Answers · أجوبة
The questions the GTA trade asks us, answered plainly
Short, direct answers first — detail after. These are the questions we hear from restaurant kitchens, grocery buyers and wellness retailers across Toronto and the GTA. If yours isn't here, send it with an inquiry and we'll answer it with a quotation attached.
Product knowledge
What things are, how they differ, and how to judge quality.
- What Additives Appear in Jarred Olives and Why?
- Is Allspice a Single Spice or a Blend?
- Does Arabic Coffee Have More Caffeine Than Espresso?
- What Roast Level Is Arabic Coffee?
- Why Is Arabic Ice Cream Stretchy and Chewy?
- What Allergens Do Arabic Sweets Commonly Contain?
- Are Spices Gluten-Free?
- What's the Difference Between Artichoke Hearts and Bottoms?
- What's the Difference Between Baharat and Ras el Hanout?
- Is Baking Powder the Same as Baking Soda?
- What's the Difference Between Baklava and Kunafa?
- Is Bulk Spice the Same Quality as Retail Packs?
- Why Is Cardamom Added to Arabic Coffee?
- What Does Cardamom Taste Like?
- What Is a Certificate of Analysis for Food Products?
- What's the Difference Between Chantilly and Whipped Cream?
- What Is Citric Acid Made From?
- What Does Clove Taste Like?
- Is Cocoa Powder the Same as Cacao Powder?
- How Do You Compare Spice Blends Between Suppliers?
- Is Coriander Seed the Same as Cilantro?
- Is Creme Caramel the Same as Flan?
- What's the Difference Between Cumin and Caraway?
- What Is Curry Powder Made Of?
- What Is Custard Powder Made Of?
- What Do Desert Truffles Taste Like?
- What Does Double Concentrate Mean for Tomato Paste?
- What Does Drained Weight Mean on Olive Tins?
- Can Dried Mint Replace Fresh Mint?
- Why Can't You Eat Olives Straight Off the Tree?
- What's the Difference Between Fennel Seed and Anise?
- What Does Fenugreek Taste Like?
- What Food Safety Certifications Should Suppliers Have?
- Can You Fry With Extra Virgin Olive Oil?
- Can Garlic Powder Replace Fresh Garlic?
- What's the Difference Between Green and Black Cardamom?
- What Are the Grades of Gum Arabic?
- What's the Difference Between Halal and Kosher Certification?
- What's the Difference Between Herbs and Spices?
- Does Hibiscus Tea Have Caffeine?
- How Is Gum Arabic Harvested?
- Are Irradiated Spices Allowed in Canada?
- Is Halva Gluten-Free?
- Is Halva Halal?
- Is Ma'amoul Vegan?
- Is Mastic Gum Vegan?
- Is Sumac Poisonous?
- How Can Buyers Judge Dried Mint Quality?
- How Do You Judge Hibiscus Quality Before Buying?
- What Is Jumbo Cardamom and How Is Cardamom Graded?
- Are Luqaimat and Loukoumades the Same?
- What Can Substitute for Mahlab?
- What's the Difference Between Marjoram and Oregano?
- Why Does Moisture Content Matter in Dried Herbs?
- What Does "Natural" Mean on Food Labels in Canada?
- Are Nigella Seeds the Same as Black Sesame?
- What's the Difference Between Nutmeg and Mace?
- What Do Olive Calibre Numbers Like 260/290 Mean?
- What Does Olive Oil Acidity Actually Mean?
- Why Does Good Olive Oil Burn the Back of Your Throat?
- What Do Olive Oil Grade Names Actually Mean?
- Why Is Some Olive Oil Green and Some Golden?
- When Is Olive Oil Harvest Season?
- Do Olives With Pits Taste Better?
- Why Are Some Products Packed in Brine and Others in Oil?
- Is Pomegranate Sauce the Same as Pomegranate Molasses?
- Is Crushed Red Pepper Paste the Same as Harissa?
- What Is a Spec Sheet for Food Products?
- Why Does Spice Colour Vary Between Batches?
- What Does Grind Size Mean for Ground Spices?
- What Is Tandoori Spice Made Of?
- How Can You Tell Good Dried Bay Leaves?
- Is Tomato Paste the Same as Tomato Purée?
