Pumpkin is a popular fall flavor that has become synonymous with autumn. Many coffee shops and restaurants start rolling out their pumpkin spice lattes and pumpkin flavors as soon as the leaves start to change. Smoothie King is no exception. Their pumpkin smoothies and shakes are hugely popular once the weather turns cool. But where exactly does that delicious pumpkin flavor come from?
The History of Pumpkin as a Flavor
Pumpkins are believed to have originated in North America. Some of the first pumpkins were grown by Native American tribes who prized them as an important food source. The orange gourds were brought to Europe by early explorers and became popular across the continent by the 16th century. The pumpkin’s rich orange color and subtly sweet flesh made it a natural choice for pies, breads, soups and other fall dishes.
Using pumpkin as a flavoring most likely began with pumpkin pies. Early American colonists adopted the traditional English custard pies and started filling them with pumpkin flesh. Spices like cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg were added to complement the pumpkin’s natural flavors. This spiced pumpkin pie became a signature American dish, especially once the American Thanksgiving holiday was established in the 1800s.
Pumpkin continued to grow in popularity as a flavor through the 1900s. With the rise of artificial flavors and commercial food production, pumpkin flavor was being added to everything from ice cream to coffee. The “pumpkin spice” blend was created, containing warm spices like cinnamon, clove, ginger and nutmeg to evoke the flavors of pumpkin pie. By the 1990s, pumpkin had become a quintessential flavor of fall.
The Rise of the Pumpkin Spice Latte
The drink that really catapulted pumpkin flavor into the mainstream was the Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks. Developed by product manager Peter Dukes in 2003, the pumpkin and spice flavored espresso drink was an immediate hit. The PSL fast became Starbucks’ most popular seasonal drink. Its success inspired countless coffee shops and restaurants to create their own pumpkin-flavored beverages and treats.
Part of what makes the Pumpkin Spice Latte so addictive is its comforting blend of flavors. Along with espresso, it contains:
– Pumpkin puree
– Vanilla syrup
– Cinnamon
– Nutmeg
– Clove
– Ginger
The milk gives the drink a creamy texture while the sugar balances out the spice blend. This combination evokes all the cozy feelings of enjoying a slice of pumpkin pie next to a fire on a crisp autumn day. The PSL experience comes prepackaged in a comforting, familiar flavor medley.
Pumpkin’s Rise at Smoothie King
Seeing the success of the Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte and similar drinks at chains like Dunkin’ Donuts and Peet’s Coffee, Smoothie King moved to capitalize on the pumpkin craze. They introduced their first pumpkin smoothie, the Slim-N-Trim Pumpkin Smoothie, in 2007. It combined pumpkin puree, nonfat milk, yogurt, honey and the signature Smoothie King supplements Gladiator and Slim-N-Trim. The flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice were added to complete the pumpkin pie taste profile.
The Slim-N-Trim Pumpkin Smoothie was a success and additional pumpkin smoothies were soon added to the menu. Now Smoothie King offers 5 pumpkin smoothies including:
- Slim-N-Trim Pumpkin Smoothie
- The Pumpkin Smoothie
- Pumpkin D-Lite
- Pumpkin Protein Zone
- Pumpkin Vegan
They also offer several pumpkin-flavored Fit Shakes and Fit Bowls. Some are only available during the fall season while others are on the menu year-round. All contain real pumpkin puree and a blend of traditional “pumpkin spice” flavors.
Smoothie King’s Pumpkin Puree Supply
To create the genuine pumpkin flavor in their smoothies and shakes, Smoothie King adds real pumpkin puree. They source this from multiple commercial pumpkin puree suppliers. This allows them to obtain enough puree for their 1,100+ locations at a reasonable cost. The puree arrives frozen at their commissaries.
According to Smoothie King’s analysis, their customers prefer the flavor of real pumpkin puree over artificial pumpkin essence. The subtle sweetness and rich mouthfeel provides a more authentic and satisfying pumpkin experience. Artificial pumpkin flavor is often described as overly sweet with a slightly metallic aftertaste by comparison.
