All About Pumpkin Spice

What is Pumpkin Spice?

Signifying the start of arguably the best season, pumpkin spice is in everything nowadays, from candles and coffee to cereal and macaroni and cheese1 (send a box my way, Kraft). But what is pumpkin spice, and why has it become a symbol of fall? I'll uncover the truth and show you how to make your own pumpkin pie spice and pumpkin spice latte.

Pumpkin Spice Ingredients

If you're wondering what spices are in pumpkin spice, you'll be surprised to know that it doesn't actually contain any pumpkin. Pumpkin spice is a mixture of spices associated with dishes containing pumpkin and was created to improve the taste of this rather bland vegetable. In the 1600s, these spices were used separately to season and preserve meats, vegetables, and fruits. The earliest known reference to pumpkin spice2 was in a 1936 issue of the Washington Post in a recipe for pumpkin spice cakes. McCormick®, the popular spice company, introduced the first commercialized pumpkin pie spice blend in the 1950s.

What is in pumpkin pie spice?

The three main pumpkin spice ingredients are ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and ground cloves. Some variations include ground allspice and ground ginger, but it's all up to personal preference. McCormick's pumpkin pie spice has cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and sulfiting agents, which prevent spoilage. So why do we associate pumpkin pie spice with fall?

When colonists from Europe first arrived3 in the mid-1600s in what we know as New England, they found an abundant amount of pumpkins, which became a staple ingredient when other resources were low. As more immigrants arrived, they formed a trading market, bringing exotic goods such as timber, barley, tobacco, and fur to the area. This lessened the demand for pumpkin so much that Europeans even used it as an insult, calling the colonists' brains "pumpkin blasted" for leaving England in the first place.

It wasn't until some popular poets and authors began writing about how pumpkins represented a simpler time – when pumpkins were all they had to eat, before cities were industrialized – that nostalgia resonated with the Northern colonists and pumpkins became a symbol of harvest.

What's in a pumpkin spice latte?

The answer depends on where you get your latte from, but a pumpkin spice latte generally includes coffee, milk, pumpkin spice flavoring, and whipped cream. Introduced in 2003, the pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks4, more commonly known as PSL, consists of milk (either whole, 2 percent, skim, soy, coconut, or almond), pumpkin spice sauce, brewed espresso, whipped cream, and pumpkin spice topping. It wasn't until 2015 that Starbucks actually included the smallest amount of pumpkin puree in their pumpkin spice sauce because some customers were upset at the lack of pumpkin.

Adding pumpkin doesn't enhance the flavor5 of the latte because the pumpkin pie spice blend gives PSLs their iconic taste. Although pumpkins don't add anything to the drink's flavor profile, they are packed with vitamins6, such as vitamins A, C, and E. If you buy canned pumpkin for your home recipe, be sure to read labels and make sure it's pure pumpkin without any added sugars or other ingredients.

How to Make Pumpkin Spice

Here's how to make your own pumpkin pie spice7. You'll need several spices:

  • 3 tablespoons ground cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
  • 2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 teaspoon ground allspice

Whisk spices together in a bowl and store in an airtight container. You can add more or less of any spice, depending on your preference.

How to Make a Pumpkin Spice Latte

Making your own pumpkin spice latte at home8 can be healthier than buying one from a coffee shop, and you don't have to leave your house to sit in the drive-thru or wait in a line. You'll need these ingredients:

  • 1 cup whole milk or milk alternative (soy, almond, oat, etc.)
  • 2 tablespoons pumpkin puree
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • 1⁄2 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice (plus extra to sprinkle for topping)
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1⁄4 cup freshly brewed espresso or coffee
  • Whipped cream for topping

Place a saucepan over medium heat and whisk together the milk or milk alternative, pumpkin puree, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and pumpkin pie spice. Continue warming and whisking the mixture until it's blended.

Next, use an immersion blender or milk frother to foam the mixture.

Pour the espresso or coffee into a mug and top it with the foamed pumpkin spice milk. Swirl some whipped cream on top. A dash of pumpkin pie spice completes your homemade PSL.

Resources

  1. Pumpkin Spice Macaroni & Cheese Is Now Coming To The U.S. This Fall Thanks To Kraft. Delish. Accessed July 2021.
  2. The Dark And Murky History Of Pumpkin Spice. Chicagoist. Accessed July 2021.
  3. The Rise of Pumpkin Spice. Scientific American. Accessed July 2021.
  4. PSL and All Your Fall Favorites are Back at Starbucks. Starbucks. Accessed July 2021.
  5. Here's the skinny on what actually flavors a pumpkin spice latte. Popular Science. Accessed July 2021.
  6. 9 Impressive Health Benefits of Pumpkin. Healthline. Accessed July 2021.
  7. Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice Recipe. Live Well Bake Often. Accessed July 2021.
  8. Pumpkin Spice Latte. Delish. Accessed July 2021.