this post was submitted on 23 Jul 2025
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[–] shyguyblue@lemmy.world 47 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Might as well make it year round. Hell, vanilla was considered the fanciest of fancy rare spices, and now it's in everything.

Biggest problem i have with "seasonal" food, is the absolutely infuriating amount of food wasted just because the box/product needs to be swapped for the version that has hearts and bunnies on it.

[–] captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works 10 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Vanilla, actual vanilla, is a pain in the ass to make, and almost all of the world's actual vanilla ends up in ice cream. We can synthesize the same chemicals out of, among other things, wood pulp and beaver secretions, which is why it's easier to make things vanilla flavored now.

[–] Taldan@lemmy.world 7 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Do you mean the vanilla bean is a pain in the ass to grow? Vanilla is really easy to make from vanilla beans. Just use alcohol to extract the vanilla

[–] rumschlumpel@feddit.org 7 points 2 months ago (1 children)

wood pulp

This is also why barrel-aged spirits don't just taste like vanilla, they have literal vanillin in them, which is vanilla's main flavor compound.

[–] captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I'm surprised whiskey aged in oak doesn't come out as bitter af due to the tannin in the wood. Is that the point of charring the barrel?

[–] rumschlumpel@feddit.org 3 points 2 months ago (7 children)

IDK, TBH. Though I do think that many aged spirits are kind of bitter, especially the extra-long aged ones. Seems to depend on the oak species, too, French Oak often seems to lead to bitterer spirits (might be part of the reason why cognac often has added sugar) compared to White Oak (the standard for bourbon barrels).

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[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 40 points 2 months ago (2 children)

It should just be sold all year round anyway. The hell I have to wait until October/September for things to taste like pumpkin pie? It doesn't ever actually have pumpkin in it, so it's not because of a growing season.

[–] tal@lemmy.today 6 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Yeah, this doesn't look to be Halloween-themed or anything. I have cans of pumpkin and pumpkin extract that last for years. They can do pumpkin stuff whenever.

[–] charade_you_are@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (3 children)

I can't stand pumpkin but it, I think obviously, should be made all year. Is there some problem with production or maybe people only like the taste of it exclusively at that time of year?

[–] Stovetop@lemmy.world 6 points 2 months ago

People go out of their way to buy pumpkin spice versions of products they likely would not have bought originally because the limited time nature makes them seem more enticing. And to also buy products in greater volume or more frequently than they otherwise would, to enjoy why it lasts. FOMO, basically.

Same reason why "McRib is back" keeps being a thing.

[–] stoly@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago

It's part of that "you're in the season of happy now think of your childhood" thing that companies just sort of dreamed up

[–] HeyJoe@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago

I'll buy a pumpkin or apple cider donut once or twice when they release around September. If they were available all year, I honestly doubt I would think about it or have it anymore than that. I can't be the only one that feels that way.

[–] Catoblepas@piefed.blahaj.zone 25 points 2 months ago (2 children)

With more people tapping into the trend of Summerween

Summerween

Your marketers were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.

[–] flandish@lemmy.world 11 points 2 months ago

They’ve never once considered if they should. Heck, Adam Smith said so himself:

“The wealth of nations relies on dumb ass marketing and stupid fuckers buying into it.” - Adam Smith

[–] xXSirDanglesXx@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago

They could've said "Thanksgummer." Count your blessings

[–] rumschlumpel@feddit.org 18 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I don't think I've tried any pumpkin spice food or drink (they aren't that common here), but I definitely want christmas sweets like gingerbread and spiced cookies available year-round - why eat cookies that are flavored with just butter, vanilla or chocolate, when you could have cookies with spices?

[–] tal@lemmy.today 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

It's clearly the anticipation that gives it the flavor!

1000009227

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[–] betterdeadthanreddit@lemmy.world 16 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

It's either season creep or retailers don't think we're going to make it through fall so they're dumping products ahead of schedule.

[–] million@lemmy.world 11 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

The auto shop in my hometown had a sign that said “pumpkin spice oil change”

I appreciate the humor of the random mechanic that thought that was a hoot

[–] stoly@lemmy.world 10 points 2 months ago (2 children)

might as well just keep them year round at this point

[–] NauticalNoodle@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 months ago

From what I recall Starbucks used to keep Pumpkin Spice available much longer out of season than they advertised.

-I was on the pumpkin spice train before it was cool.

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[–] MU5T4N6@feddit.org 7 points 2 months ago

So what, if people enjoy having those, let them.

[–] bizzle@lemmy.world 6 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Menards has plastic skeletons out

[–] ayyy@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 months ago

I have two neighbors that decorate their plastic skeletons seasonally all year long. It’s my favorite thing.

[–] JcbAzPx@lemmy.world 5 points 2 months ago

Have to get it out early; Christmas has already taken over all of the fall season.

[–] fubarx@lemmy.world 5 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Saw Halloween costume put up for sale, in mid-July. At this point, expecting frozen Turkeys to show up soon.

[–] Zirconium@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago

Saw Halloween decorations at Lowe's couple days ago

[–] Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 2 months ago

christmas in july

[–] Ilovethebomb@sh.itjust.works 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

It's weird being in the southern hemisphere sometimes.

[–] I_Fart_Glitter@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Oh, I never thought of that... is the cinnamon/ginger/clove mix associated with autumn or Christmas there? I remember reading a book, I want to say Little House on the Prairie, when I was a kid where some kids were really excited that their mom brought them some cold, refreshing eggnog as a summer time treat while working in the field. I found that very strange.

[–] Ilovethebomb@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

No, it's not really a thing here at all.

[–] I_Fart_Glitter@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Oh, that makes sense. Do you have any seasonal spice combos?

[–] Ilovethebomb@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I think various corporations are trying to make pumpkin spice a thing, but apart from that, not really.

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[–] corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca 4 points 2 months ago

And there it will stay, until fucking Autumn.

Stop it

Seriously, stop it

[–] IphtashuFitz@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago

I saw Christmas supplies at Costco a couple days ago…

[–] Defectus@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

This is why we need seasonal regulation goddamit

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[–] Sterile_Technique@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago

Fuck yeah! Pumpkin spice is delicious! That shit oughta be year round.

[–] Nastybutler@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] lordnikon@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago

i scrolled for just this link thanks

[–] distantsounds@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago

I just hate that all supermarket tomatoes taste like pumpkin now

[–] Pandantic@midwest.social 1 points 2 months ago

Candy corn too.

[–] W3dd1e@lemmy.zip 1 points 2 months ago

I got Halloween candy at CVS today in June.

[–] Jikiya@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

It's dumb to take a super popular flavor off the shelf in the first place. Unless people don't actually like it, and it's some sort of commentary about people happy about fall coming around.

[–] Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 2 months ago

most people like having seasonal things, having everything be available at all times is so fucking sad and monotonous

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