Hello beautiful peoples!
Nobody warns you about this when you move into your first kitchen. Somewhere between your third attempt at Polish gulasz and the moment smoked cayenne pepper earns a permanent spot on the counter, you develop a spice habit. Supermarkets love this, because dried herbs and ground spices are, gram for gram, some of the most quietly profitable items they sell, and almost nobody ever sits down and does the maths on it. I did the maths. It took just over two years of invoices and one slightly unhinged evening with a spreadsheet, and what came out the other end looked less like a shopping comparison and more like a small financial crime scene, with me as the only witness.
Since March 2024 I have bought almost every herb, spice, and seasoning in my kitchen from NutsInBulk.ie, an Irish bulk supplier that sells things like dried basil and ground turmeric by the kilogram instead of by the teaspoon.
Just to be very clear – I am not sponsored by them. I am not receiving any free product from them. They DO NOT know and probably will never know that I am writing this. I am not accepting any sponsorships. I am not adding any ads to this website. This is my personal opinion shared with you for free. You are not and will never be “the product”.
And now let’s get back to the topic at hand. Seven orders later, the most recent placed just yesterday, I had a complete paper trail of exactly what I paid, so I went through all 23 products one by one and looked up what the identical item would cost at SuperValu, Tesco, Lidl and Aldi scaling their retail packs up to match the quantities I had actually bought.
So let’s begin with listing all the purchase invoices sorted from the oldest to the newest.
List of all the invoices:
17/03/2024
• Dried Basil, 1kg, €6.25
• Dried Oregano, 1kg, €6.73
• Dried Marjoram, 1kg, €7.51
• Kibbled/Flaked Hot Chilli, 500g, €5.85
• Shipping: €6, VAT: €0, Total: €32.34
24/03/2024
• Smoked Paprika, 1kg, €7.49
• Vanilla Pods Grade A, 20g, €7.95
• Garlic Granules, 1kg, €8.75
• Cajun Spice Mix, 1kg, €8.75
• Dried Thyme, 1kg, €8.63
• Shipping: €6, VAT: €0, Total: €47.57
17/07/2024
• Baking Soda, 5kg, €20.45
• Shipping: €6, VAT: €0, Total: €26.45
26/11/2024
• Ground Black Pepper (Powder), 1kg, €19.55
• Red Hot Cayenne Pepper Powder, 1kg, €8.63
• Onion Powder, 1kg, €8.05
• Organic Ceylon Cinnamon Powder, 1kg, €18.87
• Shipping: Free (€0), VAT: €0, Total: €55.10
24/10/2025
• Caraway Seeds, 500g, €2.46
• Ground Black Pepper (Powder), 1kg, €17.49
• Ground Cumin Seeds, 500g, €6.84
• Organic Ground Turmeric, 1kg, €12.23
• Organic Ginger Powder, 500g, €8.18
• Baking Soda/Sodium Bicarbonate, 3kg, €11.79
• Garlic Granules, 1kg, €10.47
• Shipping: Free (€0), VAT: €0, Total: €69.46
08/05/2026
• Red Hot Cayenne Pepper Powder, 1kg, €7.35
• Dried Rosemary, 1kg, €7.14
• Sweet Paprika, 1kg, €7.35
• Vanilla Pods Grade A, 20g, €7.95
• Onion Powder, 1kg, €6.96
• Garlic Granules, 3kg, €23.40
• Onion Granules, 1kg, €6.57
• Shipping: Free (€0), VAT: €0, Total: €66.72
15/07/2026 (ordered yesterday, which is where I got the idea to share this)
• Banana Chips Coated in Yoghurt, 500g, €6.53 (contains VAT 23%, so €1.22)
• Ground Black Pepper (Powder), 1kg, €18.76
• Garam Masala (Mixed Spices), 1kg, €11.35
• Organic Ginger Powder, 1kg, €15.15
• Shipping: Free (€0), VAT: €1.22, Total: €51.79
Total sum of all the invoices: €349.43
I know… It’s NOT a pocket change but trust me…
To show you the difference between the retail and the bulk price I had to list all the purchased items and their weights / prices. So here we go:
List of all products purchased:
• Baking Soda / Sodium Bicarbonate, 8kg, €32.24 (2 orders: €20.45 + €11.79)
• Banana Chips Coated in Yoghurt, 500g, €6.53
• Cajun Spice Mix, 1kg, €8.75
• Caraway Seeds, 500g, €2.46
• Dried Basil, 1kg, €6.25
• Dried Marjoram, 1kg, €7.51
• Dried Oregano, 1kg, €6.73
• Dried Rosemary, 1kg, €7.14
• Dried Thyme, 1kg, €8.63
• Garam Masala, (Mixed Spices), 1kg, €11.35
• Garlic Granules, 5kg, €42.62 (3 orders: €8.75 + €10.47 + €23.40)
• Ground Black Pepper (Powder), 3kg, €55.80 (3 orders: €19.55 + €17.49 + €18.76)
• Ground Cumin Seeds, 500g, €6.84
• Kibbled/Flaked Hot Chilli, 500g, €5.85
• Onion Granules, 1kg, €6.57
• Onion Powder, 2kg, €15.01 (2 orders: €8.05 + €6.96)
• Organic Ceylon Cinnamon Powder, 1kg, €18.87
• Organic Ginger Powder, 1.5kg, €23.33 (2 orders: €8.18 + €15.15)
• Organic Ground Turmeric, 1kg, €12.23
• Red Hot Cayenne Pepper Powder, 2kg, €15.98 (2 orders: €8.63 + €7.35)
• Smoked Paprika, 1kg, €7.49
• Sweet Paprika, 1kg, €7.35
• Vanilla Pods Grade A, 40g, €15.90 (2 orders: €7.95 + €7.95)
Total weight 35.54 kg. Total paid €331.43 (+ €18 shipping before they introduced free shipping option).
