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How much Pumpkin Spice is too much?

Story by Maria Teixeira and Julia Swiatek

With Autumn comes the changing of the leaves, warm sweaters, and Halloween decorations, but fall fans anticipate nothing more than the pumpkin spice flavors that reach every corner of the crisp, scenic season. However, how much pumpkin spice is too much? Products such as pumpkin spice pasta, salsa, beef jerky, and hummus have been labeled extremely unpleasant. For fans of the pumpkin spice flavor there are also tastier options, many served at Dunkin Donuts, such as the pumpkin latte, pumpkin macchiato, and pumpkin cheesecake squares.We at Hawk Headlines reviewed a few pumpkin food products found in nearby grocery stores on a scale of 1-10 pumpkins for presentation, smell, taste, and amount of pumpkin flavor.
Bigelow Pumpkin Spice Tea overall did not impress two reporters that tested each product, Julia Swiatek and Maria Teixeira. The taste was neither pleasant nor strongly pumpkin spice. The smell was also unpleasant though the tea presented itself well. It was orange, indicating pumpkin flavor, and the packaging was appealing. Teixeira and Swiatek established neither would buy the tea again.1

 

 

 

 

Quaker Pumpkin Oatmeal is a tasty idea for a chilly fall day breakfast. The warm oatmeal tasted better than expected, however it was not strongly pumpkin spice. The presentation was average for oatmeal and the smell was appetizing. This product is recommended topped with a dash of cinnamon. Swiatek would not have bought the oatmeal however Teixeira would have.
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Pumpkin Spice Pop Tarts surprisingly impressed us.. The smell and appearance were appealing, but once you got a taste it was like eating a mini pumpkin pie. The filling had pumpkin flavor and icing on top added sweetness to the fall pastry treat.

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Pumpkin Spice Donut holes got mixed reactions from Swiatek and Teixeira. Teixeira thought they tasted good, while Swiatek did not like their flavor at all. Both agreed however that the smell was not appealing. The donut holes were not strongly pumpkin spice, and appearance was on the lower scale of the products. 

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Next a pumpkin spice muffin from BJ’s was tested which gathered mixed reactions. Swiatek liked the overall taste of the muffin while Teixeira did not enjoy it. The taste was controversial on whether it was good or not, but was agreeably very strongly pumpkin spice. The presentation was adequate and the muffin smelled appetizing. Teixeira would not buy it and Swiatek would buy it.

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Independently, Swiatek tried the Dunkin Donuts’ Pumpkin Cheesecake Square. The presentation was festive for fall and the smell was mouthwatering like many of their other donuts. The taste however was lacking. The cheesecake filling was sour and not quite pumpkin.

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Swiatek also tasted the Pumpkin Spice Latte from Dunkin Donuts. The latte had a detectable pumpkin spice flavor and overall the taste was delicious. The coffee presented itself like any other coffee would and the smell drew you in to take a sip. Overall the latte was very pleasant and the pumpkin spice flavor was not overwhelming. Swiatek would buy the coffee again.

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At Whittemore Ice cream in Seymour, Swiatek tried the pumpkin spice fall flavor ice cream. By appearance, you could guess the ice cream was pumpkin spice through color and the evident spices folded in. The flavor was distinguished as pumpkin spice and delectable. The pumpkin spice ice cream smelled delicious which reflected the taste.

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Kraft Jet Puffed Pumpkin Spice Marshmallows were very underwhelming. They smelled unpleasant which foreshadowed the unpleasant taste. They not only did not taste good but also were not identifiable as pumpkin spice. They did have an aftertaste which was not of a regular marshmallow but it could not be described as pumpkin spice. They did however appear autumn festive, orange tinted and in the shape of pumpkins.

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From donuts to tea, Pop Tarts to oatmeal, pumpkin spice has found its way to every possible product to bring a little festivity into your season. But in reference to the underlying question each consumer must draw their own line. Whether it be pumpkin spice lattes in July or pumpkin flavored beef jerky, when do you decide how much Pumpkin Spice is too much?

 

 

 

 

 

photo credit: http://jezebel.com/