Oaktown Spice Shop

This nutritious snack is packed with plant protein and savory za’atar! @breadsrsly Classic Sourdough makes crispy pita chips that are delicious dipped in a zesty za’atar hummus- great for those back-from-winter-break lunches. Serve with fresh veggies of your choice for a balanced nosh. Recipe in bio! and recipe: @noshwithmicah

Are you going to be watching the Olympics or the Superbowl this weekend? or ? Either way, it’s a great excuse to make a huge batch of spiced popcorn. We’re big popcorn fans at Oaktown because it’s the perfect game day snack, but also because it’s a great palette for spice experiments! Curry powder adds a beautiful yellow hue to popcorn, and the combination of the savory notes with a touch of honey is pretty addictive. Plus, the honey helps the spice to stick. We love using our Madras Curry Powder, but we encourage you to experiment with any of our curry powders (such as Jamaican, Japanese, Thai or Vadouvan). Recipe linked in bio!

Check out this ambitious menu from @petitelafleursf! If you’re looking for something tasty and sweet for a special little Valentine’s gift, swing by her pop-up at our Albany shop on Sunday, 2/13.

This nutritious snack is packed with plant protein and savory za’atar! @breadsrsly Classic Sourdough makes crispy pita chips that are delicious dipped in a zesty za’atar hummus- great for those back-from-winter-break lunches. Serve with fresh veggies of your choice for a balanced nosh. Recipe in bio! and recipe: @noshwithmicah

We are hiring for production associates! Spread the word. Use the link below to apply. https://oaktownspiceshop.applytojob.com//Production-Associ

Did you know it's easy to transform our Thai Curry blend into a delicious homemade curry paste? For red curry paste, you can mix the spice blend with elements such as tomato paste, shrimp paste, chiles and lime juice. For green curry paste, you can play around with adding other ingredients, such as fresh basil, cilantro, lemongrass, chiles, Makrut lime leaves and shallots.... That's what we did in this recipe for Thai "Green" Curry Meatballs. The paste is a great condiment to keep in the fridge for whipping up a quick dinner. Fry it up and add coconut milk plus your favorite meat or veggie. Adding a touch of sugar to the curry balances the flavor and gets it closer to the traditional version, but it isn't necessary. Find the recipe on our website under recipes! https://oaktownspiceshop.com///thai-green-curry-meatballs

Now that spring is upon us, we're revisiting this delicious recipe from @manoconojostudio. She formulated this Spring Pea and Ricotta Bruschetta with Fines Herbes recipe with spring veggies in mind. While some of this bounty gets relegated to side dishes (think radishes, fava beans, English peas and carrots), the right seasoning can help bring them center stage. With its melange of parsley, chives, tarragon, and chervil, Fines Herbes (pronounced feen airb) is the blend your s...pring produce has been waiting for. Find the recipe on our website under recipes! https://oaktownspiceshop.com//spring-pea-and-ricotta-brusc

We are OPEN til 7 in all three locations. Swing by for some premium, small-batch spices and specialty foods from small producers. Did you know we have a shop in Castro Valley? This shot is from our newest location in @castrovalleymarketplace. While you're here, visit our neighbors @castrovalleynaturalgrocery, @amphoranueva, @baronsmeats_cv or @sevenhillsbakingco!

We are hiring for production associates! Spread the word. Use the link below to apply! https://oaktownspiceshop.applytojob.com//Production-Associ

Premium spices freshly ground in small batches for big flavor. Now it's even easier to stock up on pantry staples or try out new spice blends. Refill bags of all our spices now ship for FREE, even if you order just one. Looking for the bags on our website? Just click on the size menu on a product and choose the bag option from the drop down menu to find the refill bag option. *Please note, custom orders do not qualify for free shipping.

