Fall Means Pumpkin Spice, Right?

The leaves are slowly changing colors on the trees, the nights are a bit chilly, both of which mean Fall is coming, and that means . . . wait for it . . . it is pumpkin spice season!

Love it or hate it, pumpkin spice is a seasonal staple in the United States. Variations or imitations of the spice blend, which usually consists of nutmeg, clove, ginger, cinnamon, and sometimes allspice, can be found in lattes, coffee creamers, cookies, cream cheese, shampoo, hand wash, and beyond. Even before the first leaf changes color for fall, you can find pumpkin spice products dappled along grocery shelves. For something so seemingly ordinary, the popularity of pumpkin spice seems to be a rather modern phenomenon, originating right alongside the popularization of the Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL for short) in the 2000s.

However, the history of pumpkin spice goes far beyond the iconic seasonal latte. In fact, pumpkin spice is about as entrenched in American history as apple pie (maybe even more so), and dates back to 1796, when the first documented recipe to include the spice combo was published. However, it wasn't until 1934 that the spice mix got its name. In the following decades, the now-named spice mix became a staple on the shelves of many home cooks. So, it seems that pumpkin spice goes beyond the millennial craze for autumnal delights to which it is so often tied. It seems that the United States has always been pumpkin spice obsessed.

Now that we told you all about its history, admit it, you are craving a PSL right about now, right?

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