Pumpkin season is here again. Along with bountiful harvests of this subtly sweet, nutritiously delicious fruit -- right in time for Halloween -- comes that seasonal craving for the traditional pumpkin pie. And, of course, the popular drink it has inspired: pumpkin spice latte.
Before pumpkin pie latte became a thing, Americans looked forward to eating a spiced custard-filled pie made with pureed pumpkins -- a Thanksgiving staple rooted in centuries of tradition. Pumpkin pie's history in America can be traced back to the early 18th century, even before Thanksgiving became an important holiday for the Pilgrims in New England. [1]
After the Civil War of 1861, the tradition of celebrating Thanksgiving slowly spread across America, and pumpkin pie became a fixture at every holiday table together with the classic roast turkey.
How Pumpkin Spice Latte came to be
The traditional American pumpkin pie features a sweet custard filling seasoned with warm spices that's baked in a homemade pie crust. Before canned pumpkin puree was developed, early pumpkin pie recipes called for pumpkins to be roasted and strained before being added to the crust and baked. A blend of spices that include cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves and/or allspice gives pumpkin pie its signature warm flavor. [2]
In the early 20th century, spice companies like Thompson & Taylor and McCormick began selling pumpkin pie spice -- a ready-made mix that eliminated the time-consuming process of grinding whole spices for seasoning. Thompson & Taylor was the first to launch a pumpkin pie spice mix, which boasted nine exotic spices specially blended just for pumpkin pie.
McCormick followed suit and produced its own pumpkin pie spice mix two years later, featuring a blend of "ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and other spices" that advertisements also claimed could be used for gingerbread. Because of the convenience these spice blends offered, creative cooks gained more time to experiment in the kitchen and explore other recipes pumpkin pie spice can be used in.
Pumpkin pie spice found its way into one of the world's most favorite beverages -- coffee -- in the early 2000s. Starbucks launched its pumpkin spice latte in 2003 after its research and development team, led by then-director of espresso Peter Dukes, began creating seasonal drinks. While it's hard to trace who really originated the idea of combining espresso with pumpkin pie spice, pumpkin spice latte became the iconic seasonal drink that it is after its Starbucks debut. [3]
Making your homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte as healthy as can be
The magic of pumpkin spice latte is hard to deny or resist. But for health-conscious consumers who want the freedom to choose their ingredients (and avoid the high sugar content of most store-bought coffee drinks), commercial pumpkin spice lattes are not the only options. You can now customize your pumpkin spice latte at home with clean, healthy ingredients that you can find at the Health Ranger Store.
Assembled with your health, safety and convenience in mind, our Health Ranger Select Pumpkin Spice Latte Kit consists of lab-verified, certified organic ingredients so you can easily enjoy the magic of pumpkin spice latte in the comfort of your home. Simply combine the ingredients and add your homemade pumpkin pie spice blend for a clean, healthy version of your favorite seasonal drink.
Non-GMO and thoroughly lab tested for glyphosate, heavy metals and microbiology, our Health Ranger Select Pumpkin Spice Latte Kit is the perfect companion to satisfy your autumn drink cravings!
Upgrade your homemade pumpkin spice latte with the wholesome ingredients included in our kit:
Organic Non-Fat Milk Powder
- Groovy Bee® Organic Non-Fat Milk Powder (included in the kit)
- Health Ranger Select Organic Non-Fat Milk Powder (40 oz, 1133g) #10 Can (2-Pack) (not included in the kit)
Rich in natural milk nutrients that have been carefully preserved during the process of fat removal, our Organic Non-Fat Milk Powder is a clean, shelf-stable form of whole milk that offers nutrition, convenience and versatility. The perfect addition to your coffee and other favorite drinks, Groovy Bee® Organic Non-Fat Milk Powder is sourced from premium healthy cows that are ethically raised without GMOs, bovine growth hormones, antibiotics or synthetic substances.
