Spices – If they are not something that immediately comes to mind when you think “Trader Joe’s” they should be. TJ’s has shelves of terrific spices which are decently priced if you compare them to a regular supermarket, and the spices always seem fresh to me. They move a lot of spices and get restocked all the time. I especially like some of TJ’s seasoning blends, mixed blends of whole spices, sold right in their own cleverly-designed spice grinders. As you know grinding spices just prior to using them, is the best way to get optimal flavor. You can even re-use these as they have screw tops. You can put your own stuff in them or add to the blend which I do sometimes. As far as some good TJ’s blends this is an especially great one
South African Smoke Seasoning Blend
The ingredients listed simply are: smoked paprika (in large flakes), sea salt, garlic, basil. Even though this may not sound so complex trust me when you grind this seasoning onto almost any food, you get a heavenly smoky aroma.
ON THE LABEL: “SOUTH AFRICAN SMOKE adds that wonderful Umami flavor, which can be elusive and difficult to achieve. You will be amazed and delighted at the way a grind or two will awaken any food.
So, so TRUE! I couldn’t even begin to list all the foods this is good on because it is so tasty, it might make even a slice of wet cardboard taste good! But if you try it on almost any food (meat, chicken, tofu, veggies, rice, potatoes, pasta…. you name it)… then you will agree with that this stuff is the bomb.
A jar costs about $2.29. I even added some coriander and fennel seeds into the jar, which I thought made it even better. So you could experiment a little too with these jars of spices, added some of your own spices too. Here’s what “Trader Joe’s themselves had to say about this on their site:
“Our travels take us to some of the world’s most interesting regions, where we have the opportunity to taste foods we may never have encountered on our home turf. (Full disclosure: this is the royal we, as it refers to our buyers and not, alas, to certain writers of food-related information.) Among our recent “discoveries” is Trader Joe’s South African Smoke seasoning blend, one of the more unique items we’ve come across.
South African Smoke begins with African-grown paprika that is slow-smoked for 48 hours over a sustainable African hardwood called Acacia Saligna, commonly used as barbecue coals. This process enriches the paprika with a smoky, roasted flavor that evokes the South African braai, or barbecue. The smoked paprika is blended with sea salt, garlic and basil and packaged in a grinder, giving you fresh-ground flavor in every twist. Use it as a rub for meats or veggies prior to cooking, or keep it on the table in place of everyday salt & pepper. You’ll find this spice blend only at your neighborhood Trader Joe’s, where we’re selling each 1.76 ounce grinder for $2.29.”
My only complaint about this stuff is it goes too fast in my house!
Trader Joe’s Rants & Raves (mostly raves, a few rants) 
Aug 02, 2014 @ 15:20:44
So sad to learn this spice has been discontinued.
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Aug 02, 2014 @ 16:47:29
Really?!!! Damn, its my favorite. Say it isn’t so, Joe.
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Aug 09, 2014 @ 09:07:28
If this is so good, whhy did you discontinue it. (For) Now using it in my spicing and grilling routines (and professionaly)
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Aug 09, 2014 @ 09:52:03
I love this product. I imagine didn’t sell enough? Or supplier problem? Another sad Trader Joe’s discontinued product?
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Aug 26, 2014 @ 13:06:11
I have NO idea why they would disontinue this product! IT is amazing!!!! Then you check online and it is outrageous to buy! Please bring this product back!!!
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Sep 14, 2014 @ 17:01:13
everyone I’ve talked to (and the store employees) can’t understand why they d/q’d this..whadda mistake!!!!!!
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Sep 15, 2014 @ 16:52:26
When I went to TJ’s today to buy my favorite seasoning, South African Smoke, I was told it was discontinued…WHY?? I have recommended it to all of my friends and family and they love it too. PLEASE bring it back!
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Sep 30, 2014 @ 14:01:21
Please bring it back. I use it all the time and want some more.
