A new addition has been added to Mickey’s Pantry at Downtown Disney Marketplace. Occupying a corner of this store is “The Spice & Tea Exchange.”
Finding unique shops for Downtown Disney isn’t easy. Disney strives to discover distinctive stores, unlike those that you’ll find in “Any Mall U.S.A.” So “The Spice & Tea Exchange” is a great addition to the Marketplace.
Founded in 2003 under the name “Old Florida Spice Traders,” Clay Freeman endeavored to bring his customers a large selection of gourmet spices – everything from A to Z. His store carried an array of salts, teas, sugars, spices, and blended rubs. In addition, accessories designed to support the product were available. In 2007 franchises were sold and there are currently seventeen stores scattered around the country with more on the horizons.
The store at Mickey’s Pantry is small but packs a lot into a tight space. There are six display sections, each featuring a different product line. These include Salts, Teas, Sugars, Custom Blends, Kids Corner, and the Blending Area.
The best part of “The Spice & Tea Exchange” is that it’s a hands-on experience. Or should I say “a nose-on” experience. Every tea, spice, and blend is contained in a large glass jar. Guests are encouraged to pick them up, take off the lid and enjoy the aroma. If this doesn’t sell the product, I don’t know what would. If you like what you smell, consumer-sized packets are hanging directly above the jars.
Because the sense of smell tires easily, I had to give my nose a rest after experiencing several samples. But the aromas were intoxicating and I had to go back several times for additional sniffs.
Let me give you just a small example of some the unique products available:
Sugar:
Blueberry
Coconut
Green Chili
Espresso
Tea:
Almond Cookie
Cinnamon Spice
Bombay Chai
African Nectar
Rubs:
Backwoods Hickory
Crazy Chicken
English Roast
Jamaican Jerk
Salts:
Black Truffle
Chardonnay Oak Smoked Sea Salt
Cyprus Black Lava Sea Salt
Bolivian Rose
A number of the blends are packaged in containers with built-in grinders.
In the Kid’s Corner you’ll find interesting information about the origins and history of spices. In addition, a “Match Game” that plays like Concentration is available. Kids can turn the various panels looking for matching spices.
A knowledgeable cast member is on hand and is full of answers to your many questions. Some of the products are quite interesting and an explanation adds immensely to the shopping experience.
If you enjoy cooking, I strongly suggest you visit “The Spice & Tea Exchange” on your next trip to Walt Disney World. This is a unique shopping experience and I seriously doubt that any gourmet will leave this shop empty handed.
Mickey’s Pantry and “The Spice & Tea Exchange” opens at 9:30am daily. The shop closes at 11pm Sunday through Thursday and 11:30pm Friday and Saturday.
For more information about “The Spice & Tea Exchange,” check out their webpage:
I went to this store in Tampa yesterday and bought a few things – we really liked the tuscan spice blend with olive oil on bread. I will be trying it on pasta tomorrow for lunch. And the lemon sugar is really good in tea.
Thank You Jack for another great idea for our next trip. I never would have thought to stop here, but the salts and the sugars look great and I bet the girls will love it too!
Hi Jack!
Wow, the store looks wonderful! The kyoto rice tea in one of those pictures is a favorite tea of mine, called “genmaicha” in Japan. I usually order it online, since I live in South Dakota and they don’t exactly sell it around here. Those things that look like popcorn in the jar actually are popcorn. No idea why they put popcorn in there, but it works! It’s my nighttime tea of choice. =)
Jack,
Thanks for letting us know about this new treasure at Downtown Disney! My husband and I will be honeymooning at WDW soon and we both love to cook and bake, so this will be high on our list of new things to experience. Can’t wait to see it in person and smell and the delicious blends.
You mentioned that your nose got tired after a while; do they have coffee beans or some other smell “palette cleanser?”
Jack’s Answer:
I did not see any coffee beans or other such nose refreshers. That doesn’t mean they weren’t available. It just means that I didn’t see any. So ask when you visit.
hey jack
its great to see a shop like this go in downtown disney. It will be good for those who prefer tea to coffee be able to go in and enjoy the different types that will be offered. can’t wait for your next blog and as always keep up the great work
Jack-Jack!
This store looks great (as do your pics). The new updates and additions just keep rolling in the Downtown Disney area.
So what’s you favorite blend of tea?
Did they have it there?
Thank you.
Dave