Rashida
It’s finally FALL!
That means all things spooky, leafy, and pumpkiny.
Fall also marks the beginning of the Pumpkin Spice season.
While the combination is most commonly thought of in regards to the Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL for the die-hards), that is just the tip of the iceberg.
In reality, the pumpkin spice flavor has been around for 3,500 years according to History.com! That’s loooonnngg before Starbucks got a hold of it.
So if they weren’t drinking PSLs back then (maybe they were…) what was pumpkin spice used for? And how did our obsession with it come to fruition?
What is Pumpkin Spice?
First thing’s first, we need a consensus on what exactly pumpkin spice is. Most people could recognize the flavor or even the smell, but arguably less could explain what it is. Well, pumpkin spice is a specific blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves. All of the spices have been around for quite some time. They also all scream “FALL”, so it’s easy to see why they create the perfect fall signature flavor/scent…even though there’s actually no pumpkin.
The Origin of Pumpkin Spice
The history of Pumpkin spice begins with nutmeg. Nutmeg and residue have been found on ancient pottery shards in Indonesia, with an estimated age of 3,500 years old. Nutmeg and other spices became valuable commodities, first being sold from Asia to the Middle East and North Africa. It was only so long before they finally reached Europe. In fact, the drive for spice is part of what drove Europeans to begin entering the Americas. Fast forward a few thousand years and the base of pumpkin spice, nutmeg, has literally changed the world.
Modern Pumpkin Spice
Nutmeg started it all, but how did we get to today’s pumpkin spice? Pumpkin spice as we know it did not begin until the 20th century, with the Pumpkin Spice Cake recipe of 1936. In the 1960s, spice companies like McCormick started to package and sell the allspice blend as “pumpkin pie spice,” which was later shortened to pumpkin spice. The new combination struck a nerve with Americans and began the modern love of pumpkin spice.
Whether or not you’re a PSL fan, you’ve got to respect the amazing journey of a few dedicated spices. Here are some other ways to enjoy the fall favorite:
- Pumpkin Spice Cotton Candy from Chocolate Storybrook on Etsy
- Nestle Coffee-Mate Pumpkin Spice Creamer
- Pumpkin Spice Cookie Mix
- Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate
- Candles/Incense/Air Fresheners