We’ve got a fun collab for National Hot Toddy Day today! Get down to @oaklandchopbar and grab one of these gorgeous and delicious winter warmers (to go!). Featuring @aberfeldy single malt scotch, chamomile honey, and an exclusive spice blend by yours truly! Also, LA folks, kits will be popping up soon @themermaidla ! #thegoldendram #aberfeldy12... : @_jonathanalan_ See more

Good morning vibes courtesy today of @balancedfitnessformoms, whose everyday favorite is Everything ciabatta from Trader Joe’s, light cream cheese, cucumber and a hard boiled egg, topped with our Better than Everything Bagel spice #ftw! : @balancedfitnessformoms

Happy Monday! Today we’re admiring this Zahtar star bread by @nguyeningatlife, made with our Zahtar spice blend. What a beautiful start to the new year. NEW HOURS: We had extended hours during the holidays, but this week our Oakland and Albany shops are going back to being open 10am-5pm daily. Our Castro Valley shop is open 9am-7pm daily. See you soon!... : @nguyeningatlife

Happy New Year! We love seeing how you are spicing up your first meals of 2021! @arillira made Gravlax + natural levain bagels with @coastalseafoodsmn salmon & @oaktownspice Zahtar. For their curing blend they used pink and white peppercorns, fennel, caraway, dill, and @linieaquavit_official aquavit. : @arillira

We’re CLOSED tomorrow, but we’re here for you today for your New Year’s Eve Zoom Dance Party needs! Having cocktails? We’ve got tonic kits and cocktail syrups. Or come grab some chili powder and make it a big pot o’ chili kind of night. Thanks to all who helped us donate more than $1800 for @accfb, the Alameda County Community Food Bank in December! Just a reminder that all donations made today before midnight will be matched, dollar-for-dollar up to $100,000, thanks to Kaiser Permanente Southern Alameda County.

Today is the last day of our December donation drive for @accfb, the Alameda County Community Food Bank. We’re donating $1 per order every Wednesday of the month. So far, we’ve raised more than $1,500! The COVID-19 pandemic has doubled the need for food assistance. The food bank has increased distribution sites and provides emergency food bags with shelf-stable groceries. All the dollars stay local, and right now all donations will be matched, dollar-for-dollar up to $100,000, thanks to Kaiser Permanente Southern Alameda County.

Loving this beautiful Spiced bí (kabocha) sourdough by @banhderella. Inspired by the Pumpkin Cinnamon Sourdough Bread from @maurizio but with roasted kabocha puree, kabocha pieces mixed throughout, and @oaktownspice pumpkin pie spice. Also, quick side note: our online store pickup system is being buggy today. We’re open for front door service, or you can call the shops and arrange for a pickup by phone! Sorry for the inconvenience.... : @banhderella See more

*A little update* Thanks to all of you, Oaktown Spice Shop is surviving in spite of the changes the pandemic has wreaked upon our economy and our lives. We are really grateful. Through a combination of shipping, online ordering for pickup and front-door service, we've been able to continue supplying your kitchens with delicious flavors. We've been delighted to talk to folks again about our recommendations, both at the front door or counter, by email or phone, or through ...our staff picks in our newsletter. Some of you have asked when we will be reopening for in-store shopping and browsing again. We have decided that we will remain closed for in-store shopping through at least the end of 2020. While we deeply miss providing the sensory experience that we used to, not to mention the hustle and bustle of a busy shop, we made this decision primarily to protect our staff and ease their concerns about exposure to the virus. We are strategizing and planning so that we can return to in-store shopping in 2021 in a way that is as safe and fun as possible. Next year will be the tenth anniversary of our business and reopening will be a fitting celebration. Thank you all again for your continued support and patience as we figure things out. We wouldn't be here without you! : @scokitchen See more

Taking Sunday night warm-up cues from @cibodellabaia, who posted these somen noodles with bok choy and mushrooms, topped with our Ume-Shiso Furikake. Recipe from @nytcooking. : @cibodellabaia

Comfort food, anyone? Our friends at @edibleeastbay put together a delicious spread of burgers, fries and sundae recipes featuring Oaktown spices to celebrate the opening of @castrovalleymarketplace. (In case you hadn't heard, we opened a new location in Castro Valley this summer!) Browse through this e-book to find recipes for Ras el Hanout Spiced Lamb Burgers, Spicy Oven Fries with Montreal Steak & Chop or Grand Lake Shake, a Mixed Green Salad with Balsamic Merlot Dress...ing featuring our Merlot Salt, or the CV Sundae featuring our Espresso Sea Salt. https://indd.adobe.com//194e7af8-5b7a-468e-8b72-c50a844797 Special thanks to chef/photographer @judydohertyphotography! : @judydohertyphotography

