Team Apple Cider

Apple cider has been robbed. There, I said it. 

Far too often apple cider has lived in the shadow of pumpkin spice. It has been cast as secondary, the younger, less-cool sibling of pumpkin spice that gets forgotten by their parents. Apple cider never gets the same airtime as pumpkin spice. Apple cider has been largely untouched by the talons of capitalism, unlike pumpkin spice. Pumpkin spice has worked its way into nearly every autumn product rollout, such as pumpkin spice deodorant, pumpkin spice laundry detergent, pumpkin spice dog treats, pumpkin spice gum — not to mention, all of the classics like pumpkin spice lattes, cookies, and candles. To be “pumpkin-spiced” is its own verb now (i.e., this vodka has been “pumpkin-spiced” for the holidays.) 

Frankly, we have beaten pumpkin spice into the ground. It’s time to lay it to rest. Pumpkin spice was already too heavy, both in flavor and scent. In small doses, it can be pleasant. But, the smell of a pumpkin spice air freshener hanging in the air is dense enough to give an instant headache. The taste is alright — it shines most effortlessly in the classic pumpkin spice latte — yet, with the amount it’s been overdone, perhaps we should just leave that one in 2010. 

Apple cider, however, has a fruity, warm scent. It has a similar, cinnamon-y zing, yet this is balanced by the tartness of the apple. Its flavor is far beyond alright — it is the perfect flavor for a fat, fluffy donut, a petite and delectable caramel, and of course, apple cider itself. And, the fact that apple cider as a fall flavor originates from a delicious beverage makes it all the more appealing. What does pumpkin spice have? Pumpkin and… spice. Two separate items that have

been paired together time and time again, only to end in mediocre outcomes. Unnatural and overrated, if you ask me. 

Apple cider sticks to the same, reliable script each holiday season. From hard apple cider beverages to Martinelli’s, you can always expect a familiar lineup of apple cider products. Not to mention apple cider vinegar, a versatile product that can be used year-round. 

Overall, apple cider has a comforting yet not-overpowering flavor profile and resistance to excessive fall marketing makes it the obvious choice for the best holiday flavor. 

Team Pumpkin Spice 

Okay, listen. I’ll keep this short so that you can get back to the pumpkin spice latte that I can only assume you’re drinking right this instant because pumpkin spice is the best. Not convinced? Let’s play a word association game — I say a word, and then you say, pumpkin spice — because what other words could you possibly say? Ready? Ok — cable knit sweater. Autumn. Orange. Chill. Nippy. Thanksgiving. Coffee Shop. Pinterest. Pumpkin spice. Now that you’ve been brainwashed. Scratch that. Now that we’re on the same page, let’s delve into why we are willing to spend $9 on 16 ounces of coffee. 

Two researchers from the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences at Johns Hopkins University claim that one of the biggest reasons people like pumpkin spice is the smell. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger blended together, immerses us in everything we believe fall to be: 6:30 p.m. sunsets, frost on the windows, and walking just a little bit faster to class. Smell activates a different part of the brain than sight, hearing, and taste do. The region it activates is called the piriform cortex. The piriform cortex is linked to long-term memory — when you smell something like pumpkin spice, it can bring up those memories of a crisp, fall evening when you were nine years-old, making a pile of leaves to jump in in your backyard after a long day at school. How sweet. How innocent. Truly, sweet and innocent enough to make you forget that you have a midterm coming up worth 15 percent of your grade. That’s the magic of pumpkin spice. That is why, it’s undeniably, the best.