A Guide to Cajun Seasonings in Acadiana

Every Cajun and Creole native to the area will recognize the little green can. It’s practically a Louisiana rite of passage. Tony Chachere launched his namesake brand in 1972 at the age of 65, after his second retirement, following the publication of his Cajun Country Cookbook, which featured his signature seasoning blend on the very first page. Requests started pouring in, and the rest is history.

The company remains family-owned and headquartered in Opelousas, operating out of a 150,000-square-foot facility with over 130 employees. Mr. Tony's Country Store sits right outside the manufacturing plant, and self-guided viewings are available Monday through Thursday for groups of ten or fewer. Larger groups can call ahead to book a guided experience. The store carries the full product line, Louisiana novelty items, kitchenware, and Tony's original cookbook, a gift that will outlast anything else you could bring home.

About an hour south of Lafayette sits one of the most dramatic detours a seasoning lover can make. TABASCO has been made on Avery Island, a geological salt dome rising out of the Louisiana marsh, since Edmund McIlhenny perfected the recipe and formed the company in 1868. The sauce is now found on tables in 200 countries, and all of it is still processed right here in Acadiana.

The self-guided fan experience includes 10 stops, taking visitors from seed to sauce and ending at the TABASCO Country Store. Add-on experiences include the Acadiana Culinary Experience, available Mondays and Wednesdays, where guests sample Cajun and Creole cuisine and taste-test TABASCO mash with a flight of Bloody Marys.

In 1996, TW Walker and his family owned a local convenience store with a 24-hour deli in Ville Platte. TW wanted a seasoning that delivered authentic Cajun flavor without the heavy salt content of other brands. The name, for the record, refers to a compliment, a loving slap on the back, and a kiss on the cheek for cooking something that good.

Founded officially in 2001, Slap Ya Mama now ships throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, Mexico, and Panama. It's available online and in specialty grocery stores nationally. 

Acadian Kitchens has been producing Louisiana flavor since 1986, with a product line of 40 items: seasonings, sauces, roux, beans, boxed dinners, and pickled items, all shipping nationwide.

Their two flagship brands, Ragin' Cajun and Cajun's Choice, are hand-crafted right here in Lafayette. Ragin' Cajun "The Original" carries less sodium than most all-purpose seasonings, a claim that holds across much of their line. Cajun's Choice Creole Seasoning is all-natural, MSG-free, and gluten-free, with a bold flavor without the salt overload.

Brothers Alfonzo and Troy Bolden grew up on a sugarcane plantation near New Iberia, and the flavors of that upbringing influence every can of Cajun Nation seasoning. Founded in 2019, Cajun Nation built its entire line around the premise that bold Cajun flavor and low sodium are not mutually exclusive.

A smaller name worth knowing. Tom and Kati Villien, natives of Vermilion Parish, developed their own line of Louisiana-born seasonings and dry rubs that have earned both the Certified Cajun and Certified Louisiana designations from the Louisiana Department of Agriculture, meaning every ingredient is Louisiana-born and processed. Their newest release is a Cajun Fire Seasoned Salt infused with ground Tabasco pepper flakes. Available at tjsspecialtyproducts.com.

NuNu's started a bit by accident. The Broussard family opened what would become NuNu's in Milton in 1953, originally as a lounge, later as a grocery when the community made its needs clear. The now-legendary in-house seasoning came about in 1977 when the butcher went on vacation, and someone had to scramble to recreate his blend. Once they had it, they knew they had something.

For over 30 years, NuNu's Cajun Seasoning has been the quiet backbone of backyard barbecues across Acadiana. It's deeply flavorful, and loyal locals buy it by the gallon, literally. The seasoning is available in-store at all three locations and can also be ordered online through nunus.com and third-party retailers like CajunCrate.com.

Not every great seasoning destination in Lafayette is “Cajun/Creole”. Desi Spice Bazaar is Acadiana's largest Indian and ethnic grocery, the only one of its kind in Lafayette, and it is a spice lover's dream. Turmeric, garam masala, caraway, coriander seeds, asafoetida, the largest basmati rice selection in the city, fresh produce every Friday, and a staff that will actually help you find the fenugreek leaves.

The prices are notably competitive with those in Houston, the atmosphere is warm and community-oriented, and the selection genuinely surprises. If your cooking life extends beyond Cajun, this is a necessary stop.

Some of the best blends in Acadiana never make it to a national shelf. They live on the restaurant tables, made in-house alongside your favorite dishes. Here’s a notable list of restaurants who have their own seasoning blends.  

Johnson's Boucaniere makes their own smoked sausage, tasso, seasoning, BBQ sauce, and beef jerky in-house. The house seasoning is available to purchase at the restaurant on Saint John Street. Come for the brisket grilled cheese, leave with the spice blend that made it possible.

Other notable stops that have developed house blends reflecting their approach to Acadiana cooking include: Five Mile Eatery, Dwight’s, Fezzo’s, The Cajun Table, Vermilionville, Best Stop, and Athena (Greek).