Title: Pumpkin Spice: Unveiling the Violent History Behind Fall’s Beloved Tradition
Subtitle: The Washington Post Investigates the Dark Origins of Nutmeg, a Key Ingredient in Pumpkin Spice
Date: [Current Date]
By: [Author’s Name]
The Washington Post recently published an eye-opening report that delves into the “violent history” behind America’s beloved seasonal flavor, pumpkin spice. Volatile tales of genocide, colonial conflicts, and enslaved labor have been associated with nutmeg, one of the core spices in this famous blend.
The report, titled “Fall’s favorite spice blend has a violent history,” takes us back to the Dutch invasion of the Banda Islands in 1621, which is now modern-day Indonesia. Thousands of lives were lost, many were enslaved, and those who managed to escape to the mountains were eventually starved out. This unsettling invasion was driven by the Dutch East India Company’s unquenchable thirst for nutmeg.
University of Texas at Austin historian Adam Clulow spoke to The Washington Post, highlighting the accusation that the Dutch company carried out the first instance of corporate genocide in its quest for nutmeg. The report emphasizes that nutmeg is one of the three key spices in the blend commonly known as pumpkin spice.
“A lot of commodities have terrible histories – there’s sugar and tobacco to think about,” observed Clulow, offering a broader perspective. “But nutmeg, now used in pumpkin spice, has the most compressed terrible history. Thousands were killed.”
The article assures readers that today’s jar of pumpkin spice, typically featuring cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger, does not have a violent past. The spice mix can be purchased for as little as $2.39, and popular beverages like Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte use nutmeg that is grown without violence.
Food historian Sarah Wassberg Johnson weighed in, acknowledging that while spices have always been part of the natural course of trade, those comprising pumpkin spice have fraught colonizer histories.
The article continues, detailing that while the Banda Islands were famous for nutmeg, their neighboring islands of Amboina held significance for cloves. The clashing interests surrounding the control of the clove trade resulted in almost bloody battles, almost driving the Netherlands and England to war in the early 17th century.
Cinnamon, sourced mostly from Sri Lanka, was subject to colonization by the Portuguese, Dutch, and British, according to the report. European explorers’ desire to monopolize sought-after spices and bypass indigenous middlemen led to violent confrontations, further exacerbating the already murky history of pumpkin spice ingredients.
Johnson emphasizes the importance of acknowledging the complex origins of widely consumed foods, stating, “It’s true that if we didn’t consume food that hadn’t been touched by slavery and Indigenous displacement, we wouldn’t be eating a lot of food… But whenever foods enter pop culture lexicon the way pumpkin spice has in the U.S., it’s important to acknowledge how it reached us.”
Enslaved labor played a crucial role in the mass production and accessibility of nutmeg and cloves, which were once considered luxury goods to many Europeans in the 17th century.
Drawing a parallel with art, Clulow likens the ubiquitous image of Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte to Pieter Claesz’s 17th-century still-life painting, “Still Life with a Turkey Pie.” He highlights the opulent, globalized consumption represented in the painting, pointing out that the same applies to these Starbucks lattes today. The wealthy consumers are enjoying ingredients from all over the world without acknowledging their troubling histories.
As pumpkin spice continues to dominate fall menus and grocery store shelves, The Washington Post aims to shed light on the complex origins and histories behind the ingredients that have become synonymous with the season. By confronting uncomfortable realities, we can strive for a more informed and conscientious approach to our favorite seasonal traditions.
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