Seasoning" and their "Hot Chocolate" and it was just ok.. But for not mixes (i.e. straight spices) Penzey's runs circles around what you can get from the grocery store. I personally don't think the prices are that astronomical or unreasonable either. read more

Penzeys - Herbs & Spices Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

Placed several orders during the pandemic and have always been thrilled. The process couldn't be easier. Place your order online for pickup and the store will call to confirm a pickup time. Once you arrive, call and they place your order outside on the shelf. Don't forget to sign-up for deals online...the herb/seasonings/kitchen necessities and staff at this store are amazing. Thank me later ;-). read more

During COVID, Penzeys is not allowing customers in store. You have to place your order on the website in advance and pay ahead to pick up your items. Not knowing this, I tried to shop there today, but they aren't admitting customers or taking orders over the phone from your car in the parking lot. Given that the Penzey's web site will provide free shipping for orders over $40, I can't think of any reason to buy from the store right now. I'm also a little stung at being turned away after driving across the county to get there, so I just ended up getting my spices from another retailer. I am not quite ready to shower Penzeys with money right after this negative experience. read more

It all started about 3-ish years ago when we received seasonings and spices as Christmas gifts. Oy, Merry Christmas to us! We've been hooked since. Now we purchase herbs, seasonings, and spices for ourselves and family/friends. Gifts that keep on giving. Yay for this store that's located in a small shopping strip w/reasonable shared parking. Upon entering, take a shopping basket and start at the left side if you're new to the spice world set-up. It's an A-Z layout. Just follow the wall signs. The "featured" or I'm guessing seasonal products are placed near the center checkout counter area. If you're not familiar w/their products, there're catalogs available at the checkout counter to use as a guide. Their Web site is helpful too. Since we're familiar w/Penzeys no guidance was necessary but appreciated the friendly informative helpful staff member. Our mission was simply to restock our low volume goodies. Shopping is complete and as usual we'll return in 2-3 months. read more

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Yes, YELP, I shopped here FIRST-HAND. Got their over-priced Pizza Spice and some Ceylon cinnamon. Went a few times for this specific type of cinnamon, as it's said to be better than typical grocery store variety. Once, I had a very nice sales lady and other times I had very disinterested staff. Other than over-priced average-tasting spices, I hate the company itself. Horrible. The owner sent me unsolicited, skewed political propaganda newsletters, and that forced me to boycott this overpriced company. Plus, their hours are stupid. Closing is too soon after "real world" people get off work. Imagine that: Bill Penzey doesn't get it. I sincerely hope this company goes out of business. The hatred, evil and contempt the owner has for people like me makes me unsettled. I'm happy every time I drive by and see Penzey's business is dead--puts me in a great mood. Bill Penzey made it very clear he HATES anyone who is supportive of our POTUS. Will be getting my Ceylon cinnamon at the cheaper LOCAL market. read more

Top quality spices from a company not afraid to stand up for what they believe in? What's not to love!?!? I've loved their products for years but when they decided they could not stay silent about the current administration's attack in everything good and decent about our country, I became a fanatic. I ordered online before they opened the store in Rockville but nothing compares to being able to smell everything from the sample jars. I've bought so many things I never would have considered just reading about them because they smell SO GOOD. Happily, they taste even better :) read more

Great store! A superb selection of fresh herbs, spices and blends. Everything they sell is also displayed in a sample jar so you can smell what you're buying. Prices seem fair, specially if you get the refill size bags, and they are very helpful. I have no idea how this store stays in business but I'm glad they do. It is a very large store in what seems like a high rent location facing Rockville Pike. It is usually empty when I go in there. If you cook, stop in and support this store! Additionally, it also makes GREAT gifts for the person who has everything. They sell per-assembled gift boxes of various spices and you can also mix up your own. It is a nice box that uses nutmeg, cinnamon and bay leaves as the packing material, which is a high class touch for a fair price. read more

Can I just say how much I love Penzey's??? They are really the best! First off, their staff is super helpful in helping you find a spice you are looking for or picking between spices. Next up - the quality of their herbs and spices. Simply put, they are awesome. Always fragrant and full of flavor. Their herbs de provence is delicious and an amazing addition to everything from chicken to pasta to cottage cheese (I know it sounds weird - but it makes it into this awesome protein packed dip for veggies). Also a huge fan of their "chip dip" for when I'm craving some french onion dip. Their chili powder (the few that I have had) are amazing as you get to pick which level of spice you want. I have had many others, but those just popped into my brain as I was writing this. Most importantly, the values of the owners are brought into the store in many ways. They often give away free small bottles of spices with a minimum purchase to get you to try new ones (hello Arizona seasoning). But, more importantly, they simply do good. They have supporting many causes I believe in. Most recently, they are selling $25 gift cards that are being donated to people who are suffering as a result of a Hurricane Harvey. Except that your $25 is being turned into a $50 gift card AND you get two free spices to try simply for donating. They have made pins that promote kindness and good values that they simply give away. Penzeys has been my spice store for several years and will continue to be in the future. read more