Vanilla Pumpkin Spice Blend

As the days get shorter and the air turns colder, many of us instinctively reach for comfort, maybe a hot drink, a spicy bake, or something hearty and sweet.  It’s no coincidence that this time of year brings pumpkin spice lattes, chai teas, and mulled wine.

My Vanilla Pumpkin Spice Blend has been blended to do more than just make your lattes and bakes delicious, I wanted the blend to be one that actually helps you feel warm and cosy right from the inside.

I have  chosen the spices for their thermogenic properties, meaning they gently stimulate circulation and metabolism, creating a subtle warming effect in your body.  Artificial flavours and syrups don’t do this.  

Your body temperature may raise by around half a degree, but something even more fascinating happens: your brain interprets the sensations of the real spices as actual heat.  Compounds such as cinnamaldehyde in cinnamon and eugenol in cloves activate heat-sensitive nerve receptors in your mouth and gut.  These receptors send signals to your brain that mimic the feeling of warmth.  It’s like your body’s own internal blanket, helping you feel as comforted and cosy as if you were wrapped in a real blanket.

Vanilla, although not traditionally linked to winter spices, has been added for nostalgia.  Think back to a 99 ice cream at the park on a sunny day.  I hope vanilla takes you back and evokes the feelings of feeling so loved. 

As we head into the winter period, our bodies will naturally crave stodgier, sweeter foods to stay warm and grounded, so add a little bit of my vanilla spice blend to your morning coffee, tea or porridge for that warm and cosy boost.

Enjoy it and let me know your thoughts and how you get on :)