Buying ground masala is cheaper, faster and perfectly normal. We do not do it, and the reason is simple enough to explain in a paragraph.
Spice fades fast
The aromatic oils in whole spice start leaving the moment it is broken open. Ground coriander bought in bulk has usually lost most of its nose before it reaches the kitchen. You can still taste it — you just cannot smell it, and most of what we call flavour is smell.
Roasting is not optional
Most blends want the whole spice roasted first. It changes the character completely, and it is a step no pre-ground packet has had.
Small lots only
We grind in quantities meant to last days, not months, which is the whole point. A large batch is just a slower version of the same problem.
