It's everywhere these days. Pumpkin spice is like the mold of the fall season. why is it here and why is it so popular? When did it become part of our autumnal ritual?
Surprising the mix is a lot older than the US.It's around thirty five hundred years old.It first came into international being with the spice trade with the Indonesian islands known as the Spice Islands by the Dutch.They called a mix of similar spices soeculaaskruiden, that also has pepper and cardimon. By 1791 it reached cookery or cookbooks written by a Scottish housewife known only as Mrs. Frazier. This was a mix of nutmeg, clove and Scottish pepper which was likely allspice. The spices were also coming from the Caribbean too at this point. This 18th Century version of pumpkin spice wasn't used in hot beverages. Mostly fried flounder and pork chops benefited from this. It only became a sweet spice when it hit the US and went into pumpkin pie. The blend had evolved into mace, nutmeg and ginger. It was a while before it made it into out coffees and other baked goods.
Blame the big spice purveyor McCormick for its' rise. It introduced a spice blend named what else - pumpkin pie spice in 1934.It never really took off as a savory save in Vietnamese cooking where cinnamon is widely used. Indian cooking also uses the spices too. It came into lattes in 2003 thanks to Starbucks. The company did well with its' tasty Peppermint Mocha and Eggnog. The big guys at the top figured that the mix of spices would go well in coffee and they did. Soon Starbucks' rival Dunkin Doughnuts was making a similar coffee and it was a no brainer to add the flavoring to their doughnuts and doughnut holes. Now it's like the Godzilla of spices taking over everything. Stop & Shop sells a pumpkin spice soda along with cookies and cupcakes. The last are covered with mounds of cream cheese frosting which also covers their pumpkin spice cakes. Now there are even Oreos filled with pumpkin spice.. There is even candy corn with the flavoring but that's its for now. Luckily there are no Reeses Cups stuffed with it or M&M's. Yet.
It's time we think of a new spice blend for the fall. Something smoky that works well in sweet and savory. what will it be? we should put our heads together and think.
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