The Spice Trader

Photo by Sarah Wiggins
Allison Johnston, above, has been trading spices and helping customers find that mysterious flavour or spice in treasured recipes since opening The Spice Trader, an apothecary-style spice shop, with her husband, Neil Bougourd, across from Trinity Bellwoods Park in 2005.
Neil Bougourd, above, hand-grinds spices to make one of The Spice Trader’s house blends, which include Chinese Five Spice, Ras El Hanout and Za’atar. They also offer spice blending classes to customers who want to further their understanding of spices and herbs.
In addition to more than 100 spices, including obscure ones such as cubeb pepper (an Indonesian pepper that has a pine-like taste, with a touch of citrus) — Johnston and Bougourd also sell single-estate olive oils and vinegars.
Air and light deteriorate spices, that's why Johnston insists on selling spices and herbs in smaller quantities and air-tight packaging. Spices are considered to be the seeds, fruits, roots or bark of plants, whereas herbs are the leaves, flowers or stems used for flavouring or garnishing.