Weihnachten ·Nov 04, 2021

Advent calendar in spice jars

Cinnamon, vanilla, cloves or nutmeg - these spices are a must in the run-up to Christmas! To make the run-up to Christmas as colorful and delicious as possible for your loved ones (or yourself), we have a great DIY idea for your Advent calendar this year: 24 different spices in a mini storage jar - a new spice every day, inspiration for a new recipe every day. We have briefly summarized what you need to pay attention to when it comes to spices, how best to store them and how you can make your own spices.

Advent calendar with spices

Give away order

The spice drawer is often full of things - everything is in a wild mess and you always think, "Ah, I'm sure I've got rosemary somewhere." Often, when you're cooking and you're in a hurry, you're horrified to find that there's no rosemary in the house or that it's dried out and no longer tastes good. Who knows this? That's exactly why we love the spice jars with bamboo lids so much. Everything is in a row - clearly arranged and looks beautiful! You can use the chalk marker to write numbers on the jars. After the Christmas season, you can simply wipe it off with water or wash the whole jar in the dishwasher. To ensure even more clarity in the pantry, we have super pretty labels for spices that you can put on them.

How do you store spices properly?

Spices are not only delicious, but can also cost a bit more. Saffron, vanilla and cardamom are among the most expensive spices in the world. It would be a shame to let them go bad due to incorrect storage and not be able to use them anymore. That's why we have 3 tips on how to store your spices properly so that they don't go bad or lose their taste.

Store in a dry place : As is often incorrectly advised, we recommend that you do not store your spices in the refrigerator. Moisture can quickly build up there, causing your spices to clump or even become moldy. It is also not ideal to store the spices above the stove, as the rising steam can also create moisture there.
Store in a dark place and protected from light : Exposure to light can cause your spices to lose their vitamins and flavor. It is therefore best to find a nice corner or drawer that is protected from light so that the aroma is preserved.
Store airtight : Another reason why the aroma of your spices can diminish is fresh air. If you don't store them properly sealed, they will evaporate more quickly and taste bland after just a few days. The bamboo lid on our mini storage jars has an airtight seal thanks to the silicone sealing ring, so your spices stay optimally fresh.

You will get the best aroma from your spices if you store them dry, protected from light and airtight. Another little bonus point: if you store them correctly, the spice power is well preserved and you often need to add much less of your valuable spices to your dishes and they will still taste intense and good.

A homemade spice advent calendar

This is what you need for the Advent calendar with 24 spices:

24 x Storage Jar Bamboo Lid | Mini
chalk markers
24 spices of your choice

For the post-Christmas period, you can also give away 33 labels for spices .

Have you ever thought about drying your own herbs?

If you have the luxury of a garden, it is of course a good idea to always bring fresh herbs into the kitchen. For the winter, however, it might be worth considering either freezing the herbs and spices - there is already a detailed post on our blog about this - or drying them! If you don't have your own garden, you can of course buy fresh herbs in the supermarket and dry them before they go bad. You can dry fresh herbs in the air, in the oven or even in the microwave. However, the gentlest way is to dry them in the air - this is the best way to preserve the vitamins and aroma. Thyme, oregano, rosemary, sage and dill are particularly suitable for drying. To do this, tie the herbs together with a string and hang them upside down in a dry, clean room at a room temperature of 20-30°C. It also doesn't hurt to always ventilate the room well. The faster the herbs dry, the better. This way they won't start to mold. The optimal drying time is 24-48 hours. If it takes longer, the quality of the spices will already be deteriorating. You can tell whether the herbs are well dried by rubbing the leaves between your fingers. If they crumble, they are well dried and ready for the spice jar. Now it's your turn! You still have a little time to dry your herbs, choose spices for the Advent calendar, think of recipes and then fill and decorate the spice jars. :-)