MyTastr

Best holiday spices (cloves, nutmeg, thyme & poultry seasoning), according to chefs

Five picks, each tied to a named taster and a public source — from Rebecca Firkser, Amy Hosking, Katherine Sprung, Mimi Council and 1 more. Recommendations come from bonappetit.com, allrecipes.com and saveur.com.

Pantry Staples · The ranking

  1. 1
    Top pick

    The Spice House Hand-Selected Whole Cloves

    Chosen by
    Bon Appétit’s cloves pick in its list of 20 must-have spices. Sri Lankan cloves are “more plump and rich” than Indonesian ones, with a flavor “reminiscent of molasses,” as welcome in pumpkin crumb cake and mulled wine as in pho.
    Where to buy · thespicehouse.com ↗Instacart ↗Source: bonappetit.com ↗
  2. 2

    Diaspora Co. Anamalai Whole Nutmeg

    Chosen by
    Bon Appétit’s first nutmeg pick: single-origin nutmeg from Tamil Nadu, “deeply aromatic” with a “nutty sweetness.” Buy it whole and grate it over pie, custard and eggnog. (Burlap & Barrel’s Grenada Gold is the editors’ other pick.)
    Where to buy · diasporaco.com ↗Instacart ↗Source: bonappetit.com ↗
  3. 3

    Simply Organic Pumpkin Spice

    Chosen by
    The one blend all three pro bakers Allrecipes asked agreed on: high-quality organic spices and easy to find. Council tested many blends in her bake shop: “It’s comforting, not too spicy, and perfectly cozy—everyone always loves it.” Hosking: “a little goes a long way.”
    Where to buy · Amazon ↗Instacart ↗Source: allrecipes.com ↗
  4. 4

    Burlap & Barrel Taurus Mountain Thyme

    Chosen by
    For the stuffing and the bird when fresh herbs run out. Bon Appétit’s dried-thyme pick (with The Spice House French thyme): piney and herbal, and 1 teaspoon dried stands in for a tablespoon of fresh.
    Where to buy · burlapandbarrel.com ↗Instacart ↗Source: bonappetit.com ↗
  5. 5

    Bell’s Seasoning

    Chosen by
    The little yellow box of salt-free poultry seasoning, sold since 1867: rosemary, oregano, sage, ginger, marjoram, thyme and pepper. Fishman, styling a Thanksgiving segment for Martha Stewart, writes that “Martha said it wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without it, so into the stuffing it went.” About a tablespoon flavors a pan of bread stuffing.
    Where to buy · Amazon ↗Instacart ↗Source: saveur.com ↗

We may earn a commission when you buy through links on MyTastr. It never affects the ranking. Disclosure

Questions, answered

What is the best holiday spices (cloves, nutmeg, thyme & poultry seasoning), according to chefs?
MyTastr’s top pick is The Spice House Hand-Selected Whole Cloves, chosen by Rebecca Firkser (Bon Appétit). Bon Appétit’s cloves pick in its list of 20 must-have spices. Sri Lankan cloves are “more plump and rich” than Indonesian ones, with a flavor “reminiscent of molasses,” as welcome in pumpkin crumb cake and mulled wine as in pho. Source: bonappetit.com ↗
What are the other top picks for holiday spices (cloves, nutmeg, thyme & poultry seasoning)?
No. 2 is Diaspora Co. Anamalai Whole Nutmeg, chosen by Rebecca Firkser (Bon Appétit). No. 3 is Simply Organic Pumpkin Spice, chosen by Amy Hosking (Stevedore Bakery); Mimi Council (Mimi’s Organic Eats); Katherine Sprung (Squish Marshmallows). Each card above links to the original source.
How does MyTastr choose these picks?
Every pick is tied to a named chef, cookbook author or food expert and links to the public interview, panel or article it came from. We survey dozens, often hundreds, of top chefs, food writers and critics, and order reflects how often and how strongly a brand is recommended. Only organic recommendations count — paid endorsements don’t — and brands can’t buy a spot. Read how we pick.

The tasters behind this ranking

More pantry staples

See every ranking →