What Is Pumpkin Spice Made From?
Pumpkin spice, also known as pumpkin pie spice, is an incredibly popular spice mix used in the United States. We're well acquainted with pumpkin spice lattes, and pumpkin pies, there is even pumpkin spice skincare!
But what is this mouth watering spice mix actually made from?
Pumpkin spice combines various yummy, warm spices that are mostly used around Fall and the holiday season.
Pumpkin spice is generally made up of 5 spices, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves and sometimes allspice.
How Do You Make Pumpkin Spice From Scratch?
Making homemade pumpkin spice takes less that 5 minutes to do, and all you'll need is ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground nutmeg, ground allspice, and ground cloves.
It's likely these ingredients have been sitting in your pantry for years, and you never even knew they could be combined.
This DIY pumpkin spice recipe is an easy, inexpensive way to have your favourite spice all year round.
The method for this recipe is as easy as measuring out the spices, whisking them together, and voila! You have your very own pumpkin spice mix. It’s as easy as that!
Follow this simple recipe below:
3 x Tablespoons Ground Cinnamon
2 x Teaspoons Ground Ginger
2 x Teaspoons Ground Nutmeg
1 x Teaspoon Ground Allspice
1 x Teaspoon Ground Cloves
This recipe will make 5 tablespoons, which is enough to last for many spontaneous baking sessions.
Does Pumpkin Spice Have Pumpkin In It?
Funnily enough, pumpkin spice mix doesn’t actually contain any pumpkin in it.
Most pumpkin spice recipes contain ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves and sometimes allspice.
If you’ve done enough research, you’ll know that Pumpkin actually has some incredible benefits for the body and skin. That being said, you shouldn’t confuse a pumpkin spice product as having the same benefits as a product made with pumpkin.
Products that contain pumpkin, usually contain pumpkin seed oil. Pumpkin seed oil can improve heart health by lowering cholesterol and reducing high blood pressure. It is also considered a good oil to use for acne prone skin, as it contains a plethora of ingredients that can soothe inflammation.
When looking at purchasing a product made with pumpkin spice, double check to see if the product contains pumpkin seed oil. Otherwise, you’ll be missing out on the incredible benefits of pumpkin seed oil.
Is Pumpkin Spice Healthy?
Beneath the hype associated with pumpkin spices lattes, limited-edition pumpkin spice snacks and other baked goods, lies and actually nutritious and beneficial foundation.
The health benefits of pumpkin spice lie in the ingredients, each of which bring their own benefit to the table.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is thought to have many medicinal and soothing properties, it is also used frequently in Chinese herbal medicine. This is due to its antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties.
Cinnamon also contains large amounts of polyphenol antioxidants. Which can help protect the body from disease.
Some spices, including cinnamon, have prebiotic properties that promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the body and help supress the growth of bad bacteria.
There is also some evidence to suggest that the consumption of cinnamon is associated with a short-term reduction in blood pressure.
Nutmeg
Though small in size, the seeds from which nutmeg is derived from are rich in plant compounds that act as antioxidants in your body.
Nutmeg is found to have many health benefits, including it’s ability to relieve pain, soothe indigestion, strengthen cognitive function, detoxify the body, boost skin health, increase immune system function and blood circulation. The list goes on!
Ginger
People have used ginger in cooking and in medicine since ancient times. It is a popular home remedy for stomach pain, nausea and other health issues.
Antioxidants and other nutrients in ginger may help prevent or treat arthritis, inflammation, and various types of infection.
Researchers have also studied its potential to reduce the risk of diabetes, cancer and other health problems.
Allspice
One of the most celebrated aspects of allspice is its ability to lower inflammation and alleviate pain in parts of the body.
The active ingredients in the spice has chemical compounds that eliminate inflammation, making it an ideal spice to give you some relief from arthritis, muscle aches, or even hemorrhoids.
Research has shown certain antibacterial and antifungal effects of allspice, particularly in terms of stomach bacteria.
Why Is It Called Pumpkin Spice?
Pumpkin spice has a pretty rich history, with its name dating back to the early 1900’s.
The establishment of the name pumpkin spice has been traced back to a recipe for pumpkin spice cakes written in the Washington Post in 1936. The article was titled “Spice Cake Of Pumpkin Newest Dish: Delicacy Tempting to All Appetites and Easy to Prepare. Ideal Dessert for Family Dinner, Healthful for Children."
In the 1950’s pumpkin spice was known as pumpkin pie spice, as it combined the ingredients used in pumpkin pie. By the 1960’s, cooks were using it to flavour all kinds of dishes, and thus the ‘pumpkin spice’ name we all know and love was born.
Is Pumpkin Spice Good For Your Skin?
With all the benefits listed above, it would be extremely hard for pumpkin spice to be bad for your skin.
The spices used in pumpkin spice collectively have great anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anti-fungal properties.
Cinnamon assists in fighting off blemish causing bacteria, which essentially means it will fight off any bacteria lingering on your face that'll make you break out.
Ginger is a packed full of more than 40 antioxidants that are said to fight the signs of aging. It is also ideal for lightening acne scars, as it contains gingerol, which helps smooth and even skin tone.
Nutmeg is often overshadowed by Cinnamon, but definitely shouldn't be overlooked. It's got anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that can help brighten dull skin and even treat acne.