TJs no longer carrying Ajika blend which we quite enjoy. They have also stopped carrying Za’atar.
Anyone have a fave source. I’d mix myself, but not sure which fenugreek is referred to in recipes.
the zaatar would not have blue fenugreek, for sure.
Definitely georgian Adjika though. This article mentions some sources for the dry mix, ingredients etc, Kalyustyan among them. https://mogulesque.com/food/what-is-ajika-adjika-spice-sauce-georgia/?srsltid=AfmBOoqcBa7JnOHYK0ln4qEQ-mPGRDP_C_jSxLsp-ucUDTREg9BG0hhe
You can also find Turkish acuka (similar) at some stores and possibly cemen, which is a similar paste which is often more spiced that the usual acuka, but may differ from the georgian stuff in its spicing; We loved the cemen we had in Istanbul with our Turkish breakfast spead but honestly, trying to sort all this out with the packaged products or recipes available here it is hard to reproduce the remembered flavors. I think the cemen though. which may use the spice mix used to season meats, may include the usual fenugreek, not the georgian blue version.
Penzeys or World Market for Za’atar.
And you didnt say if TJ’s Ajika was dry or a paste, but maybe this would work for you? A quick Google also said WF, Target, amd Walmart as potential options.
But if you wanted to make ajika, Fenugreek (ground) is also available at Penzeys.
I would be hard-pressed to pay $10 for outdated TJs that I paid $4 in store. That jar is at least a year old.
Penzeys I am always disappointed in for the $. The TJs blend is Georgian or Azer.
Kalustyan is always reliable, and I had seen that. I was looking more for a fave than ideas. But thanks.
I live in a large enough MSA that I go to a Middle Eastern grocery for za’atar, where I also find fresh pitas, sheep’s milk feta at great prices, and at my favorite shop, housemade falafel that rivals any Ive ever had anywhere
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I recently had some very good zaatar mixture in Ohio (bought at a local turkish store) - Kalustyan in NY of course has several blends from different areas and at least in the past has offered just the classic herbs NOT the oregano and thyme we are used to) - without blending in sumac, sesame seed, etc. Quality is really dependent on the shipper and the freshness of the herbs. There are a lot of cheap meh bottles out there. I have beome fairly suspicious of spices bought over amazon - I think a lot of stores are selling their aging stock there, I have had particularly bad luck with paprikas from hungary and spain for example as well as the french piment d’Espelette
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Thats why i like buying ot in the shops. Not o ly am I supporting a small business but I figure the inventory turns a little quicker.
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Check out your supermarket for za’atar. I was surprised to see it on the shelf at mine (Market Basket, MA).
And if you are lucky enough to live near a Middle Eastern grocery, there you might find it in a 1 pound quantity packaged in a plastic bag. Salloum Brothers brand is what I have gotten from my fave Lebanese deli.
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I did find za’atar at the local ShopRite. But the price was outrageous.
Gonna try a bulk spice place that’s new to me.
Even though Kalustyans is only a train trip a way, their za’atar and ajika are not very interesting to me.
Another place in Queens is too far a walk from public transport.
A bit pricey with shipping, but they have both and berbere.
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Kalustyan has a range of Za’atars. I think I liked the Jordanian or syrian version but its easy to buy a small quantity of a few and see which you like. I personally wouldnot buy a large quantity without being sure it was fresh and was a combo I liked. There are a lot of cheap blends out there in middle eastern stores, but finding fresh bottles with the actual indigenous herbs of the region (not supermarket variety oregano thyme etc) will bring to you the scent of being on mediterranean sunbaked mountaintops where the herbs are found. This article gives the names of the key herbs (they will not be on the label of the zaatar packages) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Za’atar
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I used to get za’atar from a small middle eastern grocery where the proprietress had her own special blend she made. When that closed (sob), I got NY Shuk za’atar and have been enjoying it. Their baharat is quite good, too.
thanks for that. New to me.
When I first tasted dry adjika, it reminded me about 90% of a dry Indian pickle spice mix I’ve eaten my whole life – if there’s an Indian grocery store in reach, look for methia masala or achar masala (they have slightly different ingredients, but chilli and fenugreek are predominant in both, as in adjika). I couldn’t detect the flavor of marigold over those in the TJ ajika blend.
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Pretty sure Kalustyan’s also has outrageous prices!
Although their sandwiches, and some prepared goods aren’t so offensive.
As for adjika, I’d just head to Brooklyn, to any Georgian shop, or NetCost.
Less helpful: I just left Tbilisi, and picked up some Supremo brand adjika. It was a last-minute purchase, so can’t vouch for the flavor.
dunno that I’d call Kalys prices outrageous, but they are higher.
Have to find a Georgian shop or NetCost close to public transit.
