Happy Pumpkin Spice Season!
Or is it?
I’m all for pumpkin pie, pumpkin cookies, and pumpkin muffins, but I can proudly say I’ve never imbibed a Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL). And I got to wondering, where the heck did the idea come from? And how did it take over the world? Was there more to it than just a marketing ploy? Off to do some research.
The first mention of the spicy brew was in 2003 at Starbucks, where it was introduced as a seasonal drink, and the popularity quickly grew to what some might term obsessive proportions. (Not that I’d ever say such a thing.) But why?
The blend of spices is made from what are commonly referred to as “warm” spices in the culinary world, thus imparting a cozy feeling of nostalgia. There are various recipes for the spice blend but the most popular seem to contain cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove.
If it imparts the above-mentioned warm cozy feeling, how much of that is chemical and how much psychological or emotional? Not wanting to delve into the psyches of strangers (though I love doing so with my characters, but they’re not really strangers, at least not once I’m done with them), I focused on the biochemical effects of the three most popular spices in the pumpkin spice blend: cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger.
First, and in greatest proportion, is cinnamon. Mmm, such a delicious taste and aroma. Small doses, such as you’d find in the average sweet or savoury food, can help regulate blood sugar levels, while a large dose as encountered in a cinnamon eating contest (are they insane?!?) can lead to liver damage due to coumarin toxicity.
Next in line is nutmeg. In small doses, nutmeg can act as a mild sedative, promoting relaxation. However, in large doses, it can cause hallucinations, which is a bonus—if you’re into that sort of thing.
And finally, we have ginger. Small doses of ginger can aid digestion and reduce nausea, making it a favourite among those who overindulge at holiday feasts. (Also a common aid for motion sickness.) But large doses can cause heartburn or digestive upset, which is less than ideal when you're trying to enjoy your PSL.
Can any of these be deadly? Is flirting with death the reason for PSL? Nutmeg does have some toxicity in large amounts - ingesting 5 grams or more can lead to serious side effects.
Caution! Nutmeg is toxic to dogs and cats, potentially causing disorientation or even seizures if consumed in significant quantities. No eggnog for the fur babies!
After all this research, I raised a toast to myself for resisting the call to join the rest of the sheep at the PSL trough, risking life and limb just to join the crowd.
Hold on a minute – what am I holding? Is that a mug of my favourite coffee shop tipple, the glorious Dirty Chai Latte (DCL)? The scrumptious DCL containing such warm spices as cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom? In other words, *gulp*, a variation of PUMPKIN SPICE?!?!
Should I now admit to loving a PSL as much as the next sheep? Paraphrasing (enormously) Shakespeare, does a PSL by any other name taste as deliciously life-affirming?
Photo by unsplash.com/@theocrazzolara
Luanna Stewart is a Canadian author who has been creating adventures for her imaginary friends since childhood. She spends her days writing many flavours of romance, torturing her heroes and heroines before helping them find their happy-ever-after. But when she’s taking a break from wreaking people’s lives, you can find her pulling weeds, baking something delicious, or enjoying a cup of tea whilst completing a craft project. Enjoying (most of the time) an empty nest, she lives in Nova Scotia with her patient husband and a yard full of voracious deer.
