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You'd think all chili would taste alike.  All the traditional red chilies have tomatoes, some kind of chili powder and beef.  Chili aficionados are appalled if you mention beans in the chili, but I personally  like my chili with beans.  Black beans, kidney beans and red beans -- all of them.... So why do some chili's taste like dishwater and some you want to lick the bowl?  It's the spices-- they are not all created equal. Man traveled to the ends of the earth in search of spices and wars have been fought over spices. A good blend of spices can take your chili from average to yummy. In playing with spices I have learned that I don't like some of them, so what I like might not be what you like -- experiment and TASTE what you are cooking.  I had no idea I would like the flavor of a little Chipolte chili pepper added to my chili -- it gave it a nice smokiness -- a little goes a long way, as some of them can be very hot.  I once made our local football coach cry as he ate the chili -- all the while saying how much he liked it....I think it might have been a tiny bit hot even for a manly man. I have purchased some spices in fancy spice stores -- some I've liked a lot and some not so much -- I'd say the biggest things you should consider -- are they fresh (Have you had that can of chili powder in your cupboard since 1975)  and are they a cheap off brand.  Some of those are ok -- but most have fillers and are not very flavorful.   Another tip that I picked up on all of those cooking shows I've...