Good Morning
I will make this comment about ALL spices in General that were common and I refer to Cupboard Spices and CHS said were all common available spices for the 11 Herbs and Spices used in the KFC recipe. I will also make a comment From Bill Sommers Marion Kay to Colonel Sanders
First and Foremost The Original KFC recipe was being developed between 1932 and 1939 according to Colonel Sanders it depends on what Interview he spoke to and where BUT if We for ALL say 1935 to 1939 that narrows the field of dreams down.
Now I have a extensive knowledge of the History from general conversation about the time period and KFC becoming and what was said this is what points were made
Spices were HAARD to com by originally, You either got them from the traveling Snake skin salesman who sold Spices as Medicine or Cooking use or you got them from the General Store NOT Costco or Amazon ( ok I added in the Costco and amazon ) CHS said the Buggy or General Store.
Claudia Said she had to ask the Colonel what she was to do when she could NOT get spices and they were out? This was a Big problem for her when she mixed the spices and CHS was on the Road.
CHS ONLY went trying to sell his Franchise with-in a 2 State radius of Corbin Originally for a few reasons. Travel was slow in the vehicles and needed to be able to get back home in a few days if needed. so he kept trips to 800 or 1200 mile radius. Colonel said he travelled like the Truck Drivers making deliveries.
So as a general rule the spices that he originally bought were ones that were from the Local area Like when he use to get his Country Ham he said he would drive as far as 800 Miles to buy what he needed and Guess what he bought spices the same time he went for Country Style hams.
so now you can see a pattern of the old ways. There were only a few suppliers he could get it from and it was NOT ALL McCormick or Sexton, BUT later in the time period ALL CHS used was Durkee when they made the Spice for him and Claudia after his Son died. The spice making was to much for Claudia to handle.
So when KFC says that they use 2 spice makers and NO ONE knows the recipe they are FULL of Chicken Chips. There are more a few companies who made spices for the colonel and Claudia who knew the recipes over the time. The corporation may have used 2 at one time BUT they don't rely on that NOW They use more extracts then spices NOW. or sorry Natural Flavoring that's what they call it
Bill S of Marion-Kay told CHS that the spices from 1935 changed and the Corporation were using substandard spices Plus they changed some of the spices they were using for cheaper and less inferior items.
CHS gave Bill S a bag of current KFC (late 1060's) spices and Bill S poured it onto a tray, where he used sight smell and knowledge to determine what KFC was using then from his knowledge went backwards to what was Common and the Best spices in 1935 era. Bill S knew that the Corporation were NOT using Tellicherry Pepper and even said there is NOT enough Tellicherry Pepper in the World for KFC demand ? So that is one of the ways Tellicherry was announced as the Original Pepper use.
How did the White Pepper come about ? In 1935 time period and when you look at the War time period CHS had a problem getting Pepper as it was Rationed so CHS then used what he could find and it was WHITE pepper which was easy to get because NO one knew about it and many people did not like it. CHS could not get a steady volume of PURE Tellicherry pepper so then he ended up using snezzless pepper and he also started using Multiple Grinds of pepper this is where he started to get the KFC aroma the Piperin in pepper. So not only did white pepper become a pepper used but that's where many grinds and the flecks jumped out in the KFC
ALL other recipes for Southern Fried Chicken used ground salt and pepper which was NOT distinguishable in the chicken.
so keep in mind this look for as Pure of spice as possible that you can find for what you need. (A TIP some of the cheaper knock of spice brands are the run off of HIGH END spices when they clean the grinders so don't discount that all CHEAP spices are NOT good you need to check them)
Also Grind as much as you can also BUT a high speed grinder Losses lots of the Oils in the spices because of heat ? Pulse your spices when grinding if you use a electric grinder and Freeze your grinder blades. or cool or freeze the spices prior to blending. DO NOT get it hot or you will loose the value of grinding it
If I use pre ground spices I prefer McCormick's BUT i don't search the world to get it I use principle of availability and $
Watch the Todd Wilbur KFC Video he is trying to make KFC and he SPENDS $220.00 buying chickens and spices ? SO trying to make home version of KFC is NOT cheap
Todd Wilbur also ordered Tellicherry Pepper BUT if you watch the Video he uses 2 Blends and grinds of Pepper in the Video which Glen points out in his Youtube video
Jamaican Ginger was the most powerful Ginger and the Pure Ginger in 1935 beside making your own
Saigon Cinnamon was the Best also in 1935 and was PURE
CHS also used 2 grinds of salt in the original KFC
Accent MSG was the ones Restaurant's used it was the one sold to Institutions and higher use market and was cheaper in cost because they added spices to it
but any MSG will work.
Maggie seasoning has LOTS of MSG and works great
hope this helps