Next thing I did was I went to the websites of the supermarkets available in Ireland (SuperValu, Tesco, Lidl, Aldi etc.) and I have checked the availability and retail prices of all the items listed above. I always checked SuperValu first as it’s my go-to shopping destination, if they were out of stock I checked Tesco, then Lidl and Aldi.
Retail prices gathered from multiple Irish supermarkets and some online retailers
• Baking Soda / Sodium Bicarbonate – Tesco – Dr.Oetker Bicarbonate Soda 200g €1.95 / €9.75/kg
• Banana Chips Coated in Yoghurt – Aldi – THE FOODIE MARKET Banana Chips 200g €2.39 / €11.95/KG
• Cajun Spice Mix – SuperValu – Schwartz Cajun Seasoning (44g) €3.39 / €77.05/kg
• Caraway Seeds – Tesco – Schwartz Caraway Seeds 38g €3.40 / €89.47/kg
• Dried Basil – SuperValu – Schwartz Herb Basil (10g) €2.75 / €275.00/kg
• Dried Marjoram – SuperValu – Schwartz Herb (8g) €2.40 / €300
• Dried Oregano – SuperValu – Schwartz Herbs & Spice Oregano (7g) €2.75 / €392.86/kg
• Dried Rosemary – Tesco – Schwartz Rosemary 18g €2.75 / €152.78/kg
• Dried Thyme – Tesco – Schwartz Thyme 11g €2.75 / €250.00/kg
• Garam Masala – SuperValu – Schwartz Garam Masala Spice (30g) €3.39 / €113.00/kg
• Garlic Granules – SuperValu – Schwartz Garlic Granules (50g) €3.39 / €67.80/kg
• Ground Black Pepper – SuperValu – Schwartz Black Pepper Coarse Ground Jar (33g) €3.39 / €102.73/kg
• Ground Cumin Seeds – Tesco – Schwartz Cumin Seed 35g Jar €3.40 / €97.14/kg
• Kibbled/Flaked Hot Chilli – SuperValu – Funky Soul Chilli Flakes (26g) €0.71 / €27.31/kg
• Onion Granules – Tesco – Schwartz Onion Granules 30g €2.75 / €91.67/kg
• Onion Powder – Down To Earth – Herbs and Spices 25g €2 / €80/kg
• Organic Ceylon Cinnamon Powder – SuperValu – Schwartz Ground Cinnamon Jar (39g) €3.39 / €86.92/kg
• Organic Ginger Powder – SuperValu – Schwartz Ground Ginger (26g) €3.39 / €130.38/kg
• Organic Ground Turmeric – SuperValu – Schwartz Ground Turmeric Spice (37 g) €3.39 / €91.62/kg
• Red Hot Cayenne Pepper Powder – Tesco – Schwartz Cayenne Chilli Pepper 26g €3.40 / €130.77/kg
• Smoked Paprika – SuperValu – Schwartz Paprika Smoked Jar (40g) €3.39 / €84.75/kg
• Sweet Paprika – Tesco – Schwartz Sweet Smoked Paprika 40g €2.70 / €67.50/kg
• Vanilla Pods Grade A – Tesco – Goodalls Vanilla Pods 4g €6.99 / €1,747.50/kg
And now let me calculate how much would I pay for the quantities I have purchased from NutsInBulk.ie if they charged me the retail prices…
Quantities from NutsInBulk.ie but priced with the retail MSRPs.
