The Love and Hate Behind Polarizing Pumpkin Spice

You are ready to leave the heat of summer behind and walk straight into fall. As you watch the leaves start to change, you break out your chunky sweaters and look forward to all of those signature fall flavors — most notably polarizing pumpkin spice. 

If you want flavors that fall outside of the pumpkin spice realm, we have some teas and ideas you’ll love to try that aren’t pumpkin spice. But first, you might not realize that you actually love pumpkin spice after all. Did you know that pumpkin spice has almost nothing to do with pumpkins? 

What is Pumpkin Spice Made From?

Pumpkin spice is no doubt the diva of fall and it’s a flavor that you either love or you don’t. Pumpkin spice is literally a combination of potent spices that emulate the flavors of autumn. Clove, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg — and sometimes allspice — are added to pumpkin pies to give them that signature spice flavor.

There is rarely any real pumpkin added to pumpkin spice goodies and lattes. If you are a fan of these signature fall spices, you might be a fan of pumpkin spice after all! Let’s take a closer look at these spices and some other flavors that will make your autumn scrumptious.

4 Signature Spices that Define Fall

These four signature fall spices might be what pumpkin spice is made from, but they can be used for countless teas, treats, and dishes throughout the season. 

  1. Peppery Clove

You’ll find that this spice has a little hint of sweetness and a little hint of pepper, and is perfect for all kinds of sweet and savory dishes — and tea. Steep a pot full of plain black tea — preferably an English breakfast, Darjeeling, or the like. Add some clove, cardamom, and maybe even a slice of fresh orange for a strong and decadent afternoon tea that tastes like fall.

  1. Earthy Nutmeg

Nutmeg is nutty and earthy. Combine nutmeg and clove in your black tea for a relaxing bit of warmth and flavor. Freshly grated nutmeg is excellent for teatime cookies and cakes too.

  1. Sweet and Spicy Ginger

Ginger is spicy, lively, and sweet and you can enjoy it fresh or as a dried spice. You’ll find that freshly ground ginger is a lot stronger than the spice, but they are both incredible in all kinds of fall desserts, main dishes, and teas. The Ginger Lemongrass Sunrise tea is perfect if you want a rejuvenating caffeine-free burst of flavor with some citrus and spearmint.

  1. Savory Cinnamon

Fall wouldn’t be fall without cinnamon. It’s difficult to get away from the smell of cinnamon-infused pinecones and home decor. It’s even harder to resist the smell of cinnamon ciders and teas. 

To make a simple cinnamon tea, steep a Ceylon cinnamon stick in boiling water for 10 minutes. Add plain black tea leaves and steep for the recommended amount of time. Remove the tea and cinnamon stick and add honey to taste for a sweet and relaxing beverage.

If you want to keep it simple, the Wild Cinnamon Chai tea is a burst of autumn flavors. Black brick Assam tea is blended with cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, clove, and even a hint of black pepper that will please your tastebuds.

For the Love of Chai and All Things Spice

If all this talk of spices thrills you, chai will become one of your new favorite teas — if it isn’t already. Chai means “tea” in Hindi, and it’s made with a mixture of tea and spices. Masala Chai is made with clove, ginger, cardamom, and other spices with an organic black tea base. Add a splash of honey or sugar and a good portion of whole milk for a rich cup of spice that reflects the season.

4 Irresistible Fruits that Define Fall

There is more to fall than pumpkins — for some people. And while pumpkin might get all the glory there are other seasonal fruits that deserve your undivided attention as well. 

  1. Crunchy Apples

Pumpkins might be all the rage but apples are fresh, tangy, and full of amazing texture. Add apple slices to your cinnamon tea, or steep a pot of Sahara Apple Spice. This organic and kosher caffeine-free rooibos tea is a blend of apples and spice that has all the tang and richness of apple pie without all the calories.

  1. Buttery Pears

Fall is the season for all kinds of fresh pears — from crispy and tangy to buttery and sweet. This fruit might be overshadowed by pumpkins and apples, but glazed pears, tarts, cakes, and ciders make fall an absolute delight. And White Ginger Pear tea has all the warmth of ginger spice and the buttery goodness of juicy pears.

  1. Tangy Cranberries

The tart and sour taste of cranberries make your tastebuds dance — and the array of Thanksgiving sides wouldn’t be complete without it. You can make your own cranberry tea by bringing hot water to a boil and simmering fresh or frozen cranberries for about 30 minutes. Add orange zest or slices, lemon, cinnamon, cloves, and some sugar to taste and simmer for another hour. Strain and voila! — You have homemade cranberry tea!

  1. Sweet Figs

They are an often overlooked fruit that appears for a short time in the fall. Figs are a delicate delight if you can get your hands on them. This squishy fruit is sweet and subtle and makes for some excellent tarts and sweets. 

You can add homemade fig preserves to your favorite hot plain tea, but you might want to keep the fig consumption very simple — make a warm cup of earl grey, Darjeeling, or chai that will compliment the flavor of fresh ripened figs. Enjoy your fresh figs with some honey and cheese on the side for an extra special afternoon tea snack.

Top off Fall with a Drizzle of Caramel

There’s an endless list of delightful sauces, candies, and desserts that feature the rich sweetness of caramel. And the Caramel Almond Blossom tea is a fall favorite that has a bold sweet caramel flavor and hints of almond and hazelnut. It is a luxurious and decadent tea that will compliment your favorite caramel cookies and treats.

Find All Your Favorite Fall Flavors at Teabloom

Make the most of the harvest season with spices, chai, seasonal fruits, and caramel flavors that dance on your tongue and tingle all of your senses. There are plenty of ways for you to embrace this colorful and fragrant time of year and Teabloom is here to help make celebrating easy.

Their teas are high-quality USDA-certified organic and kosher. They are on a mission to not only provide you with excellent teas but to also elevate your teatime experience and your health.

Dive head-first into the fall season with delicious teas and beautiful teaware from a genuine company that has the wellness of you and the tea industry in mind. Shop at Teabloom to find all of your fall favorites, today.

www.Teabloom.com