Spice Blends

A spice packet from the store is mostly filler — anti-caking agents, maltodextrin, "natural flavor" doing a lot of unexplained work. The actual blend underneath is usually just 5-8 real spices in the right ratio. Once you know the ratio, you're not buying the packet again.

Mixing your own also means buying the spices themselves in bulk from a real organic source instead of a tiny reformulated jar — see the Spices & Seasonings pantry aisle to compare organic options for everything these blends call for.