source for herbes de provence

i am looking for a supplier for 1 lb bags of FRENCH herbes de provence, the type you buy in the markets in southern france. i am in Vermont and my coop stocks Frontier Herbs, but i am not so keen on their herbes de provence. i use a LOT of it and give herb blends as gifts, and would like to find a good source. to be clear i am looking for herbs grown on french soil!
PS i have been thrilled to find your site. kudos to all!!!

maddyvt
  • Posted by: maddyvt
  • September 2, 2012
  • 3096 views
  • 6 Comments

6 Comments

Diana B. September 2, 2012
My Spice Sage sells it in quantities up to 50 lbs! http://www.myspicesage.com/herbs-de-provence-p-141.html
 
ChefOno September 2, 2012

I've always been a little curious about this blend. Food Lover's Companion states it's a mixture of basil, fennel seed, lavender, marjoram, rosemary, sage, summer savory and thyme. In "On Food and Cooking", McGee doesn't mention sage and savory. My preferred spice vendor, The Spice House, leaves out the sage and adds tarragon (which I'm in full favor of). Penzeys leaves out the sage, adds tarragon plus dill weed, oregano and chervil. I find their inclusion of the latter three puzzling.

To answer the question, The Spice House sells theirs by the pound (for roughly half of what Penzeys charges) but Penzeys' blend is also good, maybe better. But, as others suggest, also consider either blending from scratch or adjusting a blend to suit your own taste. If you do, though, make sure you reduce all the components to roughly the same size and consistency, including obviously, cracking the fennel seed and, maybe not so obviously, reducing the lavender so that you don't end up with lumps in whatever it's used in.

 
KimW September 2, 2012
Grab all the individual herbs and mix yourself. You can adjust the flavors to your own preference. I also like to make some premised with salt so on a rushed day I can just shake one jar and throw chicken in the oven.
If you buy everything fresh you can mix and bake in the oven on low with diced garlic and it is even better!
 

Voted the Best Reply!

Tarragon September 2, 2012
Penzeys has it in bags.
 
pierino September 2, 2012
Penzey's is a good source and they are based in New England. Of course the home made variety is preferred because dried spices don't last all that long. The tricky ingredient in herbs de provence is the lavender. Lucky me, I have some growing outside my front door.
 
cec75 September 2, 2012
Make your own!
 
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