We’ve tasted one too many flat, underwhelming za’atars, so we called in a favor from “The Palestinian Table” author Reem Kassis. She tested seven commercial spice blends for us and Beirut Spice Co.’s za’atar stood out. (Granted, nothing tops her mother’s wild-foraged za’atar that even Chris Kimball calls a “revelation.”) Beirut Spice Co. blends four traditional ingredients—aromatic-minty hyssop, citrusy sumac, toasted sesame seeds and sea salt—in a balanced proportion for an intensely flavorful seasoning that’s herbal, nutty and tangy. Not only does this za’atar use genuine Lebanese-grown hyssop instead of easier-to-find (and blander) substitutes, it’s made with only the flower of the hyssop plant. Most commercial za’atars mix in the stems and leaves, which dulls the flavor; sticking to the flowers yields the cleanest, purest hyssop aroma and taste. Beirut Spice Co. uses freshly picked, exclusively Lebanese-grown sumac, which gives the blend a punchy brightness you don’t often get in other jars. There are no preservatives or filler ingredients to get in the way—this is really good za’atar, handcrafted in small batches in Lebanon. Even the graphic design and packaging are done in-house, making this a 100% Lebanese product from start to finish.
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