Our lab-verified Organic Non-Fat Milk Powder can boost your daily intake of calcium, potassium, protein and other nutrients in any situation. Simply add water to make a glass of milk or incorporate it into healthy recipes, such as pumpkin spice latte, for extra creaminess and a nutritional upgrade. Groovy Bee® Organic Non-Fat Milk Powder is non-China, gluten-free, certified Kosher and organic, and extensively lab tested for glyphosate, heavy metals and microbiology.
For individuals looking to stock up on milk long-term, we also offer Health Ranger Select Organic Non-Fat Milk Powder (40 oz, 1133g) #10 Can (2-Pack).
Organic Coconut Palm Sugar
- Health Ranger Select Organic Coconut Palm Sugar (included in the kit)
For individuals looking for a low-glycemic alternative to regular sugar, Organic Coconut Palm Sugar is the perfect candidate to sweeten your drinks. Derived from the sweet sap of Cocos nucifera (coconut palm) tree blossoms, this natural sweetener has a delicately sweet flavor and contains small amounts of beneficial phytonutrients, particularly antioxidants, as well as some essential vitamins and minerals that you won't find in refined sugars. [4]
Health Ranger Select Organic Coconut Palm Sugar has a low glycemic index and is easily the better, healthier choice for your favorite homemade drinks and recipes. Our Organic Coconut Palm Sugar is vegan, non-GMO, non-China, certified Kosher and organic, and extensively lab tested for glyphosate, heavy metals and microbiology.
Organic Hand-Roasted Whole Bean Coffee
- Health Ranger Select 100% Organic Hand-Roasted Whole Bean Coffee (Honey Processed Honduras) (included in the kit)
Available options:
- Health Ranger Select 100% Organic Hand-Roasted Whole Bean Coffee (Decaf Honduras) (not included in the kit)
- Health Ranger Select 100% Organic Hand-Roasted Whole Bean Coffee (Low Acid Blend) (not included in the kit)
- Health Ranger Select 100% Organic Hand-Roasted Whole Bean Coffee (Sumatra) (not included in the kit)
With its balanced acidity, distinctly fruity aroma and exquisite flavor with floral undertones, Health Ranger Select 100% Organic Hand-Roasted Whole Bean Coffee (Honey Processed Honduras) is the perfect base for your homemade pumpkin spice latte. Our Organic Honey Processed Honduras coffee blend is sourced from the Café Organico Marcala Sociedad Anonima (COMSA) co-op, a prominent farmer-owned cooperative in Honduras, which uses innovative methods and practices to create coffee of exceptionally high quality. "Honey processing" is one such innovative method the COMSA co-op specializes in.
Honey processing refers to the fermentation process coffee cherries undergo. Instead of milling the pulp and washing the mucilage off, farmers keep the mucilage, or "honey," on the cherries as they dry, resulting in a medium roast coffee blend with a clean, slightly sweet taste. A study by Indonesian researchers also found that honey processed coffee beans contain higher levels of antioxidants than differently processed beans. [5][6]
Health Ranger Select 100% Organic Hand-Roasted Whole Bean Coffee (Honey Processed Honduras) is non-GMO, gluten-free and certified organic and Fair Trade. It is also lab tested for glyphosate, heavy metals and microbiology.
Health Ranger Select 100% Organic Hand-Roasted Whole Bean Coffees are lab-verified, freshly roasted and comprise an exceptional range of blends, such as Decaf Honduras, Low-Acid Blend and Sumatra, to suit your taste. They are all imported directly from small farmer cooperatives around the globe.
Organic Pumpkin Pie Spice Blend (not included in the kit)
Of course, your homemade pumpkin spice latte won't be complete without the traditional pumpkin pie spice blend. As listed in our recipe video, simply add the following spices to enjoy the full flavor and goodness of this delicious autumn drink:
- 1/4 tsp ground Organic Cinnamon
- pinch of ground Organic Ginger
- pinch of ground Organic Nutmeg
- pinch of ground Organic Cloves
Note: All listed products can be purchased individually at the Health Ranger Store so you can choose which ingredients go into your drink. A recipe video featuring our Pumpkin Spice Latte Kit is available in this link.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose any diseases.
References
[2] https://www.thefoodhistorian.com
[3] https://www.foodandwine.com
