The most important ingredient in your kitchen is often the one you shouldn't find on the label at all. While the industry relies on cheap fillers and artificial enhancers, true enjoyment usually takes a backseat. You stand in front of the shelf, looking for inspiration for your next sauce with fresh tomatoes, and in the end, only a dusty spice blend ends up in your shopping basket again. The result tastes flat, loses all aroma after a few weeks, and disappoints your high standards at the stove.
We understand this frustration. You don't want compromises, but pure passion on the plate. In this guide, you will learn exactly how to find the ideal blend for your culinary experiments and how to immediately recognize genuine artisanal quality. We will show you the way to real restaurant quality in your own kitchen. You will get full confidence in the dosage and learn why artisanal purity makes all the difference. We take a look at the current standards of the Food Information Regulation and show you how to read labels like a pro. Finally put an end to bland, one-size-fits-all food.
Key Takeaways
- Learn how to immediately recognize purity on the label and what the designation before the ingredients list reveals.
- Find the ideal spice blend for every occasion, from Mediterranean accents for tomatoes to exotic highlights like Madras Curry.
- Discover the world of umami and traditional recipes like the Salzburg fried potato seasoning for real restaurant quality at home.
- Learn why the space above the stove is taboo for your spices and how proper storage permanently protects the full aroma.
- Choose the right can size from XS to XL to ensure maximum freshness and flexibility for your culinary experiments.
What sets a first-class spice blend apart from industrial products
Who buys cheap, seasons expensively. In many supermarket shelves, you will find cans where salt and sugar play the main role. A high-quality spice blend from STAY SPICED ! instead relies on spices and herbs as flavor carriers. Each can is a concentrate of essential oils and carefully selected raw materials. We consistently refrain from anything that only simulates the taste instead of delivering it.
But what actually makes up the core? What is a spice blend? According to the guidelines for spices, a spice blend consists only of spices. If salt, sugar, or other ingredients are added, it is called a spice preparation or seasoning salt – the designation before the ingredients list tells you the classification. Salt or sugar are not a flaw here: Sometimes they round off the taste or make a blend evenly and well usable. In our manufactory, founded in the heart of Salzburg and now located in Moosdorf in the Innviertel, there is a lot of manual work involved. We do not grind everything into a fine powder; we preserve the structure of the herbs and seeds. Craftsmanship for us means that we carefully check every batch before it leaves our manufactory.
Protecting these precious treasures is crucial for the cooking result. Light and air are the greatest enemies of any spice blend. That is why we consistently use the white tin can. It is lightproof and protects the valuable essential oils from evaporating. This way, the intensity is preserved, whether you are cooking a fiery chili or a fine sauce for your tomatoes.
Anti-caking agents and carriers: Do spices need them?
Anti-caking agents are intended to prevent ground spices and salt from clumping. They are not needed for the taste. We therefore refrain from them – just as from MSG, flavor enhancers, and colorings. Which ingredients are in a blend, you always see in the ingredients list.
Spice blend vs. seasoning salt: Know the difference
Sometimes you need the pure power of the herbs, sometimes the perfectly balanced package. A pure blend gives you full control over the salt content of your dishes. A seasoning salt, on the other hand, saves time and delivers the balance right away. Our Amore is the best example of this harmony and seasons fish, chicken, and veal in one step.
Your selection guide: Which spice blend is right for your occasion?
You stand before the agony of choice. Which aroma really takes your dish to the next level? A well-thought-out spice blend is your tool for precise taste. Start with the Mediterranean classics. Aglio & Peperoncino brings the necessary heat to your pasta; Italian herbs refine every sauce made from sun-ripened tomatoes.
Fancy something exotic? Chakalaka or Madras Curry will take you to South Africa or India in terms of taste. For the daily base, high-quality soup powders are indispensable. A real beef soup or vegetable soup without yeast extract forms the foundation for sauces and stews. When it gets colder outside, you reach for seasonal highlights. Pimp my Pumpkin turns every pumpkin into a feast; our Duck and Goose Seasoning ensures the perfect roast on the holidays.
Grilling and BBQ: Rubs for real smoker fans
A rub is more than just salt. You massage this dry marinade directly into the meat. It forms an aromatic crust when smoking, the so-called bark. Try our Crispy Chicken for poultry. You get a perfect crust, completely without a deep fryer. Look at our grilling spices in detail and find your favorite.
Vegetarian and Vegan: Rediscover vegetables
Vegetables are no longer just a side dish. With the right grilled vegetable seasoning, you transform simple root vegetables or celery into the star of the evening. A special tip for plant-based proteins is the BIO Roland Trettl Sojami Mediterran. It gives tofu or soy exactly the seasoning that is often missing. This way, meatless cuisine tastes modern and intense.
Our top recommendations: You must try these blends
No more boredom on the palate. Who is looking for real quality needs character in the can. Our favorites are not mass-produced; they are precisely composed taste experiences. Let's start with the fifth dimension: Umami. This spice blend is your secret for sauces with incomparable depth. It underlines the natural taste of meat and vegetables, completely without flavor enhancers. It is about this pleasant, savory feeling in the mouth that you otherwise only know from haute cuisine.
