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The odoriferous emblem of commercialism

Posted by Robin on 18 October 2017 9 Comments

It’s invention run amok, marketing gone mad, the odoriferous emblem of commercialism without compunction or bounds. It’s the transformation of an illusion — there isn’t any spice called pumpkin, nor any pumpkin this spicy — into a reality.

— Frank Bruni of The New York Times turns his attention from politics to pumpkin spice (although be warned he does also talk politics) in Will Pumpkin Spice Destroy Us All?

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9 Comments

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  1. Koyel says:
    18 October 2017 at 2:42 pm

    What? The explanation I received was that pumpkin spice is the spice you put in pumpkin pie WITH pumpkin. I don’t think anyone ever pretended that pumpkin spice had anything to do with pumpkin. PSLs, for example, have never claimed to have pumpkin in them.

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    • Robin says:
      18 October 2017 at 3:01 pm

      That was my understanding too.

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    • Mariann says:
      18 October 2017 at 7:33 pm

      Yup. But the rest is hilarious, still giggling ????

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    • hajusuuri says:
      18 October 2017 at 9:24 pm

      Actually, many of the PSL now have real pumpkin!

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      • Koyel says:
        18 October 2017 at 10:12 pm

        Do multiple places have PSLs? I was under the impression that was a product unique to Starbucks. Clearly I’m behind the times.

        I should have said the original Starbucks PSL has no pumpkin, but I didn’t realize I needed to 🙂

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  2. PekeFan says:
    18 October 2017 at 2:50 pm

    I reached my limit when I saw pumpkin spice dog treats (Greenies) in Petco this past weekend.

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    • Robin says:
      18 October 2017 at 3:01 pm

      Ha!

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  3. hajusuuri says:
    18 October 2017 at 9:50 pm

    I clicked through the article and saw Pumpkin Spice Cheerios. I have a box in the pantry right now.

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    • Robin says:
      19 October 2017 at 10:38 am

      LOL!

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