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Oct 06, 2014 @ 12:53:24
Absolutely mad at TJ’s for discontinuing this spice blend. And if it’s really discontinued, why on Earth Amazon selling it ?????? PLEASE bring it back!
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Oct 06, 2014 @ 16:44:59
$11.95 a bottle…. I like it , but not that much
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Oct 18, 2014 @ 22:23:38
I am sooooooo FREAKING MAD at Trader Joe’s for discontinuing the best seasoning EVER!!!!!!!! I can’t tell you how much I use it on NOR can I tell you how many people I have turned on to this across the country. WHY WHY WHY WHY would you get rid of something that is so well loved? Huh? WHYYYYYEEEE!!!!!!!!! I’ve been fussing at the poor clerks at the stores (bless ’em) telling them to get Mr. Trader OR Mr. Joe on the phone so that I can tell them what a disservice they’ve done in discontinuing this!
When I went to the store the other day, I noticed that the seasoning selection has greatly reduced. What’s up with that???? Wait…do these comments get back to the decision makers at TJ’s? If not, I’ve just wasted my dog gone time. 😐
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Oct 19, 2014 @ 17:54:18
hi tanya,
i could not agree with you more; all i know is they are ruthless as far as shelf space is concerned; the very reason i started this blog was because one product or another i liked was ‘discontinued’ so many times, that i wanted a place to rant! not that it may do anything but give them feedback on their site; maybe if thousands complained they might bring this product back?
http://www.traderjoes.com/about/index.asp
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Oct 19, 2014 @ 21:43:39
join the club…and yet they keep other ‘dogs’ on the inventory
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Nov 03, 2014 @ 16:33:59
Bring South African Smoke back!!!! Amazon is selling for $13 and I won’t pay. Why was it discontinued? Rant! Rant! Rant!
-Carla
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Nov 03, 2014 @ 20:16:53
join the club,,,WHY???????????
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Dec 26, 2014 @ 14:37:00
It’s my favorite! Maybe if enough of us complain, TJ’s will bring it back! How do we contact Mr Joe?
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Dec 27, 2014 @ 11:47:25
How to contact Mr. Joe…How about a South African Smoke signal???Sorry coudn’t resist
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Jan 07, 2015 @ 11:08:39
I used to buy 2 at a time. I was on my last one and something told me not to use it, to go and buy 2 more. In 2014 I was told that it would come back in 2015, and on another occasion I was told that it was discontinued………….UNBELIEVABLE!!!!! There was a tea biscuit that was discontinued a few yrs. ago, it was the best. TJ’s, PLEASE BRING BACK THE SOUTH AFRICAN SMOKE. I’m not going to pay exorbitant prices on Amazon or anywhere else. I’m in the process, at this very moment, trying to find something comparable, something just as good. May have to make my own.
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Jan 08, 2015 @ 17:03:36
to borrow a pun…I think our pleas are goin’ up in smoke
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Jan 12, 2015 @ 18:27:01
Please bring back the south african smoke..
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Jan 20, 2015 @ 12:16:26
Coming back to Trader Joes in May.
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Jan 20, 2015 @ 12:36:16
Really!?! There’s hope? Where did you hear this…?
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Feb 17, 2015 @ 16:29:32
Why do you carry such a GREAT product and you Corporate people ruin another bad thing????? The South African Smoke Seasoning was fantastic !!!! I would drive 1 hr. away to come to your Store JUST to get it!!!
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Feb 19, 2015 @ 19:06:58
Gee, I fwwl lucky only 45 minutes to TJ’s
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Apr 01, 2015 @ 13:59:18
Hot Dog!!! It is also good on hot dogs.
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Apr 07, 2015 @ 17:16:14
I agree with everyone here. This was one of my favorite products. I would love to see it back!!!!
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Apr 08, 2015 @ 15:58:42
I live in VA. Called TJ’s and was told that S. A. Smoke is coming back in May. Yaaaay!
