Azad Store, RiazUddinBazaar

Hello friends, I hope you are all well. For the fourth week of the Steemit Challenge contest, I will be sharing my experience and a review of my visit to the Spice and Condiment Store. I would like to thank the organizers of this challenge, and without further delay, I am starting my participation.

A Visit to the Spice and Condiment Store

I visited Azad Store, a grocery shop that also specializes in a wide variety of spices. It can essentially be described as a spice specialty store. They sell both loose spices and packaged varieties. Local Bangladeshi spices are the most prominent here, and they are in high demand among the local residents.

Located at Shop No. 7 in the Bajemal Dokan Goli of Riaz Uddin Bazaar—Chattogram's largest wholesale market—Azad Store attracts customers from far and wide for both wholesale and retail purchases. The store remains open every day from 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM, except for Fridays.

The store is named after its owner. Right at the entrance, a beautiful display of various spices greets the customers. Since it is a grocery store, the entire interior is organized with various household items.

The interior is well-lit with ample ceiling lighting, creating a bright environment. Almost all grocery items are neatly arranged on shelves attached to the side walls. Due to the high volume of products, the standing space inside is quite limited.

Coming to the main topic of the contest: here you can find chili, turmeric, dried chili, garlic, ginger, cumin, black pepper, and many other spices. Among the "Gorom Moshla" (whole spices), several famous regional variants are available. If you prefer, you can buy these spices in packets ranging from 250g and 500g to 1kg and the store has the digital scale to measure the weight.

The price of spices depends on their quality and variety. Common spices used in our daily meals are kept at affordable prices. Many people prefer buying dried whole spices to grind them at home or in a mill. While loose spices are generally cheaper than packaged ones, those who prefer convenience tend to opt for the branded packets.

Spice Price List according current Rates in BDT:

Spice Name (English)	Approximate Price STEEM	Approximate Price Bdt
Dried Chili	70 - 94 STEEM	450 - 600 BDT
Turmeric	44 - 55 STEEM	280 - 350 BDT
Zira Gura	94 - 125 STEEM	600 - 800 BDT
Garlic (Local)	31 - 39 STEEM	200 - 250 BDT
Nutmeg	156 - 195 STEEM	1200 - 1300 BDT
Hot-Spice Mix	78 - 94 STEEM	500 - 600 STEEM

Many people find it difficult to identify different spices or know which ones are used for specific dishes. For instance, certain spices like Panchphoron (five-spice mix) are used specifically for making pickles rather than regular cooking. For those who get confused, I believe buying packaged spices is a better option.

It is impossible to get the full flavor of a meal without spices. For both local and packaged spices, you can visit Azad Store. The advantage here is that you can buy your daily groceries alongside your spices. Furthermore, since they sell at wholesale rates, the prices are very reasonable.

✓ On a scale of 1 to 5, how would you rate the variety of spices and seasonings offered by this store?

The world of spices is vast; there are hundreds of varieties, some of which we haven't even heard of or tasted yet. Every country has its own unique blends. These varieties are most commonly found in spice-specific stores.

Since Azad Store focuses on both spices and general groceries, they carry the essential spices needed for daily local cooking. However, because they don't carry every single exotic variety, I would rate them 3.5 out of 5.

✓ What is the spice or seasoning that is always in your pantry?

One spice that is always in our pantry is Red Chili. It is perhaps the most important spice for cooking. There are different famous regional varieties of red chili. It adds a distinct heat to the food, and for those who love spicy food, the true taste is unattainable without it. Red chili is hotter than green chili and is also used to enhance the color of a dish.