These crisp spears impressed us with their lovely texture—a light crunch, not too chewy or stringy like other pickled veggies can be. Submerged in a brine of garlic, spices and those spicy red Goathorn peppers, Mama Lil’s Asparagini pack big flavor in every jar. We love how the tangy brine complements the vegetal earthiness of the asparagus, while the lingering heat truly takes these beyond your typical pickled veggie.

We were so surprised by the refreshing crunch of these pickled beans, as many can typically grow soggy. Sourced from local Oregon farmers, they’re snappy and zingy and maintain their shape while in the jar. The pickle brine is laden with spices, garlic and infused with the producer’s signature spicy Hungarian Goathorn peppers. And while the pleasant heat balances the tang, it’s mild enough that these beans can be used for anything that calls for pickled veggies.

You’ll never look at relish the same way again after tasting this sweet, tart and spicy mustard-spiked version. It’s a bolder version of the producer’s grandmother’s generations-old chow chow recipe, with plenty of heat from Mama Lil’s signature pickled Hungarian Goathorn peppers. Sweet cubes of pickle are at the fore of this bright yellow condiment, followed by an aromatic hit of mustard, finishing with a lingering, mouth-watering heat that truly sets this relish apart.

This fragrant, dried Mexican oregano is grown and hand-selected by independent farmers in Mexico. It has the herbal brightness of the Mediterranean oregano you might be familiar with, but with a softer more delicate taste; it won’t overpower your dish. A whisper of licorice comes through along with a slightly floral aroma and a pronounced waft of citrus freshness. The seasoning is a staple in the Mexican pantry and we love how this one’s medium-fine texture holds its integrity while blending seamlessly into any dish.

You really should be cooking with hibiscus. Though it’s native to tropical Africa, hibiscus has made a significant splash in cuisines across the world. This dried hibiscus is sourced from Mexico and, when steeped in liquid, produces the most stunning berry-hued nectar. It’s flavor is pungent—almost like a more-nuanced cranberry—with a fruity-floral brightness balanced by an earthy must. It beautifully cuts through cloying sweets, brings color and complexity to drinks and dressings and, when cooked into a savory preparation, offers an unexpected tang and hearty texture.

The Milk Street Coffee Sugar Sampler 6-Pack includes all six of our flavors in regular, full-size pouches.
Milk Street's coffee and tea sugars are inspired by global coffee traditions and will transform your morning cup. This sampler pack includes 6 full-size pouches of our Milk Street Coffee Sugars. Flavorings range from the earthy, chili-spiked Mexican Mocha that we tasted in the markets of Oaxaca to a tropical Coconut Ginger Cream, Vietnamese-style Caramel Brûlée reminiscent of their sweet, malted coffee and, closer to home, an homage to New Orlean’s most famous cup of coffee, orange-cinnamon scented café Brulot. Our Original Cardamom Coffee Sugar, mates our favorite spice with vanilla and a touch of cocoa for a classic paring common in both the Middle East and Scandinavia, and our lighter, brighter Honey-Spice Tea Sugar blend, designed to enhance black tea, blends warm spices with granulated honey and a refreshing mint-lavender finish.

I designed this Japanese-style vegetable knife, or nakiri, with Henckels International. Its cutting edge measures 6.5 inches and is 2 inches high, half the height of a Chinese cleaver; the deeper blade makes it easier to rest the flat side of the blade against the knuckles while slicing, for comfort and safety. The high-carbon stainless steel blade is well balanced; its edges are expertly honed and require little maintenance other than the occasional sharpening; and the smooth polymer handle is triple-riveted. This knife will make cooking fun again, since the food prep will be quicker, safer and easier. I could not recommend a knife more highly, especially at this amazing price. The knife is constructed out of German stainless steel with a forged one-piece design and triple-rivets in the handle. — Christopher Kimball

Many supermarket tahinis are over-roasted, which gives them an unpleasant, bitter flavor. They are also too thick and hard to stir into a creamy blend. Soom's tahini has a full, nutty flavor as well as a pourable and well-balanced texture, made from single-origin white sesame seeds from northwestern Ethiopia that have an ideal oil-to-protein ratio.

A unique cross between a Japanese vegetable knife and a Chinese cleaver, the Kitchin-to™ will replace your chef’s knife. The knife's overall design borrows elements from our two favorite knives: the Japanese vegetable knife (nakiri) and the Chinese cleaver (cai dao). The 7-inch-long blade is nearly as tall as a cleaver—almost 2.5 inches at the butt—and 1.5 millimeters thick, much thinner than most Western-style knives and sharpened to an acute 15-17 degrees per side. The Kitchin-to™ can mince, chop, slice and push-cut, and it's broad enough to use as a bench scraper for transferring chopped foods from the cutting board. And similar to a Japanese santoku, the gently arced blade design can be used for both Western- and Japanese-style cutting methods. Its blunt tip keeps fingers safe, and the butt of the bolsterless blade is curved inward to make it easy to grip for fine control. A filework pattern machined into the blade near the handle acts as a grippy, tactile point for the thumb and index finger to grasp securely.

The knife’s ergonomic handle is made from micarta, a nearly indestructible composite created from layers of linen tightly compacted in phenolic resin. The material feels smooth and secure in the hand and becomes subtly grippier when wet. The handle is flattened on top to securely fill the palm, then tapers downward toward the butt of the knife to accommodate a secure grip.