Photo Credit: bostoncommoncoffee.com
What: Pumpkin Spice, the seasonal favorite of many, is being used in EVERYTHING! Coffee, lattes, teas, cakes, candles, it’s taking the world by storm. If you’re like me, of the inquisitive nature, you ask yourself “the 5 W’s,” WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY did Pumpkin Spice come to be? After a bit of mid-day digging I think I have the answers.
Who: A collaboration of Native Americans and Early American Settlers.
When: The First Thanksgiving.
Where: United States of America
Why: Though the exact date of creation may be speculative, the cause behind the coining of “Pumpkin Spice” is curiously factual. The curious notion being, Pumpkin Spice does NOT contain PUMPKIN! It is simply the “lazy name” for the combination of spices commonly used to season pumpkin; spices such as: Cinnamon, Ginger, Nutmeg, & Allspice. All of the spices which have been used in conjunction with pumpkin since the First Thanksgiving, though, we can only trace the coining of the phrase “Pumpkin Spice” back to the mid 20th century.
It is safe to say that the Pumpkin Spice we know and love is simply an evolved recipe of many generations, past and present. It is more recently, though, that Pumpkin Spice has escaped the world of pastries, and joined forces with manufactures of all types.
So, next time you’re sipping an Octoberfest brew, or enjoying the scent of autumn candles with your Pumpkin Spiced Latte, remember all the people that helped evolve this one crucial fall ingredient, and ask yourself how you can contribute…Pumpkin-Spiced-Bourbon-BBQ-Sauce anybody?
Just some Food for Thought…
