PRODUCT REVIEW - Commercial Tuscan Seasoning

Link to my original blog on my original recipe for "Tuscan spice mix ingredients" (Proud to say my blog came up as #1 on google search with the terms in quotes).

http://internationalfoodblog.blogspot.com/2012/04/tuscan-spice-mix-uses-and-recipe_3356.html#.ULTlpIfEySo

Have gained a fond interest in all things TUSCAN, especially the culture and the food.  Have found the "culprit" or MIA in two of the three of the commercial Tuscan seasonings that I reviewed is the lack of FENNEL* in the seasonings and in the third product there is also no fennel but they have added sesame  seeds (rarely used at all in Tuscan cooking)!! 

I think this is a huge oversight on a company this large. I do believe they DIDN'T DO THEIR HOMEWORK.

Photo of fennel seeds:

Photo of caraway seeds

*FENNEL Now, grant you, some people don't like fennel & one of the reasons they don't is that people tend to OVERFENNELIZE products & seasonings.  It's just like:

• Commercial canned diced tomatoes with garlic. Oh my, I never buy that. After the very first time, years ago, that I bought diced tomatoes with garlic I NEVER BOUGHT THAT PRODUCT AGAIN. TOO MUCH GARLIC. 
• Same with canned diced tomatoes with Italian seasoning: OVER DONE especially with OREGANO.
• NOTE: I personally love garlic and oregano and fennel but commercial producers tend to overdo. I don't know why but maybe they are afraid that people won't think they are getting their money's worth  OR their cooks (certainly not chefs) are so crappy they don't know better. Subtlety is not their forte.

*FENNEL If you have never cooked with fresh fennel then you are missing something.  It is nothing like the dried jarred fennel.  It is subtle and not strong at all. 

PRODUCT 1:  McCormick Perfect Pinch Tuscan (no fennel)

 

Click on photos to read labels

PRODUCT 2 - McCormick Gourmet Collection Blends: Tuscan Seasoning (no fennel)

 

Click on photos to read labels

HERE IS MCCORMICK'S "TUSCAN ESCAPE"  PAGE WITH MENUS AND RECIPES.  NOT A BIT OF FENNEL IN ANY OF THE RECIPES: (Some good ideas though):

http://www.mccormickgourmet.com/Inspiration/DinnerParties/Tuscan-Escape.aspx?cmpid=ps-mc-ks-gg-nonbrand-kb-tuscan_escape-tuscan_cooking-categorylp&k_clickid=2d6a4a83-da49-0869-ca85-0000100b7733

PRODUCT 3 - Victoria Taylor's Seasonings - Tuscan Seasoning (no fennel but sesame oil & seeds??) Researched over 50 websites in April and TODAY and found no sesame seeds in any tuscan spice mixes or cooking.   However, just found something.  Look below this group of photos!

  

Click on photos to read labels

I found one recipe with coriander seeds that I noticed.   Look at these seeds!! 

Coriander

Sesame

Wow, don't they look alike?  Could this be the mistake on the above spice?

WHY AM I DOING THIS?  I think if you are going to be a good cook or even a chef you have to get the ingredients right. If someone doesn't like an herb or spice and you want to make it anyway, cut down the amount.  For someone who doesn't like a lot of oregano or fennel or ... cut down the amount so you will have the ORIGINALITY of the recipe and/or the area. 

SEE LINK AT TOP OF PAGE FOR MY ORIGINAL TUSCAN SPICE MIX INGREDIENTS!!