• Baking Soda / Sodium Bicarbonate, 8kg: NutsInBulk.ie €32.24, retail €78.00 (Tesco, Dr.Oetker Bicarbonate Soda 200g at €1.95, €9.75/kg). Difference €45.76
• Banana Chips Coated in Yoghurt, 500g: NutsInBulk.ie €6.53, retail €5.98 (Aldi, THE FOODIE MARKET Banana Chips 200g at €2.39, €11.95/kg). Retail is actually €0.55 cheaper here
• Cajun Spice Mix, 1kg: NutsInBulk.ie €8.75, retail €77.05 (SuperValu, Schwartz Cajun Seasoning 44g at €3.39, €77.05/kg). Difference €68.30
• Caraway Seeds, 500g: NutsInBulk.ie €2.46, retail €44.74 (Tesco, Schwartz Caraway Seeds 38g at €3.40, €89.47/kg). Difference €42.28
• Dried Basil, 1kg: NutsInBulk.ie €6.25, retail €275.00 (SuperValu, Schwartz Herb Basil 10g at €2.75, €275.00/kg). Difference €268.75
• Dried Marjoram, 1kg: NutsInBulk.ie €7.51, retail €300.00 (SuperValu, Schwartz Herb 8g at €2.40, €300.00/kg). Difference €292.49
• Dried Oregano, 1kg: NutsInBulk.ie €6.73, retail €392.86 (SuperValu, Schwartz Herbs & Spice Oregano 7g at €2.75, €392.86/kg). Difference €386.13
• Dried Rosemary, 1kg: NutsInBulk.ie €7.14, retail €152.78 (Tesco, Schwartz Rosemary 18g at €2.75, €152.78/kg). Difference €145.64
• Dried Thyme, 1kg: NutsInBulk.ie €8.63, retail €250.00 (Tesco, Schwartz Thyme 11g at €2.75, €250.00/kg). Difference €241.37
• Garam Masala (Mixed Spices), 1kg: NutsInBulk.ie €11.35, retail €113.00 (SuperValu, Schwartz Garam Masala Spice 30g at €3.39, €113.00/kg). Difference €101.65
• Garlic Granules, 5kg: NutsInBulk.ie €42.62, retail €339.00 (SuperValu, Schwartz Garlic Granules 50g at €3.39, €67.80/kg). Difference €296.38
• Ground Black Pepper (Powder), 3kg: NutsInBulk.ie €55.80, retail €308.19 (SuperValu, Schwartz Black Pepper Coarse Ground Jar 33g at €3.39, €102.73/kg). Difference €252.39
• Ground Cumin Seeds, 500g: NutsInBulk.ie €6.84, retail €48.57 (Tesco, Schwartz Cumin Seed 35g Jar at €3.40, €97.14/kg). Difference €41.73
• Kibbled/Flaked Hot Chilli, 500g: NutsInBulk.ie €5.85, retail €13.66 (SuperValu, Funky Soul Chilli Flakes 26g at €0.71, €27.31/kg). Difference €7.81
• Onion Granules, 1kg: NutsInBulk.ie €6.57, retail €91.67 (Tesco, Schwartz Onion Granules 30g at €2.75, €91.67/kg). Difference €85.10
• Onion Powder, 2kg: NutsInBulk.ie €15.01, retail €160.00 (Down To Earth, Herbs and Spices 25g at €2.00, €80.00/kg). Difference €144.99
• Organic Ceylon Cinnamon Powder, 1kg: NutsInBulk.ie €18.87, retail €86.92 (SuperValu, Schwartz Ground Cinnamon Jar 39g at €3.39, €86.92/kg). Difference €68.05
• Organic Ginger Powder, 1.5kg: NutsInBulk.ie €23.33, retail €195.57 (SuperValu, Schwartz Ground Ginger 26g at €3.39, €130.38/kg). Difference €172.24
• Organic Ground Turmeric, 1kg: NutsInBulk.ie €12.23, retail €91.62 (SuperValu, Schwartz Ground Turmeric Spice 37g at €3.39, €91.62/kg). Difference €79.39
• Red Hot Cayenne Pepper Powder, 2kg: NutsInBulk.ie €15.98, retail €261.54 (Tesco, Schwartz Cayenne Chilli Pepper 26g at €3.40, €130.77/kg). Difference €245.56
• Smoked Paprika, 1kg: NutsInBulk.ie €7.49, retail €84.75 (SuperValu, Schwartz Paprika Smoked Jar 40g at €3.39, €84.75/kg). Difference €77.26
• Sweet Paprika, 1kg: NutsInBulk.ie €7.35, retail €67.50 (Tesco, Schwartz Sweet Smoked Paprika 40g at €2.70, €67.50/kg). Difference €60.15
• Vanilla Pods Grade A, 40g: NutsInBulk.ie €15.90, retail €69.90 (Tesco, Goodalls Vanilla Pods 4g at €6.99, €1,747.50/kg). Difference €54.00
I have probably lost you already but if you’re still reading – maybe we are speaking the same language after all…
So now let me give you some numbers but make sure you’re sitting down…
As you can see – dried oregano is the worst offender. A kilogram from NutsInBulk.ie costs €6.73. The same kilogram, bought as Schwartz seven gram jars from SuperValu, works out to almost €393, putting the supermarket price at close to sixty times higher 🫢😧 for the same dried leaves. Dried marjoram and dried basil are not far behind, both roughly forty times more expensive at retail. Vanilla pods do not multiply quite as dramatically, since bulk vanilla isn’t cheap either, but the retail equivalent still comes to around €1,750 per kilogram, which is the kind of number that makes you check whether you are holding a spice jar or a Tiffany’s invoice.