A real local favorite is our Original Salzburg Fried Potato Seasoning. Here, marjoram and caraway play the main role. This combination is classic, honest, and unbeatable. But think beyond just the side dish. Try it with freshly roasted chanterelles. You will be amazed. For fish lovers, we have reinterpreted the Bruschetta Green Olive. Use it as a marinade. The salty note of the olive harmonizes perfectly with tender fish fillet. For the sweet moments, TNT Sugar provides. Tonka bean meets fine Tahiti vanilla. An explosive blend for your baked goods that impresses every guest.
Behind each of these products is an uncompromising quality standard. Purity is our highest commandment.
Dips and spreads in no time
Fast cooking does not have to be bland. Our Sour Cream spice blend transforms simple quark into a gourmet dip. Perfect as a base for your salad dressing. A little insider tip for maximum intensity: Let Aglio & Peperoncino steep briefly in a swallow of hot water. This activates the aromas before they enter the dip. Discover our entire selection for dips now and make more out of your snacks.
Potato Love: From Wedges to Puree
Potatoes are the heroes of Austrian cuisine. Our French Fries & Wedges seasoning ensures the perfect crust. Whether as a crispy side dish or as a snack from the oven: the taste is convincing. The fried potato seasoning is so versatile that it even takes your puree to a new level. Try it out and become a potato pro.
Buy and store correctly: How to ensure the full aroma
Who buys cheap often seasons off target. Buying a high-quality spice blend starts with choosing the right quantity. We therefore offer you variants from XS to XL. Why is that important? Because freshness in culinary means everything. An occasional cook does not need a giant package that loses its aroma over the years. A passionate grill master, on the other hand, reaches for the XL can for the next big BBQ evening. Choose the size that really fits your cooking rhythm; this way, the taste always stays at the maximum.
Once you have made your selection, the space in your kitchen is crucial. Never place your cans directly above or next to the stove. The rising steam is the natural enemy of any spice blend. Moisture makes the herbs clump and robs the spices of their valuable essential oils. Find a cool, dry, and dark place. Our white tin cans do the rest. They protect the contents from light and are manufactured in Austria. You can learn more about this on our screw-top can.
Are you still looking for a suitable gift for connoisseurs? Forget the obligatory bottle of wine. An elegant spice set brings joy for much longer and ensures real aha moments at the dinner table.
Checklist for your spice purchase
- Read the designation and the ingredients list: spice blend, spice preparation, or seasoning salt? Are flavor enhancers, yeast extract, or aroma listed?
- Check origin and processing: The more precisely the origin and ingredients are stated, the better you know what is in the can.
- Pay attention to the packaging: Avoid light-permeable plastic shakers; a white tin can protects the aroma from light.
Your path to premium enjoyment
STAY SPICED ! stands for uncompromising quality and culinary expertise. We combine the knowledge of professional gastronomy with pure enthusiasm for domestic cuisine. Discover all spice blends in the STAY SPICED ! Shop now and bring restaurant quality directly to your own stove.
Time for real taste in your kitchen
You now have the tool in your hand to take your cooking skills to a new level. An honest spice blend impresses with purity and carefully selected raw materials. You now know exactly how to read labels and protect your aromas from moisture. It is no longer just about seasoning; it is about creating moments that stay in memory.
We accompany you on this journey with over 500 spices and blends. Everything without additives, without flavor enhancers, and without anti-caking agents, directly from our manufactory in Moosdorf to your home. From a purchase value of €49, we ship your favorites to Austria and Germany free of charge.
Bring the world of aromas into your kitchen – Discover spice blends now
Frequently asked questions about our spices
What is the difference between a spice blend and a spice preparation?
A spice blend consists exclusively of spices; a spice preparation contains at least 60 percent spices and additionally other flavoring ingredients such as salt, sugar, or oils. This is regulated in the guidelines for spices of the German Food Code. Which variant you have before you is revealed by the designation on the label.
Why do spices clump without anti-caking agents and what can I do about it?
Ground spices and salt attract moisture. Without anti-caking agents, this can therefore lead to clumps during temperature fluctuations or after a long period of storage. Simply shake the can vigorously or loosen the contents with a clean spoon – it does not change the taste.
How long do spice blends last in the can?
The best before date is on every label and varies from product to product. Rule of thumb: Finely ground spices lose their aroma faster than whole ones, and well closed, everything lasts longer. Store the can cool and dry and never directly above the steaming stove.
Can I also use spice blends for cold dishes like dips or quark?
You can use almost every spice blend from our assortment for cold dishes like quark dips, herb butter, or dressings. The only important thing is the time for the aromas to develop. Let the blend steep for about 15 minutes in the moist mass. This way, the dried herbs and spices can give their full flavor profile to the dip.
Which spice blend is best suited as an all-rounder for beginners?
Our Umami blend or a classic Mediterranean seasoning like Sapore di Maremma are ideal entry products. These all-rounders fit meat, vegetables, and sauces equally well and take away the uncertainty during the first tasting. Which spices should not be missing in any kitchen, you read in our guide Spice Essentials.
