What is freeze drying?
Freeze-drying (lyophilization) is a water removal process and food preservation technique that involves freezing a product,
then placing it in a vacuum to allow the frozen water to sublimate directly into vapor, bypassing the liquid state. This results in a lightweight, porous, and shelf-stable product that retains much of its original nutrients, flavour, and structure, making it ideal for long-term food storage. The freeze-drying process preserves the cellular structure of herbs. This means that when the herbs are re-hydrated, they can regain their original texture and nutrient profile more positively than herbs dried by other methods.
So let’s RECAP
Why Freeze-dried ingredients?
- Freeze-dried ingredients retain more concentrated flavour and aroma than conventionally dried herbs.
- The aroma, flavour and colour are akin to fresh herbs.
- Herbs are seasonal and having Freeze-dried herbs in your pantry means that you have
quality herbs available in winter when fresh herbs may be hard to come by. - Lower quantities are needed than conventionally dried herbs due to the intense flavour that is retained.
Products on offer subject to seasonal availability
Herbal Green Salt
Our specially formulated Herbal Green “Health Salt” is a blend of freeze-dried Salicornia and herbs giving it a unique and distinctive salty flavour!
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Freeze-dried Basil
Regular price R 37.00 ZARRegular price -
Freeze-dried Chilli Powder
Regular price R 37.00 ZARRegular price -
Freeze-dried Chives
Regular price R 37.00 ZARRegular price -
Freeze-dried Garlic Powder
Regular price R 37.00 ZARRegular price -
Freeze-dried Ginger Powder
Regular price R 37.00 ZARRegular price -
Freeze-dried Onion Powder
Regular price R 37.00 ZARRegular price -
Freeze-dried Oregano
Regular price R 37.00 ZARRegular price -
Freeze-dried Parsley
Regular price R 37.00 ZARRegular price -
Freeze-dried Rosemary
Regular price R 37.00 ZARRegular price -
Freeze-dried Sage
Regular price R 37.00 ZARRegular price -
Sold outHerbal Green Salt
Regular price R 50.00 ZARRegular price
Let customers speak for us
As a chef, it’s rare to find spices that are this naturally flavourful and that add so much depth to every meal you prepare. I was genuinely impressed by the quality and freshness it definitely elevated the final dish beautifully. I’m incredibly pleased with the results and excited to keep using these spices in my cooking. Highly recommended for anyone looking to bring more flavour and quality into their kitchen.
I make my own burger sauce and this has become the garlic component. The flavour is properly garlicky with none of the sour or stale edge most powders have, and because it's dry it goes straight into the mayo base without thinning it out the way crushed fresh cloves do.
Great heat with real chilli flavour behind it. I've used it in a marinade, dusted it over scrambled eggs, and stirred it through a slow-cooked stew.
Solid little range and properly clean ingredients. The flavour on the freeze-dried singles is noticeably closer to fresh than anything else I've kept in the pantry, and there's nothing weird in the jar, just the herb or spice itself. Packaging is tidy, price per jar is fair for what you get, and the four I bought have all earned a permanent spot on the shelf. Will reorder.
This one surprised me most. Pop the lid and it actually smells like basil, not the dusty hay-ish thing supermarket dried basil usually gives you. Sprinkled it over a tomato salad with olive oil and it rehydrated into something close to torn fresh leaves. Also brilliant stirred into a pasta sauce right at the end so it keeps its colour. Honestly better than trying to keep a basil plant alive on the kitchen windowsill.
As a chef, it is rare to find a product that is as good as this in terms of flavour and not having all of the extra preservatives/stabilisers. I am confidently able to use the product knowing it tastes like what it says it tastes like. Better quality and flavour than the store bought alternatives, and better end quality on the final dishes. That goes for all of The Chefs Collection products I've tried. They have replaced my previously used spices.