There is more to pumpkin-spice than the flavor!

I'm not sure if I've ever had pumpkin spice flavored anything! However- John Hopkins researchers may have found a reason it's so popular. The smell of pumpkin spice-flavored foods and drinks can trigger memories and emotions that go deeper than a craving. They found the part of the brain that processes smell is closely linked to the part of the brain that deals with memories. It turns out, the popularity of pumpkin spice comes from those familiar spices - including cinnamon and ginger - as well as our previous experience smelling and tasting them. According to the researchers, your brain fills in the gaps between the scent of the spices and the memories associated with the smell.