The Spice Trader & The Olive Pit

Very personalized service - lots of incredible products and a huge selection of oils, spices, rubs, salts and peppers (im sure there is even more if you ask).

Walked in to buy gifts for my coworkers, walked out in 15 minutes with wrapped gifts and exactly within my requested budget. Even picked up some salts for myself. Would definitely go back!

To be honest, I was really skeptical about paying extra for spices. Would it really make a big difference to my cooking? And the answer is yes! I ordered a few spices after seeing all the good reviews. Most of the spices that I got were North African or Middle Eastern (e.g., sumac, ras el hanout, etc.), and they were all perfectly fragrant, delicious, and I love the fact that they do not add any extra fillers/salts to their spices. The lady that I spoke to over the phone was also super sweet and knowledgable about the spices. Everything was shipped to me promptly, the tins that I got were lovely, and I also liked the extra virgin olive oil in my order! I would highly recommend shopping here if you are looking for a more luxurious addition to your spice cabinet! :)

Very happy with the curbside pickup. My order was ready promptly, I picked it up seamlessly and the rosewater is amazing! Will definitely go back. Can't wait to browse in person once restrictions are lifted.

This is not a spice shop, this is a spice emporium! You walk in and the smell of spices, herbs, oils and vinegars overcome you and you just go, “WOW, I think I’m Martha Stewart right now. I feel like I’m in the middle of a cooking show!”. It’s amazing. And the staff? They’re spice sommeliers. I don’t know what a star anise is, but you go up and ask them and they’ll show what it is AND how to use it – and they may even give you a recipe to try. And the herbs and spices come in these beautiful tins so you can put them on your counter. Even if you don’t know how to cook like Martha Stewart, you can look like you do. Your food is going to taste better because their oils and spices are SO good. They also make collections. You wanna be like a French chef? Here’s a French collection. You wanna be like an Italian chef? Here’s an Italian collection. You’ll want to try their lemon oil and white champagne vinegar to make the best salad dressing in the world. I LOVE the Spice Trader and think everyone should give them a try.

During the pandemic - and from now on, I am making an effort to shop locally. I decided to stroll this neighbourhood on a Sunday to check out a few stores. As soon as I stepped into the store, it smelled amazing! (Too bad I couldn't experience the true effect, because I had my mask on.) I was told by the very knowledgeable clerk that spices were ground on site.

With a little help, I decided to purchase 2 balsamic vinegar glazes, made in Italy - fig and orange. Curious about the spices, I was told that they use the highest quality ingredients. Yes, the goods are a little pricey, but the quality is outstanding! The cinnamon that I purchased was phenomenally fragrant. Can't wait to put it on my oatmeal and use it for baking.

The store is merchandised nicely - reminding me of an old fashioned apothecary.

Loved my visit!