The Spice Tin

This place has a large variety of spices and spice blends, as the name implies. We’ve become regulars here ever since we decided to give them a try (they came highly recommended to us by friends/​family). We first fell in love with the Calaveras Chicken rub, but we’ve branched out a bit and have yet to find something we don’t like. The staff is extremely helpful and welcoming too. It’s an overall great experience.
I would very much recommend poking your head in when you’re passing by.

This store is a must stop when in Murphys!
When you walk in, you feel transported to another place. The smell of delicious, zesty spices is all around. The décor is adorable! You can find pretty much anything you want or need with regards to spices here. I always pick up two or three new things. They have sample areas where you can try some of the products before you purchase them which I love. The staff is always very nice and helpful. The prices are a bit high, but it’s what you would expect in a little tourist town and I don’t like the $ 10 minimum purchase to use a credit card; sometimes I just want one little thing and there are many people like me who don’t always carry cash. I understand the economics of it, but it actually hinders sales because if I have to chose between getting the little item I want by purchasing something else to push it over the $ 10 limit or just leaving, I will always leave :(The shop itself is cute and definitely worth a look.

This is a great find in Murphy’s! A great selection of spices and unique kitchen gifts. I could have easily spent a lot of money. The French Vadovaun Curry spice and the Bourbon Smoked Paprika have been my favorites so far.

Very cool little place in Murphy’s!
The SO loves cooking and we went here to see if there was anything cool we could pick up. The Spice Tin is tucked away from the main street but is definitely worth the walk through if you have time.
They offer a huge variety of spices, tucked away in little bags and are very reasonably priced. We were even able to find Siracha salt! We ended up getting the Paella blend (delicious), some bread spreads and some other little odds and ends like a hot sauce made by the Palo Alto Firefighters Assocation. I know that’s going to taste awesome on a breakfast burrito.
The staff here are very, very nice and give free samples (Bonus).

I love the Spice Tin! They have a huge range of spices and herbs from all over the world. I always seem to go in with a list and come out with at least double the number of spices! The service, as mentioned in other reviews, is excellent. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable and they genuinely seem to love sharing the spice experience. I am a avid cook and always come out with something new to experiment with. The prices are excellent too — the Spice Tin really offers good value for money. Spices are sold in little bags as opposed to expensive glass containers, great for the cook who already has 100’s of spice jars to refill.
The only reason they don’t get 5 stars in my review, is that I have noticed that on herbs particularly, they are not as aromatic and flavorful as some other brands. I have noticed this repeatedly on Tarragon, Thyme, Rosemary and Basil. I still buy it, as even if I have to use double to get the flavor of another brand, it still works out very economical. The spices I have purchased have all been top rate though!

Absolutely fantastic. High quality spices from all over the world and the owner is super friendly and encourages you to smell ALL THE SPICES!!!
This I did and swallowed the fact that I would be spending 40 bucks on spices…
NOPE! when I saw the prices, I was shocked– they are all at a reasonable price!
I walked out with Jamaican Jerk, vanilla, parsley, chicken rub, and poppy for all under 10 dollars!
If you are visiting Murphy’s you can miss this establishment!

So many spices, so little time. What a fabulous store of spices at affordable prices. Service is fantastic too. Stock up now!

Lovely people and a great selection. My family literally stopped by here three times in our three day stay. I loved all the local products, especially the locally harvested dried mushrooms, including matsutakes, morels, and porcinis, all at a really reasonable price.

This is the candy store of spices. I really liked the pre-​packaged spices and the fact that there were tags suggesting how to use the different spices. I discovered a few new things here (Peri, Peri on sauteed veggies is the bomb). Infused sugars, BBQ sauces, jams, jellies… you name it, they’ve got it. I’m enjoying trying all of my new spices!

Anyone who enjoys cooking will love this store. This is like a candy store for grown ups. The pesto is to die for and the staff is amazing.

