Curry Powder

Curry powder typically is made from a mix of spices that can include turmeric, cumin, coriander, fenugreek and ground chilies, but blends vary widely by brand. For that reason, so do flavor and quality. We wanted to find our favorite, so we tasted 10 of the most popular brands, evaluating them for flavor, aroma and heat level.

When shopping for curry powder, start by reading labels. The blend of spices used will give you a sense of what to expect and whether the heat level will please you or put you off (cayenne or chilies at the start of the list could indicate a spicier blend). And as with any spice, look for packaging or expiration dates; freshness is key.

Not surprisingly, our top choices were from small-batch premium brands. Our winner was an organic curry powder from Pure Indian Foods. It offered complex flavors from the addition of warming spices, including cardamom, nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon. Our runner-up was from Burlap & Barrel, which included ginger for bright flavor (though some tasters wanted more heat in the mix). Among widely available supermarket brands, Morton & Bassett took the top spot for its mild, sweet flavor and earthy notes.

Surprisingly, widely popular Penzeys Sweet Curry Powder underwhelmed us with its overly sweet flavor and gritty texture. Worst overall were the curry powders from Laxmi and McCormick, both criticized for their unbalanced profiles.