hildhood memories of spice-filled German Christmases prompted sisters Maria and Eva Konecsny to open Gewürzhaus on Lygon Street in 2010. Less than a year on, the tiny, pretty, pungent shop has made such an impression that the girls are expanding to a second store in Toorak.

If you’ve sampled the 300+ spices of their range, you’ll know that the title (translated as spice house) is apt. The Haus offers everything from ajowan to roasted wattle seed, and the whole range will be available at the new Toorak outlet, but with a few new additions.

“It’ll be a slightly bigger range,” says Maria. “We’ve added teas and a bakery section with items like potato pizza with black truffle salt. And we’ll be doing a spice kitchen with cooking classes and spice appreciation courses.”

The girls had their eye on Hawksburn Village, commenting that the mix of shops is similar to Lygon Street, so they were thrilled to get lucky with their new digs when they started asking around, nabbing it just two days after the previous tenant gave notice.

Doors open this Thursday (April 7), and you’re more than likely to find the sisters on hand for spicey tips.

gewurzhaus.com.au