Although this has been talked about before, and I may lose my white girl card for this, let’s discuss how out of control pumpkin spice has gotten yet again this fall season, specifically down the aisles of Trader Joe’s.
I like Trader Joe’s as much as the next girl, but it seems like every item you would normally buy comes in a pumpkin flavor or scent, ranging from hummus to even hard seltzers. The popularity of hard seltzers amongst Millennials and older Gen Z’s has soared, but pumpkin flavored ones might be a bit overkill.
Budlight has even come out with their own line of fall flavored seltzers that include Pumpkin Spice, Apple Crisp, Maple Pear and Toasted Marshmallow.
Some of the more traditional items like pumpkin scones and pumpkin flavored coffee are still popular favorites, but the flavor is now creeping into the more savory dishes. Unbelievably, pumpkin spice flavored ravioli has hit the shelves of Costco this season.
Not only is pumpkin spice a popular flavor choice, but the scent of pumpkin spice is making an even larger debut this fall season. The popular bathroom spray by the name of Poo-pourri recently released a pumpkin spice scent this fall, giving Bath and Body Works a run for their money with these new scents.
Fall is one of the most comforting times of the year, bringing back memories and feelings of warmth. In many places, other than Las Vegas, it involves the changing of the leaves, cooler weather, pumpkin patches, apple orchards and so much more.
Therefore, I propose all we do is change the typical fall flavor. Let’s show some love to the true flavor of the fall season: apple cinnamon.
From apple cider to apple pie, apple flavored treats and scents truly are the fall flavors we should all be celebrating. Yes, pumpkin patches are fun, but apple picking is definitely more exciting, as well as more responsible. You can bake a pie, make cider and at least after apple picking, you can actually use the produce rather than simply use it as decor.
Pumpkin and the pumpkin spice flavor will forever be a classic in American culture and cooking, but if we continue to overdo the pumpkin like we have been as a society, I fear we will become more sick of it then we already are.
Maybe we can just take a few falls off from pumpkin spice? Let us all have a few seasons of a palate cleanser. At the very least, enough of the pumpkin seltzers. We all love a good low calorie alcoholic beverage, but there is no need for a pumpkin spice flavor.
