Are Expensive Spices Actually Overpriced?

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Are Expensive Spices Actually Overpriced? By Joe Hoeffner Oct. 19, 2025 8:00 pm EST

For about as long as humans have been eating food, we've been looking for ways to make that food taste a little better — and when we find a certain substance that improves our food, we'll stop at nothing to get it. Although Roman soldiers were never actually paid in salt, it's still a hugely important resource, and pepper was once so precious it was referred to as "black gold." Empires have been built on the back of the spice trade. And yet, despite all their historical significance, some people still take spices for granted. This is to say that, no, the cardamom and nutmeg you find in the spice aisle of your supermarket isn't overpriced. Indeed, the fact they're this cheap is