Totals
Retail equivalent total (same quantities, supermarket prices): €3508.30
NutsInBulk.ie total (products only, from earlier): €331.43
Total saved by buying from NutsInBulk.ie instead of these supermarkets: €3176.87
You like that number? I bet you do… I sure as hell do…
Out of the 23 products, only the yoghurt coated banana chips came out cheaper at the supermarket, by about 55 cent for the same quantity, and even that is not a fair fight, since Aldi’s version is plain, not yoghurt coated. I only bought them to nudge the order past the €50 mark and unlock free shipping. Without that top up I was facing roughly €7 in courier fees, so spending an extra €6.53 on an actual product, instead of handing that money to a delivery company for nothing, left me about 47 cent ahead and holding a bag of banana chips. It was only logical and possibly (will find out tomorrow…) quite tasty.
But my expenses have to account for something else as well… Over the period from 2024 to 2026, I additionally bought:
• 2 x 4 Cereal containers capacity 4 liters for €48.66
• 1 x 4 Cereal container capacity 4 liters for €24.25
• 1 x 4 Cereal container capacity 4 liters for €25.48
• 1 x 4 Cereal container capacity 4 liters for €30.00
• 1 x 4 Cereal container capacity 4 liters for €35.58
Over the years listings would become unavailable but searching Amazon for the name of the previous listing always comes up with new one with a different company name but similar product. I have purchased the latest batch from here but you can find other more suitable for you.
In total, I have purchased 24 containers and the cost was €163.97. That brings my expenses to €513.40. Brings my total savings to around €2994.90… Yes. €3000…
If your instinct here is that buying a kilogram of anything guarantees half of it dies quietly at the back of a cupboard, I understand the concern, and the containers exist specifically to prevent that. The containers allow me to store my herbs and spices in dry conditions despite the Ireland’s humid climate. But even in the worst case, if two thirds of everything I bought over that time went to waste and only a third of it ever got used, that surviving third would still cost somewhere around €1,000 at supermarket prices. I spent €513.40 on the entire haul, containers included. The maths still works out in my favour even in the most pessimistic version of this story.
So there it is, the full accounting. A little over two years, seven orders, 23 products, one slightly ridiculous banana chip purchase, and just under three thousand euro saved by refusing to buy dried oregano in seven gram jars. If you’ve read all this and still think it was a waste of your time, I’m genuinely sorry to hear it. By all means, go on, keep buying your marjoram eight grams at a time from the supermarket. Someone has to keep those margins healthy.
If you made it all the way to the end – congratulations – I have a few extra hot tips for you:
• You do not have to buy a full kilogram. 250g and 500g options are often available too.
• If you are buying larger quantities, split the order with friends. That can cut the cost even further.
• You do not need to buy every spice at once. Build your little kitchen wizard set gradually, just like I did.
• And remember, orders over €50 come with free delivery.
How is that for a tasty treat?
Catch you on the flip side,
AndrzejL
PS. Yes, I am aware that some of the items got more expensive since 2024. I am comparing prices from 2024 / 2025 to the inflated 2026 prices. Yes I am aware that there are cheaper spices and herbs available out there but from what I’ve learned over the years – if you don’t want your marjoram for example to taste and smell like… nothing – buy a good brand one.
