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DURHAM’S PUMPKIN PIE ALMONDS

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Welcome to day 4 of Tag Sale Tastes’ Pumpkinpalooza 2020!

Today’s offering is Durham’s Pumpkin Pie Almonds (made by Texas-based Durham-Ellis Pecan Company):The obligatory pumpkins are in a neat little row across the top of the package:

No pumpkin listed in the ingredients, but the pumpkin spice spices are there (cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves):

And here’s the pretty confection:

I love the aesthetic of the mix of bright orange and beige coatings.  This is fall holiday party food:

Well, slice me into wedges and call me pie — these almonds taste a whole lot like pumpkin pie!  I expected them to taste like candles or room freshener — needless to say I was pleasantly surprised that they did not.  I loved these almonds.  In fact, I’m going to get another bag and put it aside for Thanksgiving.  (If you see a bag, grab one — they’re not lingering on grocery store shelves.)

Rating: 5 pumpkins (out of 5).

NESPRESSO PUMPKIN SPICE CAKE

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Welcome to day 3 of Tag Sale Tastes’ Pumpkinpalooza 2020!

Today we’re going to curl up with a cup of Nespresso Pumpkin Spice Cake:

This blend is described as having a “wide range of spice notes, mainly defined by cloves, cinnamon and cardamom” with “sweet pumpkin flavor.”  Cardamom isn’t generally considered one of the pumpkin spices (which are a mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and sometimes allspice), but I’m game. The capsule is orange and shiny, like a magical pumpkin spice talisman:   

I was looking forward to my Pumpkin Spice Cake coffee.  After all, I like Nespresso’s other “baked goods” coffees — hazeltino muffin, caramel cookie, and vanilla custard pie — and I had great hopes for this one.  But pay attention to the “insider tip” — “With milk, the spice notes are softened for a sweeter and smoother coffee.”  What they really mean is that without milk, it is a nasty, in-your-face-brew. Maybe they should have left out the cardamom:But a generous splash of half and half, and for me a little sweetener, transformed it into a pleasant enough autumnal cup of Joe (although it ain’t no hazeltino muffin):Although Nespresso Pumpkin Spice Cake was interesting to try, and not half bad, I wouldn’t buy it again — not when I could have a cup of Caramel Cookie instead.

Rating:  3 pumpkins (out of 5)