Bulk spices let you buy exactly what a recipe needs: a spoonful of cardamom for one batch of buns, or a full jar of the taco seasoning your family goes through every week. Here's how our bulk spice section works at both stores, what "organic" means on a spice, which blends to try, and how to keep it all fresh, with a holiday baking list to finish. Fresh spices make a bigger difference to everyday cooking than almost anything else in the pantry.
Bulk spices in Halifax: how our section works
Luminate Co is home to Atlantic Canada's largest all-organic bulk station, and organic herbs and spices are a big part of it. You'll find them at both stores, in Bedford and in Dartmouth, stocked in bins and jars you scoop from yourself. That's single spices like cumin, smoked paprika, rosemary and whole cloves, plus seasoning blends for the grill, taco night, pasta and baking. The selection shifts a little with the seasons, and you can view what's stocked online before you visit.
- Bring a clean container. A small jar, an old spice bottle or a paper bag all work. Spices are light, so a little jar holds more than you'd think.
- Weigh it empty. Use the scale before you fill it; that empty weight is the tare. If it's your first visit, ask us to show you how.
- Fill as much or as little as you like. A tablespoon for one recipe is fine. There's no minimum.
- Note the product. Jot down the name or product number so checkout is quick. We take off the container's weight and you pay only for the spice inside.
Our guide to bulk shopping at Luminate covers the rest of the bulk station, from oats and lentils to refills for the laundry room.
A Canadian family maker we love
Many of our bulk spices come from Organic Connections, a Canadian family business founded in 1987 by organic pioneers in Ontario. Around 95% of what they make is certified organic and 99% is kosher certified, and they work with other Canadian companies whenever they can.
Why buy spices in bulk
Buy small, use it up
Ground spices lose their aroma over months. Buying a few weeks' worth at a time means the jar in your cupboard still smells like something when you open it.
Discover something new
Take home a spoonful of five spice or Jamaican seasoning to try before you commit to a whole jar.
Refill your own jar
Bring back the same jar each time. You're not paying for new glass and plastic, and there's nothing to recycle.
Just what the recipe needs
No more half-used jars of something you bought for one dish two years ago.
Organic spices: what the label means
Spices are the dried seeds, bark, roots, buds and fruit of plants grown all over the world; herbs are usually the leaves. Certified organic spices are grown without synthetic pesticides or synthetic fertilisers, and organic rules don't allow irradiation. Many of our bulk blends are also kosher certified. Quality matters with spices because you use so little: a good, fresh jar of cumin or paprika gives you more flavour per pinch than a tired one.
Read the ingredients on blends, too. Some seasonings carry salt, sugar or anti-caking additives, and a few add garlic or onion you might want to know about. The blends in our bulk section are simple mixes of herbs and spices, and several are salt-free, so you can season to taste.
Bulk organicSmoked paprikaCertified organic, sold by weight.Shop →
Organic ConnectionsGround cuminAn everyday spice for chili, curries and dal.Shop →
Organic ConnectionsRosemary, whole leafCertified organic dried herb.Shop →
Organic ConnectionsGround chipotleSmoky heat, kosher certified.Shop →
Spice blends and seasonings to try
A good blend does the measuring for you. These are the seasonings our regulars come back for, and what to cook with them.
| Blend | What's in it | Use it on |
|---|---|---|
| Montreal steak | Coarse salt, cracked pepper, garlic, onion | A rub for steaks, burgers, pork chops, potato wedges |
| Italian | Oregano, rosemary, basil, parsley, marjoram, sage, thyme; no salt | Tomato sauce, pizza, meatballs, dipping oil |
| Taco | Onion, peppers, garlic, chili, cumin, paprika; no salt | Ground meat, beans, tofu, roasted chickpeas |
| Greek | A Greek-style herb and spice mix | Roast chicken, potatoes, lamb, salads |
| Jamaican | Allspice, cassia, thyme, cayenne, jalapeño, nutmeg | Jerk-style chicken, fish, tofu, rice and beans |
| Garam masala | Cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, cumin, pepper | Curries, dal, roasted cauliflower |
| Pumpkin pie | Cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, ginger | Pies, muffins, oatmeal, lattes |
Organic ConnectionsMontreal steak spiceThe coarse, peppery Canadian steakhouse rub.Shop →
Organic ConnectionsItalian seasoningSeven dried herbs, no salt.Shop →
Organic ConnectionsTaco seasoningSmoky, medium heat, no salt added.Shop →
Bulk organicJamaican seasoningA jerk-style mix with a proper kick.Shop →
Other spice blends worth a scoop: lemon pepper for fish and green beans, five spice for stir-fries and braises, garam masala for curries, and Greek seasoning tossed with olive oil and lemon for roast potatoes. The online collection lists what's in the bins, so you can add a few things to your order for delivery or pickup: browse our bulk herbs and spices.
