I think that this is the right thread to post this in. Anyway, I have been doing alot more cooking, especially baking in this past year than I have in my whole life. This has me thinking about the quality of the spices that I am using.

In the past and up until present I have just always bought what was the cheapest (spices are expensive!) More recently though I have been hearing alot about certain spices that are worth spending the money and buying a higher quality. Does anyone have any opinions on this?

The spices I use the most are vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves and paprika. BTW, what is the difference in the quality of pure vanilla extract and imitation?

I think spice is the most important ingredient one can use. I buy the very best I can find. Y'all know I need all the help I can get. CF:D

Extracts are made with alcohol, usually Vodka, in which a fruit or spice is inserted so that the oil essence infuses into the alcohol. Imitation is exactly that, an imitation of just flavoring with no alcohol and therefore much cheaper.

Making your own extracts can be fun (and cheaper).

spices make the taste no doubt, fresh spices are dried and mix with grape water or in shape of pickle preserved to used by the end customer.

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