IFT spokesperson answers questions about recipe, safety of seasonal beverage
To offer insight into the research and development side of the popular seasonal beverage pumpkin spice lattes, the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), Chicago, released a video and Q&A with food scientist and IFT spokesperson Kantha Shelke. Through these platforms, Shelke shares how the drink and the spice mix is made, explains any safety concerns involving the ingredients, and offers the science behind why consumers love it so much.
How do commercialized pumpkin spice latte ingredients differ from ingredients found in your kitchen cabinets?
Commercial pumpkin spice latte ingredients focus on giving you a complete and pleasurable experience that is consistent every time and evocative of pumpkin pie and the holidays. Pumpkin spice mix contains at least 340 flavor compounds, and these are not found in one’s kitchen cupboard. But the human brain can fill in the blanks, so commercial operators use about 5-10 percent of the natural blend of spices.