As we know pumpkin spice season is upon us. Americans spend 500 million dollars on pumpkin spice products every year. Pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin spice candles, pumpkin spice perfume, and even pumpkin spice jelly beans! The industry built around pumpkin spice has consumed social media and we are drowning in it. But why is pumpkin spice so popular? 

                 Origins

             The pumpkin spice flavor itself isn’t even made up of pumpkins. It contains ginger, ground cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and occasionally allspice. These spices all have their background and origins from the Dutch East India Company, which is where all these spices have emerged from. But the earliest account of the creation of the flavor was a British recipe from 1675, which was called pumpion pie. This version of pumpkin spice was a mix of cloves, pepper, nutmeg, and cinnamon. When mixed with real pumpkins, this created the pumpkin spice craze in the US.  

This new Americanized flavor has now been adopted by the company McCormick and is now nationwide through the US. Through social media, the popularity of the flavor has skyrocketed. In the future this could cause the craze to make it to other countries besides the US.

                 Mixed Opinions

            “I think either people love it or they hate it. I think it’s not a very on-the-fence thing. You’re either a ‘I hate it’ or a ‘I love it, it’s my whole personality’ type of person.” Says, local pumpkin spice enthusiast and Tahoma student, Natalie Mitchell. 

         Opposite of Ms. Mitchell’s opinion, I dislike pumpkin spice. I do believe that she holds the correct belief that everyone either hates it or loves it. The flavor is an acquired taste for some, but a cozy and heavenly taste for others. 

                Is All Pumpkin Good?

      Even if you don’t like pumpkin spice there are still ways to enjoy pumpkin for the season. Such as pumpkin bread, pumpkin pie, and pumpkin muffins. Ms. Mitchell says, “I definitely think that there are some things like ‘ew what the heck is that’ like I think that Starbucks has low key mastered the pumpkin spice latte. But there are some things that Starbucks makes, like this pumpkin spice muffin, that has oats in it. Why would you put oats with pumpkin?” 

       Ms. Mitchell believes that Starbucks has mastered their flavor and take on pumpkin spice. She also says, “Starbucks, they use what is called pumpkin sauce, it is definitely much sweeter than actual pumpkin.” 

      This flavor of pumpkin spice that Starbucks uses can be the reason for the pumpkin spice craze. Due to the enhanced flavor of the pumpkin through the use of other enriching ingredients and spices, people have come to be obsessed with pumpkin spice. But they aren’t obsessed with the pumpkin itself. 

               Does Pumpkin Spice Belong In Everything?

       Since pumpkin spice is a seasonal product, it is overused in all products possible for the fall months. You can find it in candles, perfumes, shampoo, and even deodorant! Does it belong in all these things? Ms. Mitchell thinks that it doesn’t, “I love pumpkin pie and I love pumpkin spice. But some things I’m like, ‘no that should not be a pumpkin thing’ Like pumpkin cookies.” 

     Things like pumpkin cookies are not the orthodox way of enjoying the pumpkin flavor, but some people may enjoy it. I agree with Ms. Mitchell’s statement by saying that pumpkin spice flavor does not belong in everything. There can be other smells and ways that you can embrace the fall season.