With spices, a small jar you finish beats a big one that fades in the cupboard.
How to store spices so they stay fresh
- Use an airtight jar. Air, light, heat and moisture all dull spices. Exposed to air, spices slowly lose the essential oils that carry their aroma, and direct sunlight fades their colour. Airtight glass or metal containers in a cool, dark cupboard or drawer are ideal.
- Keep it dry. Moisture is the quickest way to spoil a jar. Measure with a dry spoon, and don't shake spices straight over a steaming pot while you're cooking.
- Keep them away from the stove. A rack above the range looks handy, but the heat and steam fade the aroma fast.
- Buy whole when you can. Whole cloves, cumin seed, cardamom and star anise keep their aroma far longer than ground. Grind or crush them as you cook.
- Label and date the jar. Write the name and the month you filled it. As a rough guide, ground spices are at their best in the first year, though they keep for a few; whole spices hold their potency for three to four years. If you buy a larger amount, divide it into small jars and keep the extras sealed.
- Trust your nose. Rub a pinch between your fingers. If it smells faint or dusty, it's time for a fresh scoop.
Good to know
Toast whole spices in a dry pan for a minute or two before grinding, and warm ground spices in a little oil at the start of cooking. Both wake up the aroma.
Holiday baking spices
Holiday baking is when most kitchens run through their spice jars, and it's the best time to buy from the bulk section. Pick up just enough cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves for the cookies, pies and mulled cider on your list, and you'll start the new year with fresh jars instead of leftovers.
Pumpkin pie spice is cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice and ginger, ready to go for pies, muffins, pancakes and whipped cream. Ceylon "true" cinnamon is mild and tan; our guide to Ceylon vs cassia cinnamon explains when to use which. Whole cloves stud a ham, flavour mulled wine and chai, and grind fresh for gingerbread. A little ground nutmeg goes into eggnog, custards and anything with pumpkin. Cardamom seed is lovely in sweet buns and spiced coffee.
Organic ConnectionsPumpkin pie spiceCinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice and ginger.Shop →
Organic ConnectionsCeylon cinnamon, groundMild and tan, organic and kosher.Shop →
Organic ConnectionsWhole clovesKeep their aroma for a year or more, sealed.Shop →
Organic ConnectionsGround nutmegFine ground, for eggnog, pies and stews.Shop →
If you're making hot chocolate for a crowd, a pinch of cinnamon and cardamom in the pot is a treat. Our guide to fair trade chocolate has the bars and cocoa to go with it, and our holiday baking pantry guide covers vanilla, cocoa and natural sprinkles.
Questions we get a lot
Is it cheaper to buy bulk spices?
Often, because you're not paying for a new jar each time, and you only buy what you'll use. The bigger saving is not throwing out stale spices you bought too much of.
Where can I buy bulk spices in Halifax?
Our bulk spice section is at both Luminate Co stores: 486 Starboard Drive in Bedford and 590 Portland Street in Dartmouth. Bring your own clean jars and we'll tare them.
Where can I buy spices in bulk online?
Our bulk herbs and spices are listed online. Order for same-day delivery in HRM or pickup, or have them shipped anywhere in Canada.
What are some common spice blends?
Curry powder, garam masala, Italian seasoning, taco seasoning, Montreal steak spice, five spice, pumpkin pie spice, Cajun seasoning and lemon pepper are the ones most kitchens use.
What does a seven spice blend consist of?
Lebanese seven spice usually combines allspice, black pepper, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, coriander and ginger, though family recipes vary. You can mix your own from single spices in our bulk section.
Are organic spices actually better?
Certified organic spices are grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilisers and can't be irradiated. Many people choose them for that reason; for flavour, freshness matters most.
What is the best organic spice brand?
It depends how you like to buy. For bulk, we love Organic Connections, a Canadian family company. For jars, Simply Organic is a certified organic line from a member-owned co-op.
How long do bulk spices last?
Kept sealed, cool and dark, ground spices are at their best in the first year, and whole spices keep their potency for three to four years. Your nose is the best test.
Looking for a particular spice?
Ask at either store and we'll show you where it lives in the bulk section, help you weigh your jar, or suggest a blend for what you're cooking.
Bulk spices are at both stores: 486 Starboard Drive in Bedford and 590 Portland Street in Dartmouth, open seven days. In HRM, order by 11 am with Luminate Express for same-day delivery, or choose pickup. Anywhere else in Canada, orders over $80 ship free.
Sources: Organic Connections, Who We Are; Organic Connections; Frontier Co-op, About Us; product listings.
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