Spent $60 on a fancy rub set and the store-brand stuff was better

I bought this 4-jar set of specialty rubs from a pitmaster's website after seeing it on a show. Every single one tasted like extra salt and the cumin one was just gritty. Has anyone else had better luck making their own blends instead of buying the hype?

2 comments

2 Comments

julia_anderson9d ago

That $60 rub set probably has a 400% markup for a fancy label and a TV personality's name on it. Is it really worth getting worked up over store brand vs. fancy when cumin is cumin either way?

dixon.iris8d ago

Oh yeah you're totally right about the markup! It's wild how these big name rubs are mostly just salt with a little bit of the actual spice thrown in. I've had the same experience where I'd pay top dollar for something and it's just not as good as the cheap stuff from the grocery store. What gets me is that cumin is indeed cumin, but somehow the store brand manages to taste more like actual cumin instead of just salty dust. I've started just grabbing the basic blends from the local market and mixing in my own extra spices, saves a ton and tastes way better.