The Controversial Legacy of Pumpkin Spice: Washington Post's Concerns

The Washington Post has highlighted the "violent history" behind pumpkin spice, tracing its origins to the Dutch invasion of the Banda Islands in 1621. The Dutch company's pursuit of nutmeg, one of the key spices in pumpkin spice, resulted in thousands of deaths and accusations of corporate genocide. While acknowledging that many commodities have troubling histories, the report emphasizes the compressed and brutal history of nutmeg. The article also discusses the colonizer histories of other spices in pumpkin spice, such as cloves and cinnamon. Food historians stress the importance of acknowledging the violent past associated with these spices, particularly when they become popular in pop culture, like the iconic Pumpkin Spice Latte.