Supplementing the real pumpkin, Smoothie King adds a proprietary blend of traditional “pumpkin spices” to their smoothies. This includes:
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Allspice
- Cloves
- Ginger
In controlled concentrations, these spices work synergistically with the pumpkin to create a sweet and spicy flavor profile reminiscent of Thanksgiving pumpkin pie. A small amount of brown sugar or maple syrup is also added to balance the spice blend and avoid a bitter aftertaste.
Creating the Perfect Pumpkin Smoothie
Recreating that comforting pumpkin pie flavor profile is a complex process. Smoothie King spends significant time balancing the spice blend across different smoothie recipes. Too much cinnamon can result in a harsh, tannic aftertaste. Too much clove comes off as medicinal. When properly blended, the spices mingle with the real pumpkin puree to produce a smoothie that tastes like liquid pumpkin pie.
Here are some of the considerations that go into designing the signature Smoothie King pumpkin smoothies:
- Pumpkin puree – Real pumpkin puree provides essential sweetness, texture and authentic squash flavor. Approximately 1-3 tablespoons of puree is added per 16-24 oz smoothie.
- Spices – A proprietary blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, clove, and ginger complements the pumpkin. Green cardamom can also occasionally be added. The total spices are kept under 1/4 teaspoon per 16-24 oz smoothie to avoid overpowering the other ingredients.
- Sweeteners – A small amount of cane sugar, brown sugar or maple syrup balances out the spices. Too little sweetness produces a bitter drink.
- Milks – Non-fat milk, almond milk, or yogurt provides creaminess and protein. Pumpkin smoothies have a richer, more indulgent mouthfeel than fruit-based smoothies.
- Additional flavors – Ingredients like vanilla, cocoa, coffee, or nut butters can accentuate certain flavor notes.
- Mixing order – Pumpkin puree is blended first with the wet ingredients like milk or yogurt. Spices are added next. Sweeteners come last once the spice balance is right.
- Serving temperature – Pumpkin smoothies are best served cold but not icy. This allows the comforting flavors to shine.
Finding the perfect formula took Significant trial and error. But the result is a smoothie with all the flavors you expect from real homemade pumpkin pie in a convenient drinkable form.
The Future of Pumpkin Flavor
Pumpkin spice flavor has gone from an actual pumpkin pie spice blend to a flavor profile that evokes all things autumnal and cozy. It’s doubtful most Pumpkin Spice Latte fans have ever baked an actual pumpkin pie. But they crave those familiar spiced pumpkin flavors as soon as the leaves change colors.
Smoothie King has succeeded in bottling that experience in their chilled pumpkin smoothies. Their use of real pumpkin puree instead of artificial flavor differentiates them from many competitors and provides an indulgent texture. The spice blend may vary across recipes but is carefully crafted to complement the pumpkin rather than overwhelm it.
Pumpkin smoothies are likely to remain popular on Smoothie King’s menus even as other flashes in the pan fall flavors come and go. Consumers never seem to tire of pumpkin’s comfort food flavor. Smoothie King will undoubtedly keep innovating with new pumpkin smoothie recipes and improving on the classics. But at the core will remain real pumpkin puree and a spice blend evocative of holidays past and the essence of autumn.
Conclusion
In the end, the rich pumpkin flavor in Smoothie King’s drinks comes from real roasted pumpkin puree sourced from major suppliers. This is combined with a proprietary blend of “pumpkin spices” including cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, clove, and allspice. A small amount of added sweetener balances the spices and rounds out the flavor profile. The use of real pumpkin sets Smoothie King apart from many competitors and provides an indulgent, comforting mouthfeel. Their skilled blending of the puree and spices replicates the taste of pumpkin pie in a chilled, drinkable form. Pumpkin flavor is likely to remain popular on Smoothie King’s menu for the foreseeable future as consumers continue to crave its nostalgic autumnal flavor.
