What To Know About The Pumpkin Spice Craze
Pumpkin Spice was around long before the latte and has been referenced in cookbooks as early as the 1890s as well as a similar mix recipe in a pie recipe from 1796. So why did it take over a hundred years for the craze to take off? It can really be attributed to coffee lovers in the late 1990s when the hot new beverage of cafes became a pumpkin spice flavored coffee, and the craze spread like wildfire across America in 2003 with the introduction of Starbuck’s Pumpkin Spice Latte.
What is included in “Pumpkin Spice,” anyway?
Although there are variances in the specific ingredients, the most common combination includes the ingredients: cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and allspice.
But wait, what about “pumpkin?” Interestingly enough, it doesn’t include pumpkin at all. Although some coffee and other foods and drinks that contain this flavor include extra ingredients, pumpkin spice is simply a combination of spices that are traditionally added into pumpkin pie.
Why do people love this flavor so much?
Some attribute pumpkin spice to be synonymous with the autumn season. Others say it reminds them of home. And it’s evident why.
What many refer to as taste can actually be attributed to smell, and what we smell has been proven by science to be attributed much more directly to memories than any of our other senses. When people smell pumpkin spice, they feel the emotions from their memories, and this is solely based on the spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. We are more commonly exposed to these smells during the holiday season starting as early as October. Because the holiday times are usually filled with being home and visiting family and childhood memories, it’s no wonder why this flavor brings out such good feelings in people all over the world.
The pumpkin spice craze has only grown.
What started as a mix for pie over a hundred years ago is now a favorite among millions of people all over the world, and you can now find the flavor in all sorts of coffee, beer, baked goods, and even cereal among others.
Besides the spread among many other beverages and food groups, most people still attribute pumpkin spice to coffee, and you can see it in almost every café as we get closer to the holidays. On top of the hot coffee and latte version, this flavor is now used in a variety of cold brew coffees, but what’s even more exciting is the addition of coffee pods. Now coffee lovers everywhere can experience the aroma and taste of this flavor right from their own homes.
Among coffee favorites is Reunion Island’s version of pumpkin spice coffee. Their blend of coffee and spice and everything nice has people in love, and you can now buy these from Corporate Coffee Systems to enjoy in the New York City break room!