Pumpkin Spice Season is Here, by Stephan G.A.

Who doesn’t love pumpkin spice? My mom does not – but for me, its scent is a signature of the fall, and its taste in sweet desserts brings me warmth every autumn season. It’s not only me, according to The Week Junior – Americans spend about $500 million on pumpkin spice products every year ("All about Pumpkin Spice").

Pumpkin spice, or pumpkin pie spice, typically combines ground sweet and savory spices like cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice. These spices originate from the Spice Islands in Southeast Asia, and through trade, the spice market exploded in Europe. The earliest known recipe containing pumpkin spice was for “pompion pye” (pumpkin pie) in the UK in 1675.

The first U.S. cookbook to include a pumpkin spice recipe was Amelia Simmons’ American Cookery in 1796, which referred to it as "pompkin pie spice" and included nutmeg, mace, and ginger. By 1934, McCormick & Company, a leading spice brand, introduced pre-mixed pumpkin pie spice, simplifying cooking by reducing the number of individual spices needed for home cooks’ recipes. 

In 2003, Starbucks wanted to introduce a new fall drink. Researchers created the Pumpkin Spice Latte in their “Liquid Lab,” first offered in Vancouver and Washington, D.C. It became an instant favorite, quickly becoming Starbucks’ best-selling seasonal beverage. Soon after, Dunkin' and McDonald’s launched their own pumpkin spice drinks. Restaurants followed the trend, offering pumpkin spice foods ranging from pancakes to pizza. Today, as autumn is well underway, grocery stores are filled with pumpkin spice-flavored products like Oreos, cereals, pasta sauces, and even Pumpkin Spice Spam.

Pumpkin spice is particularly beloved in the U.S. and Canada, where it is closely associated with comfort and coziness. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University discovered that smell plays a significant part in the appeal of pumpkin spice. Its scent reminds people of positive family memories, such as Halloween and Thanksgiving. However, while it remains the hallmark flavor of fall, other seasonal tastes like cinnamon, salted caramel, and candy apple are gaining popularity.