If you’re an Australian who is at all interested in cooking, chances are you’ve heard of Herbie’s Spices.
Started by Ian and Liz Hemphill decades ago, this successful supplier of herbs and spices now distributes its products throughout Australia. Their one and only retail store is based in the Sydney suburb of Rozelle, which is thankfully only a short drive from our place.
The shop is quite small, but jam packed with treasure. It’s been there for as long as I can remember – in the late 90s, the original Tetsuya’s restaurant was located just a few doors down. There are oodles of gift packs for sale…
Nearly every imaginable dried herb and spice is available in either thick plastic bags or jars – the photo below shows less than a third of what’s on offer…
Behind the counter is a sample of every product; customers are encouraged to sniff and examine before buying…
This giant sheaf of cinnamon is a permanent fixture, and is probably worth a fortune!
Herbie’s products aren’t cheap, but they are always fresh, aromatic and of the highest quality. For us, the biggest drawcards are the spice blends – their Chermoula and Mexican mixes are our kitchen staples, and their (sweet) Mixed Spice is the best I’ve ever tried. They also do a Smoked Paprika which is out of this world, and offer scores of unusual items, like the Australian Bush Tomatoes in the photo below, Grains of Paradise (Melegueta Pepper) and Tonka Beans.
If you’re ever in Rozelle, Herbie’s Spices is definitely worth a visit. Ian and Liz Hemphill are a couple of the nicest people you’ll ever meet, and they’re often manning the counter on Saturdays!
. . . . .
Herbie’s Spices
745 Darling Street
ROZELLE NSW 2039
Mon-Fri 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sat 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Sun 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
(02) 9555 6035
www.herbies.com.au
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
Celia, couldn’t agree more. Ian (Herbie) and Liz are the loveliest people! I had the huge pleasure of meeting them and welcoming them to Canberra on numerous occasions when I co-owned the cooking school with my colleague. Herbie’s products are indeed the highest quality and Ian is a legend when it comes to knowing his stuff! I have a spice box full of Herbie’s and refresh it all regularly.
Lizzy, aren’t they just so nice? All the people who work in the shop are as well, especially the gorgeous Tammy who works there on Sundays. I think that’s the big thing that’s kept us shopping there all these years – the product is amazing, but it’s the super-nice people who’ve always worked in the shop that has kept us going back.
Celia, love the spices, bought his mother’s first book at a second hand shop recently in Tas. Should be a collectors item for sure, left it in Tasmania but treasure it all the same.
Trying to fit in a visit with you when I come down next 18 May to do photo course with Dario via Lorraine NQN. Will contact you soon to check your availability. Do I get a prize if first to comment on your post, just joking.
It would be lovely to catch up if you have time, Roz! Maybe we should meet at Herbie’s, and we can grab a meal at La Grande Bouffe across the road?
Oh no someone got in before me!!
You get a prize anyway. I just have to think of one.. :)
Yes I love that they have lots of mexican dried chillis and even Ancho powder. As you say not cheap but available and without bugs!
http://www.mykitchenstories.com.au
I picked up a packet of Ancho chillies yesterday as well, Tania! Such a lovely selection they have, and as you say, everything is always fresh and clean! Quality control is very high..
Celia, I agree best spices you can buy as far as I’m concerned.
Have you tried the beetroot powder? It’s very good.
Elaine, I remember buying the beetroot powder once before, but didn’t end up using it for much. What do you do with it? Also, do you have a blog? I’d love to link to it..
Celia, I don’t have the blog organised yet!
I’ve used the powder in a beetroot and chocolate cake, tandoori or asian dishes when you want extra red colouring.
Actually, I must get some, because I’ve been meaning to try and make some pink marshmallows! Thanks for the inspiration! :)
Fresh spices are essential. After breaking several pepper grinders I just bought a small amount of black peppercorns from a new small producer. What a difference to the flavour and grind. A lovely shop to visit – I’ve never seen cinnamon in that quantity – ever!
Sally, fresh pepper is just wonderful – my personal preference is for Sarawak pepper, but only because I have family in that part of Malaysia, so I always get access to really fresh stuff! And the cinnamon is amazing – not just the size, but the length of sticks is astonishing!
Great post on a great place! They are friendly and knowledgable and it feels re-assuring to get spices there. Spices go a long way so I think they are a good part of the shopping list to go top-shelf. I was relieved last visit that they had whole nutmegs – but I never should have doubted!
