From peta.org
Love it or hate it, it’s that time of the year again: Pumpkin Spice season is upon us, and there’s no escaping it.
The spices that make up Pumpkin Spice are nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, and ginger. These spices have been used in combination for thousands of years in India and Southeast Asia (think Masala Chai). About half a millennium ago, as Europeans muscled their way into Asia, these spices became the economic drivers of colonialism. They could only grow in the tropics yet were highly valued in Europe.
The Taste of Colonialism
This trade financed the destruction of independent nations in Asia, the destruction of local ecosystems, and the deaths of countless humans and animals. In the process, these spices became household staples and integral parts of European cookery (Dutch Speculoos, for example).
When Europeans arrived in North America, they encountered the humble pumpkin. Combining a fruit of the Americas with Asian spices in a European format, the pumpkin pie embodies the global reach of European colonialism. The first known written pumpkin pie recipe featuring this spice combination was published in 1671, part of the process of creating a culture with elements violently taken from local communities worldwide.
It wasn’t until 1934 that this spice blend became known as “Pumpkin Spice.” That year, McCormick began marketing a blend called “Pumpkin Pie Spice.” And there it stayed for decades, quietly setting the stage for 2003, when Starbucks introduced the Pumpkin Spice Latte.
Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte still contains milk cruelly stolen from cows who would rather be feeding their babies with it. Instead, try the many other lattes they have with vegan milk, now free of upcharges thanks to PETA’s activism. Or visit one of the many other cafes that offer vegan Pumpkin Spice lattes.
Pumpkin Spice Gets Ridiculous
Today, Pumpkin Spice has a spot in the Pantheon of American flavours. It’s perfect for fall: warming and (if you make the real thing, with pumpkin in it), nourishing.
Our love/hate relationship with Pumpkin Spice comes from the fact that, on the one hand, it’s delicious and soothingly autumnal. But on the other hand, it’s gotten ridiculous.
Sure, Pumpkin Spice Vegan Cinnamon Rolls do sound pretty good. And Pumpkin Spice Vegan Protein Powder can’t taste worse than protein powders in general, but what is the deal with things like Pumpkin Spice dish soap, Pumpkin Spice car polish, or Pumpkin Spice trash bags? Make it make sense.
Today, the Pumpkin Spice juggernaut is worth over a billion dollars every year. With Pumpkin Spice proliferating exponentially, the products are the joke, like Christmas sweaters.
But Pumpkin Spice Is Delicious
Despite the absurdity, it’s hard to argue with your taste buds. And with the weather cooling, Pumpkin Spice is as good an inspiration as any to get in the kitchen and make something tasty!
Classic Vegan Pumpkin Spice Latte (click left)
The undisputed classic. Nora Cooks whips it up with just five ingredients in five minutes.
Vegan Pumpkin Spice Donut Holes
Pumpkin Spice is at its best in sweet, filling indulgences like these donut holes. They’re just the holes, so you can eat all you want, right?
Vegan Pumpkin Spice Overnight Oats
Pumpkin Spice doesn’t have to mean sugary dessert. This breakfast treat boasts 8 grams of vegan protein per serving.
Do You Love Vegan Pumpkin Spice? Or Hate It? Or a Little Bit of Both?
Loving Pumpkin Spice is easy—all you have to do is try one of these delicious recipes. But so is hating it—the ridiculous products evoke capitalism at its most absurd, not seasonal cosiness.
For most of us, it’s a little bit of both. So enjoy your vegan Pumpkin Spice latte, and ignore the haters—even if they’re within you.
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