It Sure Does Smell in Here: The Spice and Tea Exchange - Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks, Florida

I found this great post. It reminds me of our pike place market here in seattle.

Via Florida Home Benefits:

 It Sure Does Smell in Here: The Spice and Tea Exchange - Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks, Florida

If you are new to or moving to the Tarpon Springs or Clearwater area and need help buying a home, we have a one - stop shop set up for your convience. That can be found at Florida Home Benefits

If you are new to the area or visiting, then one place to go is the Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks. This past weekend, I took the family to the Sponge Docks in Tarpon Springs, Florida.  This was the first time that my family had been, the second time for me.

All around are boats and trawlers.  Some are shrimp boats. Others are fishing vessels.  Intermixed with these are crab boats and sponge boats.  We took a nice 105 minute water excursion across the Anclote River to Anclote Key (home of an operational lighthouse, built in the 1800s).  Very nice, peaceful and scenic.

By the time we returned to shore, the shore party was hungry.  So we went to a very nice (and cool, as in air conditioned) Greek Restaurant that was steps away from the Sponge Cruise Vessel.  I had two gyros (should have had one because they were big!) and watched USA Soccer not do so well.

We walked down (west) Decodenese Avenue.  Tarpon Springs is a Greek community very rich in culture and traditions.  There is a very small aquarium that is at the end.  Speckled between are several small shops selling sponges, olive oils soap, and other wares. At lunch we had decided a few shops that we would visit.  One being the Spice and Tea Exchange at the Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks. The docks sit on the Anclote River, approximately 4 or so miles from Anclote Key

From the moment I walked in - I sniffed the air.  Wow, it sure does smell in here (but that a GOOD THING).  Upon opening the door, you can smell the differents spices in the air.  I first noticed very smoky hues.  Along the west side of the store are salts.  Smoked Salts caught my eye, because I like to grill a lot and smoking food is tasty for me as I don't care much for extreme hot spicy foods.  I learned that one can smoke salt over certain types of wood (alderwood, applewood, chardonnay oak) but that you can mix them.  Such as Black Truffle Salt (Black Truffles are an expensive mushroom).  Did you know that there is even a chocolate salt (my mother would be in heaven!) 

So I settled for a few salts, one blend and two teas.  After my long drive how (I live clear at the opposite end of the county from Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks)  I put some chicken, brushed it with olive oil with a little Backwoods Hickory Rub. Cathy had told me at the store after throwing in an extra bag of paprika, try it with both, "a little dab will do ya" - Wow, now that's good chicken (I can see Cathy is going to get more of my money, maybe she will deliver for me or something)

So if you are visiting the Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks, make sure you stop by and see Cathy at the Spice and Tea Exchange.  If you can't make it in person, they take internet orders also.

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