Boston - June 26, 2009

Pinch an Inch

Vervacious Gourmet Spices

You pushed the envelope with your Daisy of Love love affair. But the day you bought harem pants, there was no going back.

Diagnosis: an acute lack of taste.

Take two pinches of something from Vervacious and call us in the morning. Based outside of Portland, Maine, the company started as a truffle delivery service for restos but has rapidly expanded to include a slew of gourmet spices and other epicurean delights.

Kick up your salt and pepper selections with saffron fleur de sel, mexican chili pepper salt, or the salt-and-pepper blend of Provençal lavender. Fancy up your formaggio with sweet, gooey choices like coffee apple butter, apricot mostarda, or black mission fig paste.

There are gourmet teas, cocoas, oils, and vinegars, too. All of which come in sleek, stackable glass jars that we think are very cool.

Although there’s no accounting for taste.

Available at Cardullo’s Gourmet Shoppe, 6 Brattle Street, Harvard Square (617-491-8888); online at vervacious.com.