Pumpkin Spice: The Science Behind the Invasion. Plus, What’s the Next Big Flavor Fad?

Every Little Thing

Gimlet

Comedy, Education, Science

4.6 • 4.6K Ratings

🗓️ 10 December 2018

⏱️ 22 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Why is pumpkin spice a thing? Flavor scientists explain why this particular combination is so appealing -- or not. Plus, how to make a new flavor, and ELT listeners pitch their ideas for the next flavor fad. Guests: Food scientist Kantha Shelke; flavor chemist Bill Aslanides. Thanks to caller Ally, and to flavor forecasters Hunter, Travis, Amelia, Kassy, Rachel, Brooke, Wyatt, Thomas, and to all the listeners who submitted ice cream ideas. Special thanks and congrats to Just Ani. Additional thanks to Michelle Gillespie of SPINS Research and to Genevieve Aronson of Nielsen Research. If you want to hear more about pumpkin spice, and flavor science, check out this episode of Science Friday. Thanks to our sponsor, Cole Haan. You can hear more of Flora and other Gimlet hosts in conversation at ExtraordinariesOnTheMic.com, produced in partnership with Cole Haan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	You have reached the Every Little Thing helpline. Please leave a message after the beep.
0:07.0	Beep.
0:10.0	Hi, this is Ali Schuman and I've just been noticing that pumpkin spice is everywhere.
0:16.0	There's highlighter, there's lip balm, and I'm wondering like where this started,
0:22.0	how much sales revenue can be attributed to pumpkin spice.
0:25.0	Boop.
0:27.0	Hi, Sis Ali.
0:32.0	Hey Ali, happy end of pumpkin spice season.
0:35.0	Yeah, I mean this is, you're really cutting it close to the end here.
0:39.0	Ali, it sounded like in your message that you have been tracking pumpkin spice products in the wild.
0:45.0	Well I have a list. Can I see the list?
0:48.0	Yeah, I can like text it to you or?
0:52.8	Yeah, text it to me.
0:54.8	Okay.
0:56.2	Okay, here it is.
0:58.0	Okay, there's like 20, I don't, 40 things on it.
1:01.3	Some usual suspects. Yeah, pretzels, chips, popcorn, Cheerios, pumpkin spice butter that's
1:08.8	been around. Oh, hummus.
1:13.0	Yeah.
1:15.0	You have one highlighted, which I also appreciated that you highlighted your own list.
1:20.0	Salsa.
1:21.0	Yeah.
	...

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