Member-only story
The Curious History of Pumpkin Spice
I’ll never forget my first pumpkin spice latte. I was being the epitome of a White Girl, with my cotton leggings, knee-high boots, and cable-knit sweater, even though it was a mild 70 degrees in my Florida city. I felt inspired and refreshed by the (relatively) cool weather and oddly bewitched by Starbucks’ whimsically festive decor. While I usually opted for a regular ol’ coffee, the call of the PSL rang out to me.
With my first sip, I was enamored. Supple, steamy, savory — just a hint of sweet zest and a creamy comfort swirling in this hot deliciousness. I loved it, even as it dawned on me:
This didn’t taste like pumpkin at all, let alone pumpkin pie as I’d been led to believe. It was just spice, and not even as spice-y as a chai tea latte.
I’d been tricked, but I wasn’t complaining. Why was I in love with a lie?
The Mad Magic of the Pumpkin Pie
Growing up, I was always in charge of making the pumpkin pie for holiday dinners. It was, after all, easy for a kid to do: Mix Libby’s Pumpkin Puree with Nestle’s evaporated milk. Dig out the tin of McCormick Pumpkin Pie Spice from the cabinet. Mix…