- What Is Turkish Delight Made Of?
- Can Vanilla Powder Replace Vanilla Extract?
- What Are Capers Made From?
- What Are "Light" Black Olives?
- What Are Nawashif (Dry Arabic Sweets)?
- What Are Salkini Green Olives?
- What Are Steam-Sterilised Spices?
- What Is Karkade?
- What Is Kolonjan (Galangal)?
- What Is Maramia (Sage Tea)?
- What Is Muhammara Made Of?
- What Is Olive Pomace Oil?
- What Is Paprika Made From?
- What's the Difference Between White and Black Pepper?
- Why Is Cardamom So Expensive?
- Why Do Olive Oil Prices Fluctuate So Much?
- Why Are Pistachios Green?
- What's the Difference Between Za'atar and Dukkah?
- What Are Arabic Gum Crystals?
- Cassia vs. Ceylon Cinnamon: What's the Difference for Foodservice Buyers?
- Does sesame origin matter for tahini?
- Freekeh vs bulgur: what's the difference?
- Is your custard powder halal?
- Is halva just solid tahini?
- How do you judge a good extra virgin olive oil?
- How can you tell high-quality za'atar?
- How do you spot adulterated or padded spices?
- What's the difference between hulled and unhulled tahini?
- Is freekeh gluten-free?
- Kalamata vs green olives: what's the difference?
- Is Laurel Leaf the Same as Bay Leaf?
- What fillings do ma'amoul come with?
- What's the difference between Palestinian, Jordanian, Syrian and Lebanese za'atar?
- What can substitute for pomegranate molasses?
- Is pomegranate molasses the same as grenadine?
- Does "Product of X" mean the oil was grown and pressed there?
- Safflower vs Saffron: They Are Not the Same Spice
- Sesame halva vs semolina halva: what's the difference?
- What can substitute for sumac?
- Is tahini the same as tahina?
- Turkish coffee vs Arabic coffee: what's the difference?
- What are ma'amoul cookies?
- What does za'atar taste like?
- What is barazek?
- What is freekeh and why is it smoky?
- What is ghraybeh?
- What is hab el aziz?
- What is hab el rashad?
- What is halva (halawa) made of?
- What is ka'ak el eid?
- What Is Kabsa Spice Made Of?
- What Is Loomi (Black Lime)?
- What is luqmat al-qadi?
- What Is Mahlab?
- What is pomegranate molasses?
- What is Lebanese seven spice (sabaa baharat)?
- What is sumac and what does it taste like?
- What is za'atar made of?
- What is zhourat tea?
- What makes a good tahini?
- What tahini percentage signals quality halva?
- Should a kitchen buy whole or ground spices?
- Is za'atar the same as thyme or oregano?
Buying wholesale
Cases, quotes, minimums and how inquiry ordering works.
- What Does FOB Mean on a Supplier Quote?
- Can a Home-Based Food Business Buy Wholesale?
- How Long Does a Private Label Project Take?
- How Long Is a Wholesale Quote Valid?
- How Do Backorders Work With a Wholesale Supplier?
- Is There HST on Wholesale Food Orders in Canada?
- What Is Landed Cost for Imported Food?
- What Does MOQ Mean When Buying Wholesale Food?
- What Payment Methods Do Wholesale Food Suppliers Accept?
- Can You Pick Up Wholesale Orders Instead of Delivery?
- Can Two Businesses Split a Wholesale Order?
- Do Suppliers Hold Stock for Regular Wholesale Buyers?
- What Is a Pro Forma Invoice in Wholesale Trade?
- What Happens If a Wholesale Order Arrives Damaged?
- How Do Volume Price Tiers Work in Wholesale Food?
- Do you sell artichoke hearts in glass jars?
- How Do You Buy Black Lime Powder in Bulk?
- Are breadsticks sold wholesale by the carton?
- Bulk Gum Arabic: Is It Food-Grade?
- Can you get samples before committing to a bulk order?
- Can you request products that aren't in the catalogue?
- Can a small café or shop buy wholesale?
- How Do You Buy Cassia Cinnamon in Bulk?
- What Does a 10 lb Bag of Chilli Flakes Get a Kitchen?
- Christmas Hamper Supplies Wholesale: A Sourcing Guide
- Can You Buy Citric Acid in 25 kg Bags?
