Piquant Post is a monthly subscription box that offers a variety of freshly ground, small batch spice blends with their very own chef developed recipes that feature a new region each month.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About Piquant Post
The Subscription Box: Piquant Post
The Cost: $11.99 a month + free US shipping. Save with 6 and 12-month subscriptions.
ACTIVE DEAL: First Order 10% off. No coupon needed - just use this link.
The Products: 4 spice blends from a single region or country, 4 chef-developed recipes showcasing each of the spice blends, plus online access to recipes and ingredient substitutes.
Ships to: Worldwide
Piquant Post June 2018 Review
Each box comes with four spice blends and coordinating recipe cards. Let's get into this month's spices!
Berbere Spice
Our first spice of the month is Berbere, which is made up of onion, cayenne, paprika, New Mexico chilis, coriander, cardamom, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, black pepper, allspice, and cloves. This blend had a bit of spice with a good amount of sweetness to it. I thought this was really unique to add to a slaw, the featured recipe is listed below, but I knew this was something that I had to try! All of the ingredients combine so nicely together that I could see this spice working on pretty much anything you whip up in the kitchen.
Tanzanian Spicy Slaw Recipe
This spicy slaw recipe looked more like a side dish than what I traditionally am used to with slaw. I love to use slaw as a topping for hot dogs or pulled pork sandwiches, but I knew that this recipe was going to take me in a fun new direction! The slaw itself is meant to be crunchy and packed full of fresh ingredients. The spice blend is just an added bonus to an already wonderful ingredient list. Let's see how it turned out for me!
I started by making my dressing, this is where you are going to see that spice blend shine! All that is in this little bowl is mayonnaise, lime, salt, and the spice blend. Be sure to taste your dressing before adding it to your slaw because we ended up adding more of the spice than what was recommended to add a bit more heat!
Into the bowl went my cabbage, sliced carrots, tomatoes, and cucumber slices. Then, I just drizzled my yummy dressing on top to mix it all together. I always find that I enjoy slaw the next day, allowing all of the flavors to blend together overnight. So this bowl went into the fridge before using at a picnic we were hosting. Our friends were able to use this slaw as a side dish or on hot dogs. The slaw was so refreshing to eat on a warm summer evening, and it packed so many unique flavors. A little heat, a little sweet. I am going to be using this recipe again and again to impress our friends and family with a fun twist on the usual slaw we make!
Spiced Pilaf Spice
This pilaf blend is going to be unlike anything you can purchase at the grocery store now. It is so fresh and will add a huge punch of flavor to any version of a pilaf dish you want to make! This blend is made up of cumin, cardamom, star anise, black pepper, cayenne, cinnamon, cloves, turmeric, coriander, ginger, and smoked paprika. I love the mix of smokey with the sweetness that this blend offers.
Zanzibar Pilau (Rice Pilaf) Recipe
I have never made a traditional rice pilaf recipe, but this looks so fresh and easy! This recipe doesn't call for any meat, but I could see it being delicious with chicken or shrimp added to it. I always find rice dishes to be so hearty, perfect for the cooler months ahead, so I will be holding onto this recipe card for when the weather cools down a bit. The addition of the spice blend is going to add a warm flavor to my rice dish that will add layers and layers of flavor!
Tamarind Curry Spice
Oh, this curry blend smells incredible! Be careful when opening and cooking with this though, I had a white shirt on and it did leave a little yellow stain. This curry blend is unique because it has a bit more sweetness to it from the tamarind while still packing some heat from curry spices. The ingredients include tamarind, coriander, cumin, turmeric, ginger, cardamom, black pepper, cinnamon, fenugreek, and cayenne pepper.
Fish Coconut Curry Recipe
This recipe calls for a flaky white fish, but I am sure you could use another meat like shrimp or chicken if you wanted to. The addition of the curry spice blend is going to make the flavors sweet and sour with a unique creaminess from the coconut milk. I am currently not able to eat too much fish as I am pregnant, but I can't wait to eat this hot and hearty meal come the fall!
Spiced Coffee Spice
I haven't received a spice just for coffee yet so I was extremely excited when I saw this packet! You can use it in your coffee grounds or to make chai tea right at home. The ingredients of this blend include cardamom, ginger, cloves, and cinnamon. I knew I had to try this in my morning coffee to spice things up a bit after smelling the opened packet!
Zanzibar Spiced Coffee Recipe
The steps on this recipe card are super simple! It is just for adding the spice to your coffee, but I am sure if you wanted to use it for a chai tea or something fancy you could find a recipe on Pinterest. You basically want to add 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoons of the spice blend for every 1 to 2 tablespoons of coffee grounds. My house was instantly filled with a warm spiced smell that reminded me of the fall while my coffee brewed.
The recipe card notes to add cream and sugar to your coffee to make it the traditional way, which is exactly what I did. Look at that beautiful cup of coffee! It was such a nice break from my usual blend and reminded me very much of a chai tea or even pumpkin spice. So warm and relaxing without being too overpowering. Since the spice packet came with so much in it, we have been using this to add to our morning coffee for the past few days and are loving it so much! But what will I do when I run out?!
Verdict: This month's Piquant Post was filled with so many fresh new recipes and some amazing spices! I loved the variety this month and that it was all about layering different flavors rather than everything being sweet or spicy. There were so many blends that bring the best of both worlds! I also loved that there was a spice just for my coffee because it is something that I am getting a ton of use out of right now. Plus, the recipe cards are all things that I was excited to cook now, or are ones that I know I am going to want to cook once the weather cools down a bit. For $11.99 a month, I will call this month's curation a win!
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, order by 8/15 to receive the August box!
Coupon - Use code MSA15OFF to save 15% off your first box!
Value Breakdown: This box costs $11.99 with free U.S. shipping, and I received a total of 4 spices. That means that the average value for each of those items is around $3 (not counting the recipe cards).
Check out all of our Piquant Post reviews and the Food Subscription Box Directory for more spice and meal boxes!
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
Have you received Piquant Post? What did you think of the June spices?
Please do not enter your email address in the Name field or in the comment content. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *. Remember to post with kindness and respect. Comments with offensive language, cruelness to others, etc will not be approved. See our full comment policy here.