Pumpkin spice is back on menus and store shelves. Here’s a straightforward look at what’s actually in it, where the flavor comes from and whether the spices behind it offer anything beyond taste.
Does Pumpkin Spice Actually Contain Pumpkin?
Most pumpkin spice syrups and flavorings contain no pumpkin at all. The name refers to a blend of warm fall spices traditionally used in pumpkin pie, not the gourd itself.
Steve Talcott of Texas A&M University explained the distinction in a video for Campus Insights Media. “I want you to think about pumpkin spice latte as not necessarily spiced pumpkin, but a spice for pumpkin,” Talcott said. That’s why many commercial syrups skip the gourd entirely and still taste unmistakably like fall.
When Did the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte First Include Real Pumpkin?
Starbucks invented the pumpkin spice latte in 2003, and for more than a decade the flavor came entirely from the spice blend. The company reformulated its recipe in 2015 to add pumpkin puree. If you noticed a change in how your favorite fall drink tasted around that time, you weren’t imagining it. Whether you prefer their syrup before or after the switch can tell you whether you prefer your drinks more spice-forward or pumpkin-forward.
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Why Does a Pumpkin Spice Latte Feel So Good to Drink?
The spice blend creates a warming-and-cooling sensation that makes each sip feel satisfying. Natural compounds like eugenol, found in clove, cool the mouth even as the drink warms the body.
“The chemistry of the spices that go into pumpkin spice is just amazing because we have these wonderful natural compounds like clove,” Talcott said. “We have a compound called eugenol which is a terpene. It’s a very cooling and cooling sensation in your mouth. So you get this warm feeling in your body as your mouth is being cooled off.”
Are the Spices in Pumpkin Spice Actually Good For You?
Talcott said the natural compounds in the spice blend carry documented health benefits beyond flavor, though a sweetened latte is still a sweetened latte.
“These warm notes that you get from all the spices being blended together, those compounds are natural antioxidants as well as terpene,” Talcott said. “These flavor compounds, these volatile compounds that also have known health benefits. So these health benefits could be everywhere from cardiovascular health to lowering inflammation to even improving our cognitive health.”
Does Artificial Pumpkin Spice Flavor Taste Different From the Real Thing?
Not really, Talcott said. Lab-synthesized flavor compounds are essentially indistinguishable from natural extracts in a side-by-side sip.
“You really can’t tell the difference between eugenol in clove that was synthesized in a laboratory in a food grade manner versus an extract from the actual clove,” Talcott said. “So, when you’re purchasing a pumpkin spice latte flavor, you always want to check out the ingredient statement cuz more than likely, it’s going to be a combination of both natural and artificial flavors.”
Checking the label tells you what’s in the bottle. A syrup made with artificial flavors isn’t automatically inferior to one made with pure extracts.
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