- Can I buy ground coffee in 100 g packs wholesale?
- Is consignment common for wholesale food products?
- How Do You Buy Cumin Seeds Wholesale?
- Do you sell custard powder in a 10 kg bag?
- Is Levant Direct looking for food brands seeking Canadian distributors?
- Dried Marjoram by the Kilo: A Wholesale Buying Guide
- Dried Spearmint Leaves in Bulk: What a 25 lb Order Looks Like
- How do exclusive distribution rights work for food brands in Canada?
- Is Fennel Seed Available in 25 lb Foodservice Bags?
- Does Levant Direct run a food reseller program in Canada?
- Finding a Golden Sesame Seeds Supplier
- What gourmet food works well in wholesale gift baskets?
- Do you sell grissini breadsticks in bulk?
- Where Do You Buy Ground Aniseed in Bulk?
- What Does a 25 lb Bag of Ground Black Pepper Get You?
- Can You Buy Ground Cardamom in Bulk?
- How Do You Buy Ground Mahlab in Bulk?
- Do you supply halal gelatin?
- How does wholesale delivery work across the GTA?
- How does inquiry-based wholesale ordering work?
- How do wholesale reorders work?
- How do you compare supplier quotations properly?
- How do you open a wholesale account?
- Hulled Sesame Seeds in 25 kg Bags: A Buyer's Guide
- Is there a minimum order for wholesale Levantine goods?
- Can I buy jelly powder in bulk?
- Where Do You Buy Kalonji in Bulk?
- Does Levant Direct offer Middle Eastern grocery dropshipping?
- Is there a Middle Eastern food wholesale price list I can request?
- What's a mixed pallet vs a full-case order?
- Do food suppliers offer net-30 payment terms?
- Do you sell olive oil in 3 litre tins?
- Can I buy olive oil in small bottles wholesale, for gifting or retail?
- Do you sell olives in tins for wholesale?
- What minimums are typical for private label?
- Ramadan Gift Baskets Wholesale: What to Source and When
- How far ahead should seasonal orders be placed?
- Do you sell sliced green olives in bulk?
- Buying Spices in 25 kg Sacks: How It Works
- Buying Toasted Sesame Seeds in Bulk
- Is tomato paste available in glass jars, not just tins?
- Can I private label Turkish coffee through Levant Direct?
- Do you carry vacuum-packed black olives?
- What do case sizes like "12 × 700 g" actually mean?
- What information makes a wholesale quote faster and sharper?
- White label vs private label: what's the difference?
- Who can buy from a wholesale food distributor?
- How Do You Buy Whole Green Cardamom in Bulk?
- What documents does a wholesale buyer need?
- What lead times should GTA buyers expect on wholesale orders?
- Wholesale distributor vs cash & carry: which should you use?
- Why don't wholesale suppliers list prices?
Food service
Using Levantine staples in a working kitchen.
- How Do Bakeries Use Nigella Seeds?
- How Do Cafés Brew Hibiscus for Iced Drinks?
- How Many Cups Does a Kilo of Arabic Coffee Make?
- What Can Custard Powder Be Used for Beyond Custard?
- How Do You Fry Luqaimat for Service?
- How Do Kitchens Use Crushed Red Pepper Paste?
- How Do You Make Sumac Onions for Shawarma Service?
- How Much Mezze Should Caterers Plan Per Person?
- Which Olives Belong on a Cheese Board?
- How Many Olives Should You Serve Per Person?
- How Do Kitchens Portion Tomato Paste From Large Tins?
- How Do You Prepare Chantilly Cream Powder?
- How Do Restaurants Use Dried Mint?
- Should You Rinse Capers Before Using Them?
- How Much Shawarma Spice per Kilo of Meat?
- How Do You Toast Sesame Seeds in Volume?
- Which Olives Make the Best Tapenade?
- How should a café brew Arabic cardamom coffee?
- How do Levantine breadsticks fit cheese boards and grazing menus?
- Which bulgur grind do you need for tabbouleh vs kibbeh vs pilaf?
- Do you sell capers in 4L foodservice tubs?
- How do you cook freekeh in volume?
- Is there a creme caramel mix for foodservice use?
- How can a café put halva on the menu?