I’m not even sure I can write a review that doesn’t repeat what others have already said. We were walking up and down Main checking out the different shops when I saw this place from across the street. I immediately proclaimed, «Oh we are SO going in there.»
I am a spice junkie. I love to buy spices, especially ones I’ve never tried or even heard of before and find new recipes for them. I can’t get enough: our teeny tiny apartment spice cupboard overfloweth. This place was a wonderland, small but delightful.
Every spice here has a sample bottle for you smell, and then small amounts packaged in small ziplock bags so you don’t have to buy a large amount of a spice you may find out that you don’t like. They have tools of the trade as well: salt spoons, salt blocks & bowls, mortar and pestle sets of all sizes, spice mills, grinders, books, spice containers, dippers, spice kits, etc.
The variety of salts was blissfully overwhelming: I finally settled on a habanero salt and a smoked bacon one. The rest of my purchase included a deliciously aromatic smoked bourbon paprika, harissa, and curry vindaloo. And the staff? Quite lovely! They even gave me a free sample of lemongrass with my purchase.
I can’t wait to come back here!

This place is great. We always make a point of stopping here when we are in the area. Try the harissa or berebere as a rub for pork or chicken. They also have a great selection of salt cellars. They’re really nice people too.

This place is great! They are my go to spice place now. Too bad I live 2 ½ hours away from this store. But, whenever I am up in the mountains I make sure I stock up with all the spices I need for a couple of months.

I love The Spice Tin! I buy tons of dried herbs and spices there for my home and my business. Friendly service, great owners, and the smell is wonderful when you walk in. My favorite is the smoked red chili sea salt. Yum!

I am glad this store is not too big, or else my spice shelf might be in danger of overflowing! The Spice Tin is the very best place I have found in the foothills (near Sonora?) to purchase curries and exotic spices you need for recipes. They also have lots of cute little spice jars that make for excellent gifts for a foodie.
On a recent trip we bought some Dukkah for dipping bread, madras curry, and pesto all of which were flavorful & fresh.

Very neat little store! Who’d thunk you can get spices from all over the world could be found here in Murphy. Very neat display and the owner is knowledgeable and friendly that he will show you what spices are good for which kind of cooking and new recipe and tips for BBQ.
We purchased Hungarian paprika (1oz package) and Bourbon Peppercorn Steak Slather in a bottle that we are looking to try at our next BBQ. I also found «seven spices (shichimi to-​garashi)» from Japan, which was very fresh (I can find it from Japanese grocery stores but they are usually dry and stale).
Don’t be shy, just ask the guy how to spice up your next meal and he’ll give you a good pointer.

This place is a gem nestled in the foothills!
As you walk in, the warm and enticing smells of exotic spices from far away lands greets you and makes your wallets warm in your pocket in anticipation of spending money!
The staff is extremely helpful and knowledgable. They have packaged the spices in small amounts with the idea that you buy fresh and frequently so that you never have stale spices that are beyond their peak and disappointing in recipes. Very smart. Its also more wallet friendly.
Try the grilling rub with sugar and coffee– great on steaks! We also loved the 10+ types of salt that they have.
There is something for every chef and every recipe. I make a point to stop in every time I’m within 25 miles of Murphys.

You’d think a shop that specializes in condiments wouldn’t be worth a visit, but with the Spice Tin, you’d be wrong.
So very, very wrong.
Everything has a sample jar you can whiff before buying, ranging everywhere from chili flakes to habanero salt to cajun spice (I like my spices spicy). Best thing is, an ounce of any spice usually costs no more than a dollar or two. When you can beat the prices of Safeway by half and provide more than twice the quality, you know you’ve got a winning formula.

The Spice Tin is always one of my stops when I’m in Murphy’s. They make fantastic pesto and i love the prepackaged rubs. Makes life so much easier when i can just pull out the Jamakin Jerk rub and not have to think. The variety of spices is wonderful and i can even find honey powder to make teriyaki chicken. Staff is always friend and to walk in is a cooking inspiration.

Spices, art and salts, oh my! As you enter The Spice Tin you are immediately aware of the amazing fragrance of spices filling the air. The shop is filled with so many wonderful spices and salts from around the world. Art and ceramics from local and world artists are available for browsing or purchase. This is the perfect spot to purchase a hostess gift or a little something for yourself! ;)