Neat rows of square silver packages fill the shelves at a new establishment. Spices whose influences span the globe are inside each.
Patrons who visit downtown Charleston’s new food retail store can sample some if they like. They can delight in the many dishes they might make using seasonings like hot honey barbecue, al pastor and French herbed dijon.
Many are versatile, too. A mignonette blend is meant to be paired with oysters; the woman working inside the small store says she uses it to make chip dip.
The spices and blends are the brainchild of Meherwan Irani, chef and owner of Asheville, N.C., restaurant Chai Pani. One year after opening a spice shop in Asheville called Spicewalla, Irani expanded the brand to Charleston in July.
Spicewalla is now open, July 23, 2024, in Charleston.
More than 200 spices and 60-plus varieties of culturally diverse blends are available for purchase at Spicewalla on July 23 in Charleston.
Tigers adorn the logo for Spicewalla at the store, July 23, 2024, in Charleston.
Hats are sold at Spicewalla, July 23, 2024, in Charleston.
More than 200 spices and 60-plus varieties of culturally diverse blends are available for purchase at Spicewalla, July 23, 2024, in Charleston.
A variety of spices are stacked on shelves for customers to peruse at Spicewalla, July 23, 2024, in Charleston.
Samples are available for patrons to taste at Spicewalla, July 23, 2024, in Charleston.
Recipe guides are stationed beside the entrance at Spicewalla, July 23, 2024, in Charleston.
Seasoning for Sicilian pizza and honey garlic salmon are available for purchase at Spicewalla, July 23, 2024, in Charleston.
Small bottles packed with seasoning are placed on top of their products at Spicewalla, July 23, 2024, in Charleston.
A collaboration between Spicewalla and T-Pain is available to buy, July 23, 2024, in Charleston.
Spicewalla is now open, July 23, 2024, in Charleston.
More than 200 spices and 60-plus varieties of culturally diverse blends are available for purchase at Spicewalla on July 23 in Charleston.
Tigers adorn the logo for Spicewalla at the store, July 23, 2024, in Charleston.
Hats are sold at Spicewalla, July 23, 2024, in Charleston.
More than 200 spices and 60-plus varieties of culturally diverse blends are available for purchase at Spicewalla, July 23, 2024, in Charleston.
A variety of spices are stacked on shelves for customers to peruse at Spicewalla, July 23, 2024, in Charleston.
Samples are available for patrons to taste at Spicewalla, July 23, 2024, in Charleston.
Recipe guides are stationed beside the entrance at Spicewalla, July 23, 2024, in Charleston.
Seasoning for Sicilian pizza and honey garlic salmon are available for purchase at Spicewalla, July 23, 2024, in Charleston.
Small bottles packed with seasoning are placed on top of their products at Spicewalla, July 23, 2024, in Charleston.
A collaboration between Spicewalla and T-Pain is available to buy, July 23, 2024, in Charleston.
Irani, who moved from India to the U.S. to attend graduate school, opened Chai Pani in 2009. The Indian street food eatery, which has a second location in Decatur, Ga., won a James Beard Award in 2022 in the Outstanding Restaurant category. (The list of five finalists for that award included Charleston’s Butcher & Bee, which permanently closed in 2023.)
Spicewalla was launched in 2017 with the goal of bringing fresh spices to restaurant kitchens. The brand took off when, two years later, Irani’s spices landed on Oprah’s “Favorite Things” list.
That led to partnerships with celebrities like T-Pain, whose Spicewalla chicken wing rub set is sold in Charleston. In addition to more than 200 spices and 60-plus varieties of culturally diverse blends, Spicewalla patrons will also find olive oils, nut butters and other goods from locally owned Asheville businesses.
