Most of us don't have access to the beautiful, bountiful mountains of spices seen here. But many of us do have well-stocked grocery stores and/or ethnic markets nearby where we can find a wide variety of spices, which can make a great gift.

Read on for our favorite picks and a great packaging idea.

We came across this Flickr photo that shows a great way to package spice gifts – cut out pieces of a map that highlight the country where the spice originates and attach it to the jar lid. We love this little touch.

It would also be nice to include a few recipe recommendations if you think the recipient might be unfamiliar with the spices.

So what spices to choose? Here are a few suggestions:

• Turmeric
• Sumac
• Baharat
• Ras el Hanout
• Garam Masala
• Cardamom
• Star Anise
• Hungarian or Spanish paprika

Related: Weekend Project: Stocking the Spice Cupboard

(Images: Flickr users Carol Mitchell and kag2u, licensed under Creative Commons)