Spice Station

Your senses are immediately awakened upon stepping into Spice Station on Monkland Avenue — this shop takes its spices seriously. The owner divides his time between his stores in Monkland, the Mile End, and the original shop in Los Angeles, California.

Clarice Valotaire is one of the managers of the Monkland Avenue store and an expert on all things spice related. She makes it clear that the store's spices are sourced from around the world, and is happy to explain how; for example, a Montreal supplier imports chile peppers directly from Mexico. Fresh spices such as these arrive weekly from that importer and others that the store works with.