- Where can a Toronto juice bar source hibiscus, mint and herbal ingredients?
- What Levantine items are trending on café menus?
- When do ma'amoul sell?
- Bulk Marinade Spices: Are They Halal-Suitable?
- What should a mosque kitchen look for in a food supplier?
- How should food service handle olive brine after opening?
- What's the largest catering-size olive format you stock?
- What olives work best for pizza topping in bulk?
- What do kitchens use pomegranate molasses for?
- How do kitchens portion bulk ingredients for consistent costs?
- How do kitchens reduce waste on high-value ingredients?
- Finding a Seasoning Supplier for Meat Shops in Canada
- How do chicken and meat shawarma spices differ?
- What can you use sumac on in a working kitchen?
- What can a kitchen do with tahini beyond hummus?
- What's the largest catering size for tomato paste?
- What individually wrapped cookies work well for coffee shops?
- What do restaurants put za'atar on beyond manakish?
- What's the right za'atar-to-oil ratio for manakish?
Storage & shelf life
Keeping pantry goods right in stores and kitchens.
- Do Almonds Need to Be Refrigerated?
- Does Baking Powder Expire and How Do You Test It?
- Can You Freeze Ma'amoul?
- Can You Freeze Spices to Keep Them Fresh?
- How Long Do Capers Last After Opening?
- Do Chilli Flakes Lose Their Heat Over Time?
- Does Cloudy Olive Oil Mean It Has Gone Bad?
- Do Custard, Jelly and Dessert Mixes Expire?
- Does Mastic Gum Expire?
- What Temperature Should Dry Food Storage Be?
- Do Instant Soup Mixes Expire?
- How Do You Keep Arabic Sweets Fresh on Display?
- What Is the Shelf Life of Packaged Breadsticks?
- Why Do Temperature Swings Damage Shelf-Stable Food?
- How Long Does Tomato Paste Last After Opening?
- Why Do Nuts and Seeds Go Rancid?
- How Long Does Ground Coffee Stay Fresh? A Guide
- Do spices expire, and is "expired" unsafe?
- Does halva need refrigeration?
- Does tahini need refrigeration after opening?
- Does za'atar go bad?
- What does FIFO mean for a shelf-stable pantry program?
- How long does halva last on a retail shelf?
- Does Henna Powder Expire? Storage & Shelf Life
- How long does tahini last?
- Are Jarred Olives Pasteurized? How Processing Works
- How long do olives last once opened, and how should brine be handled?
- Does pomegranate molasses need refrigeration, and how long does it last?
- How to Store Sesame Seeds in Bulk: A Storage Guide
- How Long Do Bulk Spice Bags Keep? A Storage Guide
- How should bulk olive oil be stored?
- How should restaurants store bulk spices?
- How should dried herbs and teas be stored in a shop or kitchen?
- How Should a Store Display Natural Oils? A Retail Guide
- How should a commercial kitchen store za'atar?
- Tahini separated with oil on top — is it spoiled?
Import & compliance
Canadian rules for importing and selling food and soap.
- How Do Best-Before and Expiry Dates Differ in Canada?
- What Does a Customs Broker Do for Food Imports?
- What Is an HS Code on Food Imports?
- Can You Import Food for Personal Use vs Resale?
- How Is Imported Food Inspected in Canada?
- What Does "Imported For" Mean on a Food Label?
- Are Imported Spices Tested in Canada?
- Do You Have to Notify Health Canada to Sell Cosmetics?
- What Are the Rules for Organic Claims on Imported Food in Canada?
- Is Soap a Cosmetic or a Drug in Canada?
- Do Soap Labels Need INCI Ingredient Names?
- Do imported foods need bilingual English/French labels?
- If you buy from a licensed Canadian importer, do you need your own import licence?
- What must appear on a Canadian retail food label?
- What does CFIA require of food importers beyond the licence?
- What does a food broker in Toronto actually do?
- What are traceability and recall basics for food businesses?
- What is Canada's front-of-pack nutrition symbol rule?
- Can a product be halal without a certificate?
- How do you confirm a product is genuinely halal in Canada?
- Do I need an import agent for Middle Eastern food, or a direct wholesaler?
- What's the difference between a food importer and a food distributor?
- Do natural oils need an NPN to sell in Canada?
