Let’s rewind for a minute with the Ghost of Pumpkin Spice Past: it’s mid-August. The sun burns down from above and the honeysuckle is in full bloom. You’re dreaming of your last lake days, or one final camping trip before school starts, or maybe just how you can best enjoy your dwindling freedom before classes start up again.
And since you have time, you take a walk to your favourite coffee shop, intent on guzzling an iced coffee while you melt in the sun. But as you approach the till, you see those golden words gleaming at you from the menu:
Pumpkin Spice Latte.
Now fast forward with the Ghost of Pumpkin Spice Present: I write this to you on a crisp day in mid-September, leaves blowing from the maple trees in the neighbours’ yard. I have already had seven pumpkin spice lattes this year — one from Oldhand Coffee, six I made myself at home. I’ve also made pumpkin loaf, and have a recipe for pumpkin chocolate chip cookies pulled up on my phone. In a few weeks, I’ll be baking three pumpkin pies for our annual family gathering, and in a few weeks more, I’ll harvest my sugar pumpkins from my grandparents’ farm to bake and freeze for future use.
If you’re like me, you celebrate all things pumpkin, dreaming of them as early as April of each year. You can’t wait for stores to start catering to you, the ideal autumnal individual, once more: pumpkin spice lattes, of course, but also pumpkin spice cookies, pumpkin spice hot chocolate, pumpkin loaf, pumpkin ice cream … you get it.
Or maybe you’re on the opposite side, dreading the revival of pumpkin everything each year. In August, pumpkin spice creeps up on you and grabs you from behind, sliding pumpkin pie into your jeans pocket, pouring a pumpkin spice latte in your purse. No matter where you turn, pumpkin spice haunts you, an ever-present reminder that you can’t escape it, try as you do.
I’d like to encourage you to think about why you squirm away from the thought of the pumpkin season descending upon us. Is it because you don’t like the taste of pumpkin? Fine — I can respect that. But really think about it: is the reason something more?
The thing I don’t love about the polarization of pumpkin spice is that — at least to me — it feels like it’s connected to the “I’m not like other girls” phenomenon. If you’re unfamiliar with this, it’s the tendency for some women and girls to try to distance themselves from others by highlighting how they’re “different” — which often isn’t different at all.
Or maybe, for you, it’s the intense commercialization of the product as soon as August hits. On August 26, Dairy Queen announced its fall treat lineup with pumpkin spice Blizzards right at the top; McDonald’s has a pumpkin spice latte and a pumpkin spice cream cold brew on their menu; and Dunkin’ Donuts advertises a Dunkin’ Spiked Pumpkin Spice Iced Latte — you know, in case you want to get buzzed while drinking your coffee.
I know, I get it — capitalism sucks. But so does disliking an entire food group (yes, pumpkin spice is a food group) because it’s enjoyed by people you don’t feel you align with.
So if it’s a matter of not wanting to spend $7 every time you want a little PSL, and it isn’t a matter of disliking the taste — which, really? It’s cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice … all the good stuff — then you can always make your own at home (Love and Lemons has an excellent recipe).
This is me encouraging you, pumpkin spice hater, to broaden your horizons a little — especially if you avoid it because Brittney from eleventh grade loved it. Who knows — maybe, when the Ghost of Pumpkin Spice Future comes creeping toward you next summer, you’ll welcome it with open arms.
