What is pumpkin spice? From pie flavouring to Starbucks lattes, it’s now seen as the herald of autumn
- ‘Pumpkin spice’ entered the Merriam-Webster dictionary for the first time this month, but it was created back in 1934 as a mix of spices to enhance pumpkin pie
- Its popularity soared when Starbucks launched its Pumpkin Spice Latte, widely known as the PSL, in 2003. Now, it’s in so much more
It has already begun – even with high temperatures still ahead, many across the world are already immersed in pumpkin spice season.
But what exactly is the flavour that has come to characterise the cooling season? And how did it become a defining element of autumn? One spoiler, for those who are not already aware: pumpkin spice is not made with pumpkin.
What exactly is pumpkin spice?
In spite of its name, pumpkin spice is not actually made with pumpkin. It is a mix of spices meant to enhance pumpkin pie.
Spice maker McCormick debuted its Pumpkin Pie Spice in 1934 with intent to flavour pumpkin pie when canned pumpkin came to market, the company says.
The spice brand’s mix eliminated the need to measure out specific quantities of varying spices by providing a bottled combination of ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon and allspice along with sulfating agents – preservatives that act as antioxidants.
Pumpkin spice’s popularity beyond pumpkin pie is relatively new
Kevan Vetter, executive chef at McCormick, says he thinks the popularity of the flavour started to take off around 2010.