Where can I find good chili powder?

Question

I don't mean that weird orange powder they sell at Safeway...I am looking for the dark, almost black-red stuff that is slightly grainy and shiny--not necessarily super-hot, but just a robust roasted chili taste. And I don't want to pay an arm and a leg for it, so looking for a source maybe in a local Mexican market. Any suggestions?

Answer

For chili powder that already has cumin and oregano added, I'd look in the regular spice section of a grocery. Gebhardt is a brand that is commonly seen in competition chili lists. With the beans you might find Wick Fowlers Two Alarm Chili, which has these ingredients in separate cello packages.

In the Mexican aisle you should find a rack of spices in cello packages. Those often include one or more types of ground dried chile (not chili powder). They may be labeled New Mexico, Ancho, Pasilla, etc. Those racks also have whole dried chiles, which you could grind yourself (or rehydrate and puree).

I've never noticed the 'shiny' quality - though in some grinds the skin might give it a shiny quality.

In Mexican/Latino shops (in the Seattle area) you will find a wider variety of whole dried chiles, but the selection of preground ones won't be any bigger, maybe even less.

In a place like Central Market you might also find packages from boutique vendors in New Mexico (or similar).

Answer

You can check out Penzey's spices 
http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/c-SpicesAs_Herbs_and_Seasonings.html?id=wr4vageD
 I bought the Chile 9000 and really like it. They have the single ingredient ground chilies and they also have a few chili powder blends that are very good. They have a store near Portland; I don't know about other locations. You can mail order.

Answer

From your description it sounds like ground pasilla chili would fit the bill. There is a Mexican shop by Starbucks in the Pike Place Market that sells it. They also have some other varieties. They have a blend they call Rio Grande which good, too. 

I used to be able to find pasilla chili powder in most grocery stores in the bags that are usually in the Mexican food section. It's kind of hit or miss now whether I can find it there.

-----
Pike Place Market
1501 Pike Pl, Seattle, WA 98101

Answer

I had read several Chili recipes that called for Ancho Chili powder. Had a devil of a time finding it. I then read that Ancho Chili powder is the dried version of the Poblano and by chance found it at Whole Foods. It was in a cellophane bag.

jb

Answer

Big John PFI's has a nice selection and you can buy as much or as little as you like.

Answer

Mild Bill's is a good source for both Gebhardt's and a wide variety of other chili powders. While their web site shows an expensive 2-day shipping cost, they will ship regular mail that costs much less and won't take much longer if at all.

http://www.mildbills.com/

Answer

A bit late on the reply, but World Spice on Western next to the Pike Place hillclimb is freaking awesome. They have three different chili powder blends and they grind it to order right in front of you. You can buy small quantities for $2 an ounce. I won't buy my spices anywhere else.

worldspice.com

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Where can I find good chili powder?

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