It's a small store, as one might expect in Lexington. They have a good variety of Indian/Nepali…read morefood, including some pretty rad chili peppers and a variety of nuts and beans. A few fresh vegetables were on offer as well, including some you wouldn't see in a big box grocery store. The people working there were very chatty and interested to see what I'd do with my hot peppers. I'll find something good.

If your looking for Indian/Nepali mart with a little bit of everything then this is your place. The…read morecenter its in is old and kinda run down and they currently do not have a sign like most of the other stores in this center. If you are looking for something check them out. The owners are nice and are willing to help you and even order it if they can get it.

Just found this place and am so glad I did! Lots of wholesome natural choices and the woman there…read more the day I visited was super helpful and I came away with exactly what I was looking for and a little bit more. They have a small, nicely presented fresh vegetable and fruit selection and I got some super yummy beets. I'll be back for sure!

Happy Meadow is my go-to shop for supplements in Berea. The staff is very helpful and knowledgeable…read moreabout their products. I also appreciate that they carry some organic and local produce. In the winter they carry beautiful organic pears which are hard to find in grocery stores.

I've been following Simply Seedlings on Instagram for sometime now. Finally I got a chance to try…read moretheir microgreens! Wow! Not only do they grow and supply their microgreens right here in Lexington, I'm confident that they are the best! Today I met a bunch of friends for a ritual brunch, this time a Mintons. One of my friends was quick to point out the micro cilantro. Then it dawned on me, I remember Simply Seedlings mentioning on IG that they supply those greens to Mintons! I wasn't positive about it, so I later confirmed that they were in fact their seedlings. Before I could go back and rave to my friend, she'd already shouted out the greens in her five star review of Mintons. I too had the Huevos Rancheros, and I can attest, those Simply Seedlings were more than simply, they literally made the dish! Kudos to Mintons for using those locally sourced greens. Genius! They also make custom blends and offer live trays. Look them up and reach out on Instagram. The owners are a pair of Transy grads, passionate about good quality microgreens.

This place has literally hundreds of herbs and spices, not to mention herbal teas and different…read morekinds of salt! So glad to have a place like this in Eastern Kentucky.

Walnut Leaf Country Market in Camargo is about an hour from Lexington. This Amish store has a…read morewealth of goodies to take home --- produce, baked goods, meat, etc. If you're there around lunchtime, you can get a freshly made sandwich. The Tuesday special was a pulled pork sandwich. I took it outside to eat. Not very good, I'm afraid. Probably should have gone with a sandwich. Had I brought a cooler, I would have bought some perishables. I bought a loaf of sourdough bread and a jar of bear jam. On the way home I drove through Mt. Sterling, a rural little town that makes Lexington look like the big city. 62

This place is a little gem. It has flowers for sale aligning the outside. Inside they have a deli…read moreand sell Amish baked goods and spreads. They sell locally canned items and meats. I stopped in here on this day with my sister to see what this was about. We bought pimento cheese, crackers, locally made beef jerky, and some spices. It was great. If you are in the area, I would suggest to stop in and see what goodies you can find.

Stumbled upon this little shop while exploring downtown New Albany. I was immediately greeted and…read moreshown around the store. From spices to salts to sugars and teas this place has it all. I had no idea how many types/varieties of sugars and salts existed until today. Every product had a corresponding jar beside it, which you could open to smell (this was really helpful). I ordered a large Lemon and Cherry Tea, it was refreshing. I like that they have sampler sets, which reduce the costs if you were to buy the items individually. The prices are on the higher side but they do advertise their products as "fine spices, herbs, blends, salts, teas". I picked up 1oz of the Crazy Chicken Seasoning and 2oz of the Dragon Fruit Fusion Herbal tea. My partner chose 1.5 oz of Pineapple Sugar, 1.5 oz of cranberry Orange Sugar and pineapple upside down maple syrup 8.45 oz. Our total with my tea came out to $60.43 after tax. While I can't afford to shop here regularly, this place is a perfect stop for someone needing to pick up a gift for any occasion. The shop was organized well and inviting to newbies.

