Pumpkins... an American Experience?
By Amy Bu ‘17
It’s pumpkin season! Bulbous pumpkins decorate porches, pumpkin products line grocery shelves, and coffee shops all over America have unleashed Pumpkin Spice Lattes upon the public - as if on cue. This bright orange squash has carved (ha ha) its niche in our holidays, found its way into our kitchens, and wormed its way into our hearts.
Two years ago, as a first-year Tufts student, I bought my first Pumpkin Spice Latte and experienced love at first sip. Coming from abroad, this is a cultural experience!
But is it really?
The pumpkin is native to the American continent and has been cultivated in North America for over five thousand years. And instead of making crusted pies for Thanksgiving, Pilgrims stuffed pumpkins with cream, eggs, sugar, and spices, buried them in hot ashes, and ended up with gooey pumpkin custard that probably eventually became what is pie filling today.
In short: yes, pumpkins are American. They're as American as it gets.
So, can my new love for pumpkin really be justified as a cultural experience? Perhaps. For those of you who remain unconvinced, I asked friends from Singapore, England, and China whether the pumpkin spice craze exists in those countries: it does not!
America is unparalleled – and unique – in its love with pumpkin-flavored and pumpkin-spiced products. So if you'll excuse me, I'll go eat more pumpkin ice cream now.
P.S.: You can get Pumpkin Spice Lattes and Chai at both Hotung Café and Brown and Brew.
