Creating your own unique spice blends sounds like a dream come true, especially if you run a restaurant business or café. Besides spicing up your customers’ fine dining experience - pun intended - having your own custom spice blend creates a unique signature taste for each of your meals.
Key Takeaway: You don’t have to learn how to promote spices business, how to start a spice business, or even get industrial spice grinding equipment before you can make your own spice blends. As a matter of fact, you only need a really good restaurant spices blender, some creativity, and your own spice mix recipes - we’ll get you started on the last one.
In this article, we’ll be looking at how to create some mouth-watering wholesale spice blends for your restaurant menu. Trying to create a spicy Mexican spice blend or the perfect Southwest spice blend? We got you covered!
7 Types of Spice Mixes: Spice and Herbs Combinations
Organic spices and herbs mix are one of the ways to taste different parts and cultures of the world. For instance, if you are in the mood for some Indian cuisine, you can toss your favorite wholesale microgreens or vegetables such as potatoes, cauliflower, carrots, or butternut squash with a drizzle of oil and a sprinkle of garam masala.
The list is endless!
There are different types of spice mixes and wholesale seasoning blends from around the world. Let’s take a glimpse at some of the most popular ones.
- Chaat Masala Spices Mix
This spice mix is popularly used in Indian cuisine. You can expect a taste of coriander, tamarind powder, cumin, amchoor, black salt, and, of course, red chili powder.
Chaat masala can be added on different Indian snacks or with vegetables, salads, fruits, or curry dishes.
- Duqqa
A spice blend of herbs, toasted nuts, cumin, sesame seeds, and coriander, duqqa is an Egyptian spice mix. You can use this spice mix as a salad topping, seasoning, or as a dip with olive oil and bread.
- Montreal Steak Seasoning
Montreal steak seasoning is a rich spice blend from Canada. Black pepper, garlic, onion, coriander, dill, and red pepper flakes are mixed in this blend.
You can create a signature taste for your beef steaks with this seasoning. Montreal steak seasoning can also be used on other wholesale meats, wholesale seafood, grilled vegetables, or even as a seasoning for homemade burgers.
Want to get familiar with wholesale restaurant products and supplies? Download our free Wholesale Produce eBook, Wholesale Meat and Seafood eBook, Wholesale Candy and Snacks eBook, and Wholesale Dairy eBook to learn more.
- Taco Seasoning
If your customers love some Mexican cuisine, then Taco seasoning is your go-to option. Taco seasoning can be used for seasoning ground meat for tacos, burritos, or fajitas. If you have a vegetarian menu then this spice blend is perfect for you.
- Herbes de Provence
Fancy some French cuisine? Oui!
Herbes de Provence is a traditional French spice blend. If you are looking to make this spice mix yourself, then you’ll need a fine mixture of dried herbs like thyme, rosemary, marjoram, savory, and oregano .
Herbes de Provence adds a fragrant and aromatic touch to roasted meats, grilled vegetables, soups, stews, and even bread.
- Ras el Hanout
Ras el Hanout is a North African spice blend that translates to "top of the shop" in Arabic, indicating a mixture of the best spices a wholesale spice supplier has to offer. This spice blend is perfect in Moroccan and Tunisian cuisine.
With Ras el Hanout, you can add a rich and complex flavor to tagines, couscous, roasted meats, and rice dishes.
- Italian Herb Mix
Italian herb mix is a classic blend of dried herbs commonly used in Italian cuisine. From pasta sauces and pizza to roasted vegetables and salads, Italian herb mix is a great addition to your restaurant wholesale supplies.
How to Make Your Own Spice Blends
Making spice blends is a creative way to customize your restaurant’s flavors and try different combinations. The spice making process requires having an open mind and exploring various possibilities.
Let’s look at a step-by-step guide on how to make your own seasonings and spice blends:
- Select Your Base Ingredients
The first step in making any spice blend or seasoning mix is choosing the primary flavors you want. With the right base ingredients, you can create a perfectly balanced and flavorful spice blend.
Some popular spice blend base ingredients are:
- Salt
- Pepper
- Onion powder
- Cumin
- Chili powder
- Dried herbs
- Paprika
- Get Your Spice Blending Tools Ready
It’s time to gather your blending tools. Remember, you do not have to buy the big industrial spice storage bowls, or large spice packaging containers.
You only need the necessary equipment for blending spices. Some of these spice blending tools can already be found in your kitchen. You may only need to buy a small spice grinder to crush whole spices into smaller bits.
Here are some spice blending tools you’ll need:
- Measuring spoons
- Mixing bowls
- Mortar and pestle
- Spice grinder
- Airtight containers
- Measure the Spices and Combine
Remember the special recipe mix we mentioned earlier? It’s here you’ll need to bring it out. You can also decide to put on your creative hat. However, make sure you write down the proportions of each spice before mixing.
Start with small quantities and measure the spice according to your taste preference. You can add more spices if needed. No restrictions here!
- Grind and Blend Your Spice Mix
If you are using whole spices, then you’ll need to grind them. You can either use a mortar and pestle or a spice grinder. Grind till you achieve the desired consistency with the blend.
For ground spices, simply add each spice to a mixing bowl and mix well until evenly distributed.
- Taste and Adjust the Spice Mix
Now you have your custom spice blend, it’s time to make it perfect. After blending, you can taste to see which ingredients or flavors need adjusting. You can do this by either adding more of the spice that needs to be added or by adjusting the ratios of all the spices.
When creating the perfect spice blend, you should rely on your tastebuds.
- Store Your Spice Blends Properly
It is important that you store your spice blend properly if you want to maintain its taste, quality, and freshness. You can use airtight spice storage containers to store your spice blends.
Don’t forget to label the container with the name of the blend and the date you prepared the spice mix.
- Experiment and Refine Your Spice Blend
Don't be afraid to experiment with different spice combinations and ratios. Keep track of your recipes and note any adjustments you make for future reference. Over time, you can refine your blends and create your signature spice mixes.
- Enjoy and Share
This is definitely the most important step in making a spice blend. Add your homemade spice blends into your favorite recipes, whether it's in marinades, rubs, soups, stews, or roasted dishes.
Frequently Asked Questions About How to Make Spice Blends
Learning how to make spice blends is a great idea if you want to customize your restaurant spices and it can reduce the cost of starting a spice business. Let's answer a few more questions about making spice blends.
What ratios for spice blends?
The best ratios for spice blends include the following:
- 1:1:1 - to balance the base, top, and middle spice ingredients
- 1:2:3 or 3:2:1 - to pronounce the top or base spice ingredients
Can I make my own seasoning?
Yes, you can make your own seasoning mix. You only need the right wholesale spices and herbs, your recipe, and the proper tools.
What are the 4 basic types of seasoning ingredients?
The four basic types of seasoning ingredients are:
- Salt
- Pepper
- Acid
- Sugar or sweetener