- Do you need a licence to import food into Canada?
- How does a restaurant get halal certification in Canada?
- What are the regulations for selling imported soap in Canada?
- Is sesame a priority allergen in Canada?
Aleppo soap & natural care
Traditional soap and seed oils, answered plainly.
- Why Do Aleppo Soap Bars Lose Weight Over Time?
- Can Aleppo soap be used for laundry?
- Can Aleppo soap be used for shaving?
- What's the Difference Between Carrier and Essential Oils?
- What Is Castor Oil Made From?
- Can Soap Bars Be Stamped With a Custom Logo?
- Is Flaxseed Oil the Same as Linseed Oil?
- Does Freezing Damage Soap or Oils in Transit?
- What does glycerin do for skin?
- Does Glycerin Skincare Expire?
- Is Grape Seed Oil for Cooking or for Skin?
- What's the Difference Between Hair Oil and Hair Lotion?
- Which Hair Oils Suit Which Hair Types?
- What Is Health Canada's Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist?
- Can henna cover grey hair?
- How Long Does a Bar of Aleppo Soap Last?
- How often should you oil your hair?
- How Do You Inspect an Aleppo Soap Shipment?
- Is Aleppo Soap Halal?
- Is Aleppo Soap Vegan?
- Is jojoba oil actually a wax?
- Can Retailers Mix Soap Varieties in One Wholesale Order?
- Why is mustard oil labelled "for external use only"?
- Why does olive oil soap lather less?
- Is Orange Oil the Same as Orange Blossom Water?
- What Is the Period-After-Opening Symbol on Cosmetics?
- Is Rose Oil the Same as Rose Water?
- How Should Salons Handle Back-Bar Oil Hygiene?
- Can Shops Sell Aleppo Soap Cut by Weight?
- Why Do Soap Bars Sweat in Retail Displays?
- Why Does Soap Lose Its Scent Over Time?
- How Do You Spot Counterfeit Hair Oil Products?
- How Should Bar Soap Be Stored in a Warehouse?
- What's the difference between sweet and bitter almond oil?
- What Does Frankincense Smell Like?
- What Does Oud Smell Like?
- What Is a 7-Oils Hair Blend?
- What Is Apricot Kernel Oil?
- What Is Colocynth (Handhal)?
- What Is Lanolin in Hair Products?
- What is onion hair oil?
- What Is Ostrich Fat Cream?
- What is saponification in soap making?
- What Is Wheat Germ Oil?
- What plant does henna come from?
- Why is there white powder on Aleppo soap?
- Why is argan oil so expensive?
- Why Does Coconut Oil Solidify?
- Why Is Pumpkin Seed Oil Green?
- Why is rosemary oil popular for hair?
- Can Aleppo soap be used on face and hair?
- How do you check if Aleppo soap is real?
- Is your Aleppo soap supplier based in Türkiye, not Aleppo?
- What are back bar oils, and do you supply them wholesale?
- What soap works for stocking multiple Airbnb units?
- Do you sell beard oil wholesale in Canada?
- Can you buy beldi soap (Moroccan black soap) in bulk?
- Do you carry black seed cream wholesale?
- What should you check before stocking a black seed oil?
- Is your henna suitable for body art?
- Is laurel soap sold in bulk by the kilogram?
- Castor Oil in 4 L Wholesale Containers: What to Know
- Do you sell cold-pressed sesame oil in bulk?
- Does Aleppo soap expire?
- What sizes does El Captain black seed oil come in?
- What soaps suit a hammam-style spa or bathhouse?
- Do you supply henna hair color for salons?
- What Soap Formats Do Hotels Use? A Buyer's Guide
- Which laurel percentage suits which skin type?
- Do you supply Moroccan bath and spa products?
- Peppermint Oil in Bulk: Cosmetic-Grade vs Food-Grade
- Can I get hair oil under my own private label?
- Is Aleppo soap sold by the carton, not the individual bar?
- How Long Does Aleppo Soap Cure? The Traditional Process
- How should a beauty supply store stock henna?
- Can I buy Aleppo soap in bulk for wedding favours?
- What is Aleppo soap?
- What is black seed oil?
- What is kaf maryam?
- Why is Aleppo soap green inside and brown outside?