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Apr 08, 2015 @ 22:54:30
ExCUSE me??? I stocked up last year with three bottles and I’m just now hearing this! I ran to my pantry and found that I have one bottle a little over 3/4 full…phew! I’m going to have to dissect the blend and figure out how to recreate it if it’s discontinued. I’m really pissed that one of my favorite products is gone. It’s the only thing I use on roast duck and roasted potatoes!!!
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Apr 23, 2015 @ 12:24:53
Just to let you know I’ve been to several tjs this month ( Seattle , Las Vegas , Nashville and several in California ) and they will all bring it back mid May as it is a seasonal item . Not discontinued !!! Come back in May and find it! Grab extra because it will not be on the shelf all year.
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May 15, 2015 @ 23:18:27
IT’S BAAAAAAAACCCCCCKKKKK!!!!!!! Grabbed 8 bottles today at TJ’S in Hanover, MA, Been watching the shelves since rumors appeared saying iut was coming back in May….It’s here….figured I’d be a nice guy and leave a couple for someone else. Beware grab ’em now, before I snag the rest :0
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May 27, 2015 @ 09:08:54
The spice is back on shelves as of Sunday.
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Jun 09, 2015 @ 20:23:52
I have to drive 2hrs to get to TJs Now its worth the drive my wife and I are so happy to see its back I was willing to do cart wheels in my wheel chair!! I wont but I was thinking about it
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Jun 10, 2015 @ 10:10:01
Greg, No cart wheels but maybe just pop a few wheelies!
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Jun 10, 2015 @ 11:04:01
OK, call me a hoarder, I don’t care!!! Buy it when you see it. Have bought 18 bottles
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Jun 10, 2015 @ 11:08:18
Part B: but being a nice guy sent 2 bottles up ‘north’ to my daughter. Yes there is a TJ’s in Burlington, VT. She does not like to shop there, says store is filled with hipster attitude for the employees…Hey TJ’s corporate …time to pay a visit there for attitude adjustment. I noticed this when the store first opened, but figured it was due to its newness and would work its way out….obviously it hasn’t
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Oct 15, 2015 @ 23:11:27
Have you ever been to your local trader joes store, then days or weeks later think back and say wow that last weeks demo was really tasty, what was it again and how do I make it? Search “foodsampler” in the apple app store for an app that is updated by users like you and keeps every demo uploaded and saved to help you remember what was given out on previous days or weeks.
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Oct 16, 2015 @ 13:57:29
Thanks for the info Ryan. Sometimes the samples are great combinations, like one I had the other day: Pumpkin Ice Cream topped with Spiced Pumpkin Seeds. Sounds like “too much pumpkin” going on… but I gotta say, it was delicious!
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Oct 17, 2015 @ 01:17:49
had their pumpkin cream muffin samples last week…thought I saw a warning to check for legality in which they are purchased
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Sep 19, 2016 @ 13:49:14
Found it at https://www.pureandnaturalspices.com/product_p/sku2008.htm
11 ounces 5.99.
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Nov 15, 2016 @ 07:22:30
Did you try this? Is it as good? I see that it’s already ground, not in a grind-yourself-as-you-use container like at TJ’s – is it staying fresh and packing as much of a punch? Is the ratio of the blend about the same? Thanks so much!
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Apr 12, 2017 @ 10:01:48
Hello, it is not discontinued, it’s a seasonal product offered during the summer grilling season only. Hope this saves some frustrations.
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Apr 12, 2017 @ 11:12:15
Good to know. Thanks for info!
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Sep 22, 2017 @ 23:18:12
It’s back, it’s back!! Bought 10 bottles of it today!! Woohoo! Gotta make it through the next year!
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Sep 23, 2017 @ 17:48:44
Yes, its been on the shelves with no problems for some time. Always good to think ahead though. As its whole spices with grinder, its sure to last a year or two in the cupboard.
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Dec 05, 2022 @ 15:04:26
I know this is an old thread… but we have been looking for this since the first time we bought it. I’m sure the flavor may not suit most Americans taste, but I’m Gullah Geechee and it is the flavors I grew up on.
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