The Spice & Tea Exchange of Port Townsend — Local services in Port Townsend

UPDATED 5/28/21 The Tea and Spice Exchange is right on the top of my favorite list of shops to go to in Port Townsend, another store that is a must-see for everyone!

I can't begin to tell you the unique spices, teas, sugars, and salts that the Tea and Spice Exchange has, so many unique flavors and blends. We continue to buy our favorites and throw in new ones now and again, we never leave this shop empty-handed!

The staff at the Tea and Spice Exchange are friendly, courteous, and knowledgeable. If you are ever lucky enough to experience this little shop, I recommend talking with Maria, she's warm, kind-hearted and makes you feel welcomed!

One fun thing about this little store is that they encourage you to pop the lids off and smell everything; I'll admit, it's a lot harder to do with a mask on, but hopefully, we are at a turning point, and soon mask will be a choice and not a mandate. Nonetheless, they offer small little packets of most of their seasonings; it really is a great way to try something new and not be committed to a large quantity and price.

I have ever only witnessed this store as being clean and organized!

You can find this unique little store at 929 Water Street, Port Townsend, WA. They are neighbors to the Lively Olive Tasting Bar. You can't go to one place without stopping at the other!!!

Right now times are difficult for many people and businesses, small and large, so, I thank you for continuing to support all small businesses like this one!

We visit this store 2-3 times a year and love it, we never leave empty handed and love the fact they offer a sample of a tea and normally of one of their spices they turned into a dip. I can honestly say that we have purchased many items by being able to sample it first. There is such a great variety of flavored sugars, salts, teas, spices and more. We find the employees friendly with one being also very eccentric which makes her fun and unique. Anyone who visits Port Townsend should stop in, you won't be...

My mom went to The Spice & Tea Exchange of Port Townsend yesterday. It is one of her favorite shops; we visit to enjoy and sample the teas and spices because it is the only store of its kind in the area!! My mother also has stage 4 cancer and she just got out of the hospital after being cooped up for a week. She has to use a walker now-- due to the 2 surgeries that took place over the course of 7 short days. Somehow, she found the energy in her to take her friend out to see Port Townsend because she was visiting from out of state. When they walked in to the Spice & Tea Exchange, no one was to be found. My mom took a seat and the owner soon came in, making a comment about how she was able to "find the chair". She let that comment slide, and started to introduce her friend. Halfway through introducing her, the owner interupted her and says: "You need to be quiet. You are just like my mother. Always talking for people when they are standing right there." Then she turned to my mom's friend and said, "Do you have a voice of your own?" My mom was nice enough to let both these comments slide but her friend was furious. She didn't even want to buy anything after that. I don't know who the owner is but I am so disappointed. I can't believe my mom was treated this way. Absolutely disgusted. I will not be bringing my business...

So it was time for our annual visit to The Spice and Tea Exchange in Port Townsend. This time my wife knew what she was looking for and quickly found her favorite Garden Mirepoix Sea Salt that goes well in egg and other dishes. but I had no such preconceived notions.

But it's a spice shop, right? I remembered that a good friend of mine had sent me a Goose Jerky Dry Rub recipe that called for Worcestershire Powder. I told him at the time I'd both never heard of it and never seen it. The store clerk showed it to me on the shelf. OK, I have Aji Amarillo Chile Paste for Peruvian dishes but some recipes call for the powder version. There it was on the shelf near the WP. We have mustard seeds in our pantry but here I found Black Mustard Seed powder, more pungent and flavorful than the yellow variety and it will work oh so well in both the Chinese wok stir-fry dishes and BBQ dry meat rubs I make.

The store clerk was very friendly and helpful. When we told her where we lived (about an hour and a half away) she told us there was a store in a town near our house which makes it really convenient and far easier to plan a visit to. It's smaller than this store but it should have our favorite spices and teas. If not, there's always our annual pilgrimage to...