The deluge of pumpkin-flavored everything is NOT alive and well in France. For some of you, that’s probably a good thing, but for me, a pumpkin lover, I have to say France’s autumnal spirit is majorly lacking when it comes to pumpkins. In the U.S. this time of year, it’s nearly impossible to escape pumpkin flavored/scented items. Fall is in full swing and with that comes a lifetime’s worth of pumpkin scented candles, pumpkin lattes, coffee creamer, baked goods and even Pringles (I saw this the other day online). Pumpkin is one of my favorite flavors so I have always looked forward to the pumpkin frenzy and now more than ever, I really, really miss it. But I’m going to make it happen myself.
Read on!
Pumpkin-flavored everything
For the past two weekends, I’ve been on the hunt trying to find a bright orange pumpkin to carve, but they just haven’t arrived yet in my town. And what about pumpkin-flavored foods in France? Well, trying to find something pumpkin flavored is nearly impossible. They do have pumpkin varieties and all types of squash, though, and most of the time these pumpkins are vegetables for cooking — not decorating. They look more like gourds and not the orange ones that you cut and decorate.
What else is missing?
There are no pumpkin carving kits since Halloween isn’t really a big thing, no mainstream pumpkin patches where you can pick your own pumpkins (although I hear there’s one in the Paris area), no cans of pumpkin and definitely no pumpkin-flavored foods or decor to be found around these parts.
Halloween doesn’t exist in France like it does in the U.S. Some local markets do sell carving pumpkins (citrouille) but the whole commercial side of pumpkin-flavored everything doesn’t exist here. To a point, maybe that’s a good thing. I am forcing myself how to make pumpkin puree from a whole pumpkin since my stock of canned pumpkin has run out.
Instead of focusing on what’s missing, I’ve learned to appreciate these new and interesting pumpkin varieties and other seasonal foods from France.
I am having fun discovering these new things! There’s always something at the market that catches my eye, something I might have walked right past back in the U.S.
But I think the main issue here is that the lack of pumpkin products just reminds me that I’m not in the U.S. — not even close — and that little surprises from family and friends in the mail mean absolutely everything to me this time of year. But along with not being in the U.S., I also appreciate the flip side of being in a new culture with a wealth of things to discover.
For expats facing a similar pumpkin withdrawal dilemma, My Little America does sell canned pumpkin and other seasonal products. Of course the prices are inflated and the shipping isn’t free, but sometimes, paying a little extra for a few comforts of home is worth it.
Why it’s OK to want things from home when you live abroad >>
At home, maybe I’d splurge on a pair of shoes. But wow, how life has changed. Now I splurge on cans of pumpkin — but it feels good!
My French students are always surprised when I tell them about our pumpkin craze in the fall. Homemade pumpkin puree is the trick to bring some pumpkin spice to your French life! I’ve made it a few times with success using those giant pumpkin chunks from the supermarket. Hope yours turns out well and you have some delish pumpkin treats soon!
Hi! LOVE pumpkin pie spice and have stocked up! I put it in my oatmeal this morning actually. And yes, the French find pumpkin in sweet dishes so odd — my husband won’t touch pumpkin pie and he eats EVERYTHING. It’s a vegetable thