Pumpkin pie spice, also known as pumpkin spice, is an American spice mix developed for flavoring the filling of a pumpkin pie. It does not include pumpkin as an ingredient.
Pumpkin pie spice is similar to the British and Commonwealth mixed spice, and the medieval poudre-douce. It is generally a blend of ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and sometimes allspice. It can also be used as a seasoning in general cooking.
Coffee chain Starbucks began selling its pumpkin spice latte nationally in Fall 2004, touching off a seasonal fad of spiced products. , pumpkin spice consumables produce $500 million in annual sales.
History Flavour combinations similar to pumpkin spice were known in the medieval period—the 1390s book Le Ménagier de Paris contains a spice mix of 17 parts ginger, 4 parts each cinnamon and sugar, and 2 parts each cloves and grains of paradise. Similar spice mixes were often called poudre-douce or sweet powder.
A "Pompkin" recipe calling for a similar spice mix (mace, nutmeg, and ginger) can be found in the first known published American cookbook, American Cookery, published in 1796 by Amelia Simmons: Pompkin
No. 1. One quart stewed and strained, 3 pints cream, 9 beaten eggs, sugar, mace, nutmeg and ginger, laid into paste No. 7 or 3, and with a dough spur, cross and chequer it, and baked in dishes three quarters of an hour.
No. 2. One quart of milk, 1 pint pompkin, 4 eggs, molasses, allspice and ginger in a crust, bake 1 hour.
Pumpkin pie spice has been mentioned in cookbooks dating to the 1890s.Farmer, Fannie Meritt. 1896. The Original Boston Cooking-School Cookbook, Facsimile Edition of 1986, Weathervane Books, NY, NYSmiley's cookbook and universal household guide. Smiley Publishing Co. ChicagoCoppin, C.A. 1910. Mamma's Hints to Housekeepers. Advanced Stove Works, Keller-Crescent, Evansville, IN. Blended pumpkin pie spice was introduced commercially by McCormick & Company in 1934.McKormick & Company, "Pumpkin Pie Spice: An Iconic McCormick Product (And How We’re Working to Meet the Holiday Demand)", November 19, 2020
See also
Five-spice powder Garam masala Powder-douce, a similar spice blend in medieval Europe Pumpkin spice latte Pumpkin Spice Spam Ras el hanout Speculoos
References