CONFESSION: I love pumpkin and I adore pumpkin spice.
Let me qualify that though, I love fresh pumpkin, canned pumpkin, pumpkin pie. The blend of cinnamon, ginger, clove, nutmeg, and all spice in pumpkin spice is wonderful too.
In fact, I recently started adding canned pumpkin to my morning smoothie because autumn. Yet, I find myself flabbergasted at the sheer amount of pumpkin spice products out there. I understand that it is the season, but let's slow down for a minute. Take a deep breath of autumn air and step back from your pumpkin spice latte while you eat your pumpkin spice Oreo while you burn a pumpkin spice candle while sitting in your pumpkin spice chair.
If you don't count pumpkin pie (the original pumpkin spice), the pumpkin spice craze can be traced back to 2003 when Starbucks released the Pumpkin Spice Latte, now affectionately known as PSL because no one has time to say all three words. Interestingly, only since 2015 has the PSL contained any actual pumpkin. I must admit that I have never tasted a Pumpkin Spice Latte (I like my coffee black) but the popularity is undeniable as the PSL's arrival is synonymous with the arrival of fall, even if it is 80 degrees outside while I write this.
Piggybacking on the popularity of the PSL is EVERY OTHER DAMNED THING ON THE PLANET. We now have pumpkin spice Oreos, M&M's, milk, marshmallows, shampoo, nail polish, shaving cream, beef jerky, lasagna noodles, cream cheese, etc. etc. etc. Trader Joe's even has an entire pumpkin section this year! I haven't even mentioned pumpkin beers, which now seem to hit shelves in early August and are mostly terrible.There's even pumpkin spice laundry detergent, so your clothes can smell like pumpkin pie, too. When will the madness stop?
Like I said, I love pumpkin and pumpkin spice, but there is a place for it – Starbucks and dessert. Aside from that, you can keep all of the other nonsense.
Ackroyd's Scottish Bakery in Redford sells Pumpkin Spice shortbread cookies and they are wonderful. For full disclosure, Ackroyd's Scottish Bakery is my family's bakery. Al Ackroyd started the bakery in 1949. Allan (his son) took over, and now my partner Megan has taken the reins. I am proud to work in such an incredible institution and credit Ackroyd's with giving me an astonishing amount of hospitality experience. To me, the pumpkin spice shortbread cookies are some of the best I've ever tasted.
Bon Bon Bon just released a “Pumpkin Spice is Cheesy” bon bon with this disclaimer, “No Ugg Boots or winter vests were harmed in the making of this fall delight.” Tongue in cheek comment aside, Bon Bon Bon's pumpkin spice treat is excellent and definitely worth seeking out if you love pumpkin spice and chocolate.
When fall hits, there's no stopping the pumpkin spice bulldozer. While you don't have to bask in the cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, ginger, and all spice glow, at some point pumpkin spice will punch you in the nose and, possibly, the mouth. I am all for pumpkin spice cookies, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin spice cake, and you can hold on to your lattes, but for the love of all that is autumn, can we get rid of pumpkin spice sausage, pumpkin spice soap, pumpkin spice potato chips, etc. etc. etc.
Can we also make a pact to start the pumpkin craze a little later next year? Like October, maybe? I mean who is drinking Pumpkin Spice Lattes in August and are those pumpkin beers really that refreshing on a hot August day?