Craig
Craig, I still buy a lot of my Indian spices (coriander, cumin, fennel, turmeric) at the Asian grocers, but Herbie’s have so many unusual and different ones to try. I love buying some new blend to mess with whenever I go in – yesterday I picked up their Persian blend, and there’s a recipe on the back for Persian rice which sounds very appealing indeed!
Hi Celia, you are so lucky living in Sydney with all your wonderful shops. That is another one I will put on my list to visit. I have Ian’s book, and love it.
Glenda, Herbie’s Spices are now available everywhere, and when I was there yesterday, I thought that all of you who weren’t in Sydney but were fans of the product might enjoy visiting the shop with me.. :)
Also a big fan and did a cooking with spice course at the shop some years ago which was fabulous,
I’ve never done any of their courses, but I’ve heard they’re fantastic!
I love Herbies. It’s such a great business and deserves to flourish. Everything they sell is top quality – I love it xx
Charlie, I agree completely, they deserve all the success they’re enjoying. It’s rare to find a company which has expanded so much yet clung so tightly to their quality control! xx
I agree, I love those spices a lot. I received a few typical australian bush spices from this shop & brand when I got the pay it forward package from Lorraine , a while ago. They preserve really well in those closeable little bags!
Sophie, how wonderful that they’ve made it all the way to Belgium! :)
They are fantastic aren’t they, and the spices aren’t bad either! I keep meaning to order some of Herbie’s ras el hanut, but get side tracked with all the other pretties :)
Becca, have you tried their Chermoula mix? It is SO good, we put it in everything. It went into my leftover roast pork pie yesterday!
Wow, amazing! I got some nigella seeds in Scotland which I’ve never seen at home :)
Tandy, you have some wonderful spice mixes over there – I’ve just got my hands on one of the Nomu rubs, and it’s divine!
Hurrah, they do mail order! Bookmarking for future reference…thanks for the info!
Hi Nancy! For a while, they actually had a US distributor, but I’m not sure if that’s still the case. I do know that they ship to the US, because I’ve sent spices to friends there before, and they do it very well, with all the proper documentation, so the little packets of powder don’t end up being confiscated by customs! :)
Spice heaven indeed thank you very much for introducing these amazing people my friend!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
You’re most welcome, they’re a wonderful company to deal with! :)
Lucky you, being so close to the shop, as super duper fast travel is not available just yet, I have to buy on line ;p
Priscilla, it’s great that they do online sales – I also see their product in nearly every deli these days!
Oh that scent must just reach out and hit you in the street, enticing you in. I would love to have a store like that!! c
Celi, it’s just the most wonderful place! When it’s quiet, they’ll happily open every jar for customers to look and smell..
I have packets and packets of his spices! They’re wonderful! Thanks for taking us on a tour of his shop :D
It’s so close that we almost take it for granted, so it was nice to be able to take everyone on a little “tour”. :)
Of course I am a Herbie’s fan too Celia. I have never been to the shop but receiving their incredible products in the mail is like Christmas! The highest quality…I am always amazed at how beautiful spices can be!
Jane, they really are gorgeous, aren’t they? Apart from the aroma and flavour, sometimes the colours and shapes are almost too beautiful to believe, especially some of the red spices…
Ooh, what a wonderful shop – that sheaf of cinnamon is just incredible.
You would adore it, Choc. It’s the sort of place to lose an hour or two…
What a lovely shop! I can spend so much in a store like this! :)
Jen, the only downside is that all the street parking around it is metered, so you can’t really stay there all day! :)
Don’t imagine I’ll ever actually go there- but I sure enjoyed the tour. I love herb and spice stores- although I buy most of my spices at a bulk food store.
Heidi, I buy most of my everyday spices at the Indian spice store, but Herbie’s is a lovely spot for the unusual and exotic! Ask Meredith to bring you back some of their spices – they’ve available everywhere!
I will- she sends me packages pretty regularly.
Would you like to try some clear jel- ( I don’t remember who mentioned it on an IMK post, but I’d be happy to send you some to try through Meredith,) Let me know. )
Heidi, thank you, but I’m not sure I’d find a use for it! Thank you for thinking of me though! :)
I may need to trek out to Rozelle, as I’ve only ever once found the Herbie’s Jerk Seasoning mix that I like, and commuting to the Hunter Valley is a bit far …