Feliz Día de Los Muertos! About 20 years ago, I spent Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) in Ocotepec, Mexico. This small town near Cuernavaca is renowned for its rich celebration of the holiday, with preparations beginning months ahead of time. As we walked in the procession through the dark streets, people opened their homes or gardens to visitors to view their ofrendas -- altars to their deceased loved ones.... The ofrendas were the most elaborate I had ever seen, including effigies of the deceased dressed in their old clothes and candlelit paths strewn with marigolds. As we visited, residents offered us piping hot tamales and mugs of steaming coffee or champurrado, a drinking chocolate prepared with masa harina (corn flour) and cinnamon. Thick and rich, with earthy notes of corn and an almost porridge-like texture, champurrado is a comforting accompaniment to a chilly evening. Find the recipe on our website or in our stories! #diadelosmuertos See more

Today, Castro Valley Shop Manager Charlotte shares a recipe for cinnamon sugar-dusted sweet potato empanadas, perfect for celebrating Día de los Muertos. Find the recipe on our website on in our stories! We love empanadas in my household, and what’s not to love? The buttery crunch of pastry, your favorite fillings, they're not too big, but small enough that you can eat two (or more...), and still feel good about it! You can even get away with whipping up a batch of cream..., and dunking these lovelies! To help you celebrate Día de los Muertos, I chose sweet potatoes as a perfect autumnal filling, but you could also select pumpkin or butternut squash. I paired those with some of my all-time favorite warming spices, and used the caramel flavor of Piloncillo for some sugary deliciousness. My seven-year old assures me that they are better than she expected, and wonders when we will make more! They fill me with childhood memories of baking with my Grandma, a time to relish her homemade food; while remembering the flavors of cinnamon, ginger and cloves that would fill her small farm kitchen. The final blend of sweet potato, Piloncillo, cinnamon, anise, cloves, ginger and a sparkle of nutmeg will give you and yours a big, warm hug with time to remember all the family and friends who have been there to spice up your life. #diadelosmuertos See more

Collab time! Our neighbors @comalberkeley have a brand new seasonal cocktail on the menu today! Tell-Tale Heart features a fall-spiced feijoa syrup made from fruit from chef @mattgandin backyard tree, plus spices from @oaktownspice : star anise, cinnamon and cloves. Enjoy it while it lasts! #oaktownspiceshop #comalnextdoor #comalnextdooroakland #comalberkeley #telltaleheart #eastbay

Today, Oaktown co-owner John shares his method for roasted pumpkin seeds! https://oaktownspiceshop.com//recipes/roasted-pumpkin-seeds ... From John: This time of year has always held a special place in my heart. Growing up, Halloween was something to look forward to during the beginning of the school year. Carving pumpkins, raking leaves, and trick-or-treating generated lots of excitement. Now that I am a parent, I get to see how it still excites the newest generation. The aroma of roasting pumpkin seeds coming from the kitchen reminds me of all the wonder and anticipation I felt as a kid around this holiday. As an avid pumpkin seed fan, I have fine-tuned my roasting technique to get the crispy, salty, and toasty results that dentists probably hate but floss manufacturers love. When you're trying to decide what to season your pumpkin seeds with, stay away from things that might burn in the roasting process like dried herbs. The tried and true flavors like salt and freshly cracked pepper will never disappoint, but really pumpkin seeds are really very receptive to most flavors. Cinnamon sugar and melted butter is a new one for me, but it really turned out tasty and with a pinch of salt you'll get a sweet-salty effect like a salted caramel. My 7-year-old's favorite was Madras Curry Powder with a pinch of salt. The Shichimi Togarashi with salt gave each bite an exciting burst of orange, or sesame, or chile. My favorite, though, was all of them mixed together like an all pumpkin seed Chex mix - sweet, salty, flavorful and all crispy. #halloweenrecipes #pumpkinseason

