Gewürzhaus: bringing the world’s flavours to Australian kitchens

Gewürzhaus first opened its doors on Lygon St in 2010, and since then, the brand has expanded to 12 more locations across Australia.

Specialising in handcrafted spice blends, customers can scoop their own from large tubs or choose from a selection of pre-packaged jars and sachets.

The business was founded by German-born sisters Eva and Maria, who spent six months refining their vision before launching the store – originally as a gelato shop.

“In order for them to take on the lease, they were required to continue to run the business as a gelato shop, so for eight months they ran the business as a gelato shop,” store manager Sadie said.

“They said they’ve never worked so hard in their lives. They set the store up wholly on their own, including ideas and designs for fixtures and fittings.”

Today, Gewürzhaus offers around 350 different herbs and spices, with a focus on expertly blended seasonings.

“They’re organised into different cooking styles or geographic cuisines. Everything you see is available to be scooped into a matching spice bag with some inspiration for how to use it, or some history,” Sadie told Inner City News.

“We encourage people to lift the lids and have a smell of the spices, it really helps to be able to imagine flavours and how to use the spices.”

Beyond spices, Gewürzhaus also offers a selection of herbal and black teas, as well as rich hot chocolate.

While these products are often enjoyed as traditional beverages, Sadie encourages customers to “think outside the box” by using the loose-leaf tea range in creative ways, such as sprinkling it over chai, yogurt, or desserts.

As for the store’s best-selling product? The quick butter chicken blend.

“It has a huge appeal because it’s family-friendly, it’s not too spicy but still has flavour so it’s really popular for families,” Sadie said.

In addition to spices and teas, Gewürzhaus carries a curated range of merchandise, including aprons, tea towels, dishcloths, and handcrafted wooden German cleaning products.

“We want it to be a welcoming place to visit, and a sensory, visual experience,” Sadie said.

“We want to provide knowledgeable services that hopefully hits the right balance between being able to guide and support customers if there’s a lack of confidence around how to use the spices. But for the experts, we’re happy to leave you to your own devices in our self-serve store.”

At its core, Gewürzhaus is about more than just spices – it’s about community, passion, and inspiring home cooking.

“We’re focused on caring for each other, caring for our customers, and inspiring people to cook at home. They’re the core values of the businesses, and we take pride in working really hard and to a high standard to achieve that common goal.”

gewurzhaus.com.au •