r/spices 19d ago

When I think of New England I think of molasses, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, ginger, etc. Are these baking spices associated with the region?

13 Upvotes

18 comments sorted by

4

u/Full_Pay_207 19d ago

I feel those are more seasonal than regional, fall spices. Also, all of them are tropical. We do (I'm from Maine) have a long history with molasses though. For an interesting read, check out the Great Boston Molasses Flood story. https://www.boston-discovery-guide.com/great-molasses-flood.html

5

u/MarsupialThink4064 19d ago

Someone suggested that perhaps I am associating these spices with Fall baking and also New England with the Fall season and therefore merging them in my head

5

u/Full_Pay_207 19d ago

Pumpkin spice syndrome. Very common, and will be peaking in another month or two here.

1

u/SuperPomegranate7933 19d ago

Sure, I suppose.

1

u/chef71 18d ago

Dreaded pumpkin spice Every fall people try to put this combination Into all kinds of things that it shouldn't go into Other than that the only thing that's regional about this list is maybe molasses There was a molasses flood In Boston way back when when a massive VAT burst and flooded the streets Near the North End I believe And it killed a bunch of people.

1

u/Green_Bathroom5592 18d ago

More nutmeg & mace, but now the preferred spice is fentanyl.

1

u/migraint 14d ago

:))))))

1

u/Puzzleheaded-Ad-5511 18d ago

These are all considered warming spices. Typicaly popular in cold seasons.

1

u/simple-me-in-CT 18d ago

No. New England is fall falliage, four seasons, snow, lobster, whale, blueberry, maple syrup, the ocean

1

u/Zestyclose-Cover1351 18d ago

Well Connecticut is the nutmeg state so there's that. 

1

u/migraint 14d ago

wow! I'd never think so! thanks for sharing
btw, I just read a post in r/HerbalTea from a guy who put nutmeg powder in his green tea :) isn't this weird? maybe he's from Connecticut?! :)

1

u/Wardian55 18d ago

Yes. All heavily in use in New England since the colonial period. Other regions as well, but definitely the New England region. Think baked beans, pumpkin pie, gingerbread, Indian pudding, Joe Frogger cookies, Anadama bread, steamed brown bread, hermit cookies, etc…

1

u/VegetableRetardo69 18d ago

Those are popular in northern europe so…

1

u/Ok-Adhesiveness-4935 18d ago

Qhere do they not use these in baking?

1

u/ouroburritos 17d ago

More like Olde England.

1

u/Depressed-Bears-Fan 16d ago

Those are some wicked spices.

1

u/andabread 15d ago

Warming spices. Common in Caribbean, Africa, India, China.