{"id":34111,"date":"2024-08-04T19:13:44","date_gmt":"2024-08-05T01:13:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mymerrychristmas.com\/x\/?p=34111"},"modified":"2024-08-04T19:13:44","modified_gmt":"2024-08-05T01:13:44","slug":"pumpkin-spice-season-has-begun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mymerrychristmas.com\/x\/pumpkin-spice-season-has-begun\/","title":{"rendered":"Pumpkin Spice Season Has Begun"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pumpkin spice<\/a> season is officially upon us. The media blitz has begun. They have announced that Starbucks will begin selling the granddaddy of all pumpkin spice<\/a> products, the Pumpkin Spice<\/a> Latte, on August 22,, <\/sup>2024.<\/p>\n

Not to be outdone, and perhaps to ride on the coattails of rabidly popular pumpkin-whatever beverages, 7-Eleven has announced the Pumpkin Spice<\/a> Slurpee.<\/p>\n

And if cold isn\u2019t your thing for pumpkin 7-Eleven also introduces their own Pumpkin Spice<\/a> Latte and a Pumpkin Spice<\/a> Coffee \u2013 all available in stores now.<\/p>\n

How big is this pumpkin spice<\/a> thing?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s huge.<\/p>\n

After all, we\u2019ve been tracking it, celebrating it, mocking it, and spreading news about it for TEN years. It’s as big a tradition as whining about Christmas<\/a> trees being for sale in Costco in August. In fact, those who whine the loudest about Christmas<\/a> trees in August in Costco are usually sipping on a pumpkin spice<\/a> latte while they are whining.<\/p>\n

Pumpkin spice<\/a> is big business.<\/p>\n

It has become so big that food industry giants have started keeping stats. Restaurant technology provider SpotOn<\/em> reports that more than 1000 pumpkin menu items have been added in restaurants, cafes and stores since late spring of 2024.<\/p>\n

The whole \u201cpumpkin industry\u201d, they say, will be worth $2.4 billion by 2031. That’s with a B.<\/p>\n

Pumpkin is now an official flavor found in beer, yogurt, coffee, coffee creamer, cheesecake, soft drinks, water, oat milk, pastries, pasta sauce, chocolate, soups, cake mix, jelly beans, cereal, tea, oatmeal, ice cream, dog treats, cookies, energy bars, pancake mix, protein powder, syrups, peanut butter powder, cocoa<\/a> mixes, gum, marshmallows, nuts, fig bars, granola, ice cream bars, cream cheese, popcorn seasoning, vinegar, eggnog<\/a>, bone broth, hummus, popcorn, cookie dough, donuts, bagels, whipped topping, candy, jello, moon pies and roasted\u2026um, pumpkin seeds (no kidding).<\/p>\n

Of course, that stuff is all temporary and will only be on shelves for a short time \u2013 mostly between right now and November 1st<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Which is weird, because pumpkin historically has been an American autumn staple since the 1620s. Yeah, no kidding.<\/p>\n

New Englanders were tipped off by the local native American tribes who said that pumpkins grew in the wild in places like Massachusetts, Connecticut and Vermont. The Natives swore by it and our New England forefathers quickly adopted it.<\/p>\n

Pumpkin was the stuff of pies, at first, for our pilgrim ancestors and it was such a fall tradition it became embedded into the harvest gatherings we came in time to call Thanksgiving<\/a>. Long before an official Thanksgiving<\/a> holiday was ever pronounced generations of Americans enjoyed harvest \u201cfeasts of Thanksgiving\u201d<\/em> that were always topped off by pumpkin pie.<\/p>\n

When holidays became an official thing in the mid-19th<\/sup> century Christmas<\/a> Day was recognized and December 25th<\/sup> was named, get this\u00a0 — National Pumpkin Pie Day<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Huh? Really?<\/em> Pumpkin is a Christmas<\/a> food?<\/p>\n

You bet, baby. That\u2019s why we bring it up.<\/p>\n

We track it. We know that before we hunt for the tree, hang a string of lights<\/a>, or write a letter to Santa<\/a> we have to consume our share of pumpkin whatever.<\/p>\n

The American love<\/a> affair with pumpkin has never waned.<\/p>\n

But let\u2019s not sugar coat it.<\/p>\n

Pumpkin is popular because, like the heralded yam also of Thanksgiving<\/a> fame, pumpkin is laced with a lot of other stuff. Pumpkin is beloved because it is blended with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, clove and lots and lots of sugar.<\/p>\n

What this massive multi-billion dollar industry is saying to pumpkin fans everywhere is this: who cares how you get your pumpkin. Just get your pumpkin.<\/p>\n

Enjoy our gallery of images featuring some of the best of pumpkin whatever that is available:<\/p>\n\n\t\t