@customfitsf ‘s preparation of creamy red lentil dal with collard greens, ghee-toasted spices, a swirl of yogurt and fresh herbs and lime has us dreaming of Sunday night dinner already! Featuring @oaktownspice cumin, coriander and dill seeds. : @customfitsf

Today, lead spice associate @crissellejoy5 shares her Oaktown Staff Picks! Hi! My name is Crisselle. I'm a first-generation, Filipina-American with a love for food, art, health, and nature. I love food experimentation and adapting meals to unique diets (vegan, vegetarian, paleo, Whole30, keto, etc.). I've been a lead spice associate in Castro Valley for almost three months, but I've been a customer of Oaktown Spice Shop for at least five years. Here are some of my favorite... Oaktown spices to play with. 01. Kashmiri Red Pepper Powder: Kashmiri has made me more inclined to spicy flavors. This has become my go-to when I want to add an unexpected spicy POP to food and drinks, specifically my morning bulletproof mochas. I’ve also used it to create a sweet and spicy raspberry jam filling in chocolates. 02. Zahtar: One of my favorite savory go-tos. I LOVE the zesty tanginess of the sumac, the herbaceousness of the thyme, marjoram, and oregano, and the added depth of flavor from toasted sesame. I put this on eggs, avocados, potatoes, tofu, non-dairy cream cheese and bread. The list goes on. 03. Ground Cardamom: This is one of my favorite flavors in desserts. I LOVE the floral, pungent smell of cardamom. I’ve used it in baklava, ice creams and cakes. My favorite way to use it is in a fruity pebbles whipped cream (dairy or non-dairy) combined with Saigon cinnamon, Tahitian vanilla extract and/or vanilla bean powder (for that beautiful bean speckle!), a sweetener, and fresh orange and lemon zest and juice. See more

For this salad & avocado toast, @cruzcookingcreations made the simplest dressing: a couple Tbsps extra virgin olive oil + a Tbsp @oaktownspice Zahtar seasoning + a squeeze or two of lemon juice. That was then drizzled over the avo toast & tossed in with the salad (farmers market greens, cucumbers, pears, tomatoes from the garden). Perfect! : @cruzcookingcreations

The talented @chef_suzyo brings us this recipe for slow-cooked birria, inspired by her trip to Mexico last year. Toasted chiles and roasted tomatoes create a rich broth perfect for dipping a charred tortilla. "Last August I booked a trip to Mexico City," Changa said. "I immediately fell in love with the culture, people and of course the food. "I ventured out to a few other states to experience the beautiful country. One of my favorite places I visited was Jalisco, the bir...thplace of birria. The spices recreates my experience in Mexico, from the smell and the robust flavors that can be created in your kitchen!" We met @chefsuzyo on IG because she has been sharing all the delicious creations she whips up with our spices. Our mouths were watering so much we knew we needed to collaborate. She’s a private chef and caterer, so follow her and hit her up for your cheffing needs! Find the recipe on our website under recipes! See more

We are officially open for orders at the door at our Oakland and Albany shops from 12pm to 5pm! Our new Castro Valley location offers counter service from 9am to 7pm. So if you're in the neighborhood and just want that paprika for tonight's dinner, you are in luck! The details:... Please bring a shopping list if possible so we can prepare your order and keep lines to a minimum. In-store browsing and shopping are not possible at this time. We are selling all of our spices in prepackaged jars and bags in the sizes available on our website. We cannot accept any cash payments. Please wear a face covering. We still highly encourage (and are truly grateful for) store pickup orders placed ahead of time on our website. Select store pickup and your desired pickup location at online checkout. Pickup orders placed by 5pm will be available by noon the next day. An automated email will be sent to you when your order is ready for pickup. Thank you and stay spicy! : @malcolmwallacephotography

LA folks, get yourself to @proofbakeryla for black sesame financiers with @oaktownspice seeds. Limited batches daily! : @proofbakeryla