A Lesson in "Local" vs. Franchise: My Experience at The Spice & Tea Exchange…read more I'm writing this not from anger, but from concern for fellow consumers who prioritize supporting truly local businesses and expect quality products backed by genuine customer service. What I Thought I Was Supporting When I visited The Spice & Tea Exchange during their grand opening, I was delighted. The boutique aesthetic, the owner's involvement, the community feel--everything suggested an independent, locally-owned shop. As someone who intentionally supports local businesses over chains, I became a repeat customer, purchased multiple items, and referred others. The Quality Issues I experienced problems with two different teapots: First purchase: A yellow stoneware teapot infuser with a design flaw--a tiny screw that constantly came loose, making the lid crooked and unstable. The store provided a replacement (the glass teapot), which I appreciated. The exchange: I chose this BEAUTIFUL glass teapot infuser as replacement. Within a short time, this teapot cracked while I was washing it in the sink--not dropping it, not exposing it to temperature shock, just routine cleaning. I own numerous glass items--French presses, teapots, bowls--many for years without issue. I've even accidentally dropped glass items that didn't break. Quality glassware does not spontaneously crack during gentle washing. The Customer Service Breakdown August 2025: Since I do not live in New Albany and wasn't sure when I would be able to make it back to the physical location, I sent a detailed email to the New Albany location. No response. October 2025: I contacted corporate through their website. Customer service (Toni) was sympathetic and promised a replacement. However, she stated: "Since our stores are independently owned and operated franchise stores, if you would like a refund or credit, contact the store directly." Three months later: No replacement ever arrived. December 2025 in-person: I explained everything to owner Kellyjean Gettelfinger. She told me "glass breaks" and that their in-store containers also break "for no reason." She said she'd "be the one losing money" if she helped, and asked what I expected her to do. No accommodation was offered--no exchange, store credit, or goodwill gesture despite my being a repeat customer who referred others. The Franchise Reality The Spice & Tea Exchange is a franchise. It may be owned by a local resident, but operates under corporate structure that fundamentally changes the business: Quality Control: The owner likely can't source better products. Franchise agreements typically mandate approved vendors and products--explaining why she knows their containers break but can't change suppliers. Customer Service Limitations: You're caught between franchise owner and corporate--neither takes full responsibility. Corporate says "contact the store," the store says they'll lose money helping you, and you're left with a broken product. Where Your Money Goes: Your money splits between the local owner, franchise fees to corporate, and corporate-mandated suppliers (often out of state)--very different from a Mom and Pop where revenue stays in the community. Decision-Making Authority: Independent owners can take a loss on defective items to preserve relationships. Franchise owners operate within corporate constraints and seem less empowered to prioritize customer satisfaction. What Quality Retailers Do Reputable glassware companies (Pyrex, Bodum, Ball, Le Creuset) stand behind products with warranties. Quality retailers source products they trust, warn customers about limitations, offer guarantees, or stop carrying problematic items. When glass breaks during normal use, it's defective. A responsible retailer addresses this, not dismisses it. For Fellow "Buy Local" Consumers "Locally owned" and "local business" aren't always the same. A franchise may be owned locally and employ local people (so does Walmart), but the business model, decision-making power, and revenue flow differ fundamentally from independent businesses. If supporting truly local businesses matters--where owners have full autonomy, money stays in the community, and customer relationships are prioritized--ask whether a business is independently owned or a franchise. I believed I was supporting a local owner who would stand behind products and value customer relationships. Instead, I encountered corporate constraints without corporate accountability, unresolved quality issues, and dismissive responses to legitimate concerns. I don't write this to attack anyone personally, but because I care about where my money goes and what business practices I'm supporting. I hope this helps others make informed decisions and encourages all businesses to prioritize quality and customer care. Documentation available: Emails from August and October 2025 if needed. I wish I had photos, unfortunately I threw away or gave back what I had.

Love it. Logan Street Market has had a lot of turnover, perhaps the expected amount given its…read morecircumstance. Highly successful businesses have outgrown the market and moved on to standalone businesses. And other shops have fizzled out. But I'm thrilled that Colonel De's has been a mainstay in this spot. Colonel De's is not a big chain, but they are a little one. The original is in Findlay Market in Cincinnati, and as of this writing there's also a satellite across the river in Newport. Colonel De's also does a mail order business, but that's it for offices. And the spices are great. They make a lot of their own blends and they have pretty much all the basics. They are not as cheap as some of the crap you can find at the grocery store, but they are definitely a notch better. And I'm pretty sure they look affordable when compared to some national chains. My favorite aspects, besides the convenience of coming here, include the fact that you can bring your own container, and the experience more generally that the people they've had working here have always been very helpful and approachable. Friendly place, great spices, super convenient, and you can grab an arepa or a bagel or a beer while you're running your errand. Skip the spice aisle at Kroger. Come here and get better stuff.

Located inside Logan Street market, this cute little booth sells herbs and spices…read more They have different areas in their booth, and the spices are labeled accordingly. There are areas for different types of meat, like chicken, pork, beef. There are also soup mixes. And even dip mixes! I have gotten a few spice packets for myself before, and plan to get a gift set as a gift for a dirty Santa. I think it would make a perfect Christmas gift for those who love to cook, or those who generally love to experiment.

Galena Garlic Co. was a favorite find during my recent trip to Madison…read more GGC has such a wide selection of flavored balsamic vinegars and olive oils, as well as spices, spice blends, pasta and more. And the selection was also organized in such an intuitive way. I was on the lookout for champagne vinegar for my husband -- something fun we had recently seen on a YouTube cooking video. I was able to find this on my own rather quickly. I love that we were able to walk around and try several of these too. I ended up buying a small bottle of peach balsamic vinegar based on the sample I tasted. I can't wait to try it on salads. The staff was helpful and told us they also ship. Every aspiring home chef should visit this shop.

A great selection of vinegars and oils that are reasonable priced. There are sample cups…read moreeverywhere, so you don't have to wait on someone to serve samples to you. They also had some very interesting flavors like smoked olive oil and grilled lemon balsamic. My reason for it being only a four-star review is that...there wasn't a lot of garlic? With "Garlic" right in the name of the shop, we were expecting tons and tons of garlic things. There were a few, but no more than you'd find in a regular oil and vinegar shop.