Seasoning & Spice Blends

Turkish home cooking relies heavily on ready-made spice mortars, known as harç, which grew out of generations of cooks combining meat, herbs and pepper into a single blend rather than measuring each spice separately every time a dish is made. This category brings that tradition into a UK kitchen without the guesswork.

What is in the range

Just over 30 products sit here, led by Basak's dedicated mortars, including the Inegol meatball mortar for one of Turkey's most famous köfte styles, a grill mortar for barbecued meat and chicken, and an Adana-style spicy mortar for skewered kebabs. Bodrum contributes chicken seasoning and its own version of the Adana blend, alongside pantry basics like dried mint, sesame seeds and mahaleb powder that often get folded into these mixes at home. Kucharek's universal vegetable seasoning covers the non-meat side of cooking, while Bodrum's fine lemon salt and blue poppy seeds are the kind of finishing touches that lift a simple dish. Between the named mortars and the supporting spices, most classic Turkish grilling and mincemeat dishes are covered.

Choosing, storing and using

Match the mortar to the dish rather than guessing: Inegol mortar suits plain minced beef meatballs, the grill mortar works well on chicken thighs and lamb chops, and the Adana blend wants a fattier minced lamb to carry its spice properly. Keep opened packs sealed and away from steam, as moisture is what shortens their shelf life fastest. A little goes a long way with these mortars since they are concentrated, so start with less than you think and adjust to taste on the next batch.

How this is used in Turkish cooking

These blends are typically kneaded directly into minced meat before shaping into köfte or skewers, letting the mixture rest for at least thirty minutes so the flavours combine properly before cooking on a hot grill or pan.

Delivery across the UK

Orders are sent by DHL Express and arrive within 1-2 business days across the UK, with free delivery once your basket reaches £60 and a flat £5.99 charge below that.