Villa Jerada’s Harissa No. 1 is our favorite version of this North African red pepper paste for its bright, complex flavor. While many store-bought varieties have a one-dimensional spicy flavor, this harissa layers acidity and fruitiness with preserved lemons, a touch of vinegar and tomato paste for a lively, tangy condiment. Villa Jerada uses just enough high-quality Moroccan olive oil to make the harissa spreadable and smooth without diluting its flavor, as opposed to conventional brands that contain a high proportion of water and vegetable oil.

Made with dried rose petals, this aromatic harissa has an amazing depth of flavor, with an up-front warmth that builds gradually. The subtle rose flavor doesn't overpower but rather enhances the other ingredients, layering botanical notes with earthy spices and playing up the fruity and floral notes of the chili. Made with dried rose petals, this aromatic harissa has an amazing depth of flavor, with an up-front warmth that builds gradually. The subtle rose flavor doesn't overpower but rather enhances the other ingredients, layering botanical notes with earthy spices and playing up the fruity and floral notes of the chili.

Belazu uses its earthy Rose Harissa as the base for this bold and fiery chili paste, which has the perfect amount of smokiness from the addition of chipotle peppers. It's earthy but not overwhelmingly smoky, so you can still savor the fruity depth of the other chilies. The harissa's spiciness is complemented by rich balsamic vinegar of Modena and dark muscovado sugar, which bring out the natural sweetness of the chilies without overpowering the paste. Bright cinnamon rounds out the harissa, which we sometimes treat as a complexly spiced chipotle paste.

Although Belazu Ingredient Company calls this paste a tapenade, it doesn't have the concentrated salty flavor associated with most tapenades; it's also not made with olives and capers, the defining ingredients of classic French tapenades. Rather, Belazu's vibrant spread has a rich roasted pepper flavor (think mild bell peppers, not spicy chili peppers), with an extra sweet-umami basenote and buttery finish. Tomato paste, paprika and garlic complement the peppers and add savory dimension. The spread has visible bits of pepper pulp, but on the palate it has a silky, almost creamy consistency.

Harissa is an intense, spicy chili paste from Tunisia that is eaten with a variety of foods—almost always to kick up the heat in a dish. But our customers have been asking for a mild version of this versatile condiment for some time now. After much searching, we found this fantastic one from Zwïta. What it lacks in heat, it more than makes up for in flavor, with high-quality ingredients including sun-dried guajillo chilis, fresh garlic, organic extra virgin olive oil, and a blend of coriander and caraway. This is the perfect condiment for home cooks who want to explore the rich heady flavors of harissa without any of the burn. Great on eggs, spread on a sandwich, or added to sauces or marinades.

Inspired by the flavors of Tunisia, this harissa powder from Rumi is earthy, peppery and warm. Typically available as a paste, this powdered harissa is extra versatile: It’s infinitely easier to sprinkle the spice blend onto dishes, use as a rub on meat or vegetables or stir into dips or soups. Rumi sources the high-quality spices from rural Afghan farmers and women—the harissa blend gets warmth from cumin, caraway and coriander, plus a lingering smokiness, pepperiness and light spiciness from the paprika and chili. The salt-free mix is packaged by hand in BPA-free glass to ensure freshness.

Featuring four Milk Street bestsellers, this bundle of pantry essentials is the perfect entry to Middle Eastern and North African flavors. Try complex Villa Jerada Harissa, nutty Soom Premium Tahini, tangy Casablanca Market Preserved Lemons and herby Kamā Za’atar for building the bold, bright flavors of Middle Eastern and North African cuisines into recipes. It makes an excellent gift for someone (or yourself): Each bundle arrives wrapped in a snowy white box, bound with sage-green linen Milk Street ribbon from Studio Carta, plus an extra couple of yards for you to use. Bonus: Bundled, they’re 20% cheaper than buying them individually.

Villa Jerada Harissa Preserved lemons bring acidity and fruitiness to this North African red pepper paste—which is hands down our favorite for its bright, complex flavor. A touch of vinegar and tomato paste add a lively tang, and just enough high-quality Moroccan olive oil makes this harissa spreadable and smooth without diluting its flavor.

Soom Premium Tahini 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.

Casablanca Market Preserved Lemons Casablanca Market's preserved lemons have a bright, balanced flavor and they aren't overly salty or bitter like some brands. These Moroccan beldi lemons add a bold, piquant kick to dishes without being too sour, and their tender texture is perfect for chopping finely to incorporate into recipes.

Kamā Za'atar This Jordanian version of za’atar, a traditional blend of spices native to the Middle East, from Kamā features fragrant nuttiness from sesame seeds, along with robust dried thyme and cumin. Lightly salted and nicely zesty, the herby blend is brought to us by the women at Kamā, who are deeply passionate about great food.