The other-worldly aroma inside this spice emporium, run by the same family for four generations, has to be inhaled to be believed. Shelves, sacks, bins and bottles display more than 2600 products, from exotic spice mixtures (including Pierina’s Spice, based on a secret recipe passed down by owner Tony’s mother) to herbal teas, and from dried fruits to aromatic oils.
The name is the local pronunciation of al vapeur (‘the steam’ in Arabicised French), the name given in the 1890s to the steam engine that once ran the company’s infernally noisy, German-made flour mill. Products can be ordered online and shipped around the world.
