Pumpkin pie spice, or pumpkin spice, was introduced to the general public by McCormick in 1934; however, its true origin dates back 3,500 years to the Spice Islands. The spice is a combination of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice and cloves and only received its name due to the fact that these spices were a good match to flavor pumpkin pie. These spices were mostly traded in Europe, and soon reached Colonial America. As fall approaches, pumpkin pie spice becomes a desired flavor, bringing feelings of nostalgia and a reminder of the colored foliage. OU companies have many offerings in this area. Besides the food-related focus, though, there’s a spiritual message related to the pumpkin that can give insight into how our prayers can be accepted on the upcoming Jewish High Holidays.
The Evolution
Considering that pumpkin pie spice is really the nomenclature that was given to the combined spices, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice and cloves, the history involved is more nuanced. On the one hand, the collection of spices that make up today’s flavor of pumpkin pie spice, must be examined, but in addition, its evolution into becoming named pumpkin pie spice must be addressed as well.
The Spice Islands, which today would be in the area of Indonesia, is where the spice trade began. On one Island, dating back 3,500 years, the University of Washington noted in a press release that archeologists were able to find residues of nutmeg on pottery. As time passed, European nations began to trade spices frequently with those in the Spice Islands. Eventually, in the mid-1500s, Portugal raided these islands. For the next 200 years, the spice trade continued, and cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice and cloves became the spices of the common man.
These spices then reached our shores. In 1796, the first American cookbook, American Cookery, which is available to see at the Library of Congress, was put out by Amelia Simmons. It has a pumpkin pie recipe which includes mace, nutmeg and ginger. Here we see where the spices of the Old World and pumpkin pie of the New World came together, forever linking the two. Fast-forward to 1929, when Libby’s, a canning company, canned pumpkin puree. This brought the pumpkin flavor into the consciousness of the American consumer. McCormick then debuted Pumpkin Pie Spice in 1934 and the rest is history. The flavor is now commonplace and a major generator of food sales.
Inspired Products
There’s no better place to begin an enumeration of first-class, transcendental OU products then with McCormick’s Pumpkin Pie Spice. Its versatility and capacity to flavor so many items puts it at the top of the list.
In entering the breakfast realm, coffee K-Cups have become a staple in many households. Starbucks offers Naturally Flavored Pumpkin Spice Coffee K-Cup Pods that can quickly deliver you a cup of coffee with the trending pumpkin spice flavor. Keurig offers a choice as well with Keurig Pumpkin Spice K-Cup Pods. If you want to diversify the flavor, Keurig also offers Pumpkin Caramel Cheesecake Latte K-Cups, under its Original Donut Shop brand. If hot chocolate is your desired taste, then Swiss Miss offers Pumpkin Spice Hot Cocoa Mix K-Cups. There’s no need to compromise on a settling cup of tea, and Lipton Tea under its Tazo brand, offers a Pumpkin Spice Chai flavor.
Within coffee creamers, there are dairy and non-dairy offerings that allow you to partake of this trending flavor. Califia Farms has released a Limited Edition Pumpkin Spice Almond Creamer. Almond milk has become a common and flavorsome replacement for milk. Coffee-Mate, under Nestle, is also offering a non-dairy option with its Pumpkin Spice Liquid Non-Dairy Creamer. As a dairy creamer, Coffee-Mate also offers Natural Bliss Pumpkin Spice Coffee Creamer.
In the baking and baked goods arena, Pillsbury offers a Moist Supreme Perfectly Pumpkin Premium Cake Mix. Oreo always rises to the occasion of trends and there is no exception in this case. They offer Limited Edition Pumpkin Spice Flavor Crème Sandwich Cookies. Pepperidge Farm is offering Seasonal Pumpkin Cheesecake Soft Baked Cookies.
In the sugar confectionary area, Mars, under its M&M’s brand, is offering the flavor, M&M’s Milk Chocolate Pumpkin Pie and Hershey’s, under its Kit Kat brand, is offering Kit Kat Crisp Wafers in Pumpkin Pie Flavored Crème.
A Spiritual Message
In the fall of 2020, we probed the pumpkin pie spice flavor as well. I brought down an idea from Rabbi Kornfeld relating to the pumpkin. He elaborated on a stanza in the Talmud (Berachos 56b) that says, “Pumpkins are shown in a dream only to one who fears heaven with all his might.”
He explained that the growing pattern of the pumpkin relays the proper model by which one should live. The more a pumpkin grows the more it falls into the ground. Anyone attempting to be righteous must learn that spiritual growth must come with the sinking of the ego. Righteousness and any touch of ego are self-contradictory.
Once one has reached a complete state of humility, the gates of prayer are opened, as the verse says (II Chronicles 7:14), “When My people, who bear My name, humble themselves, pray, and seek My favor…I will hear in My heavenly abode and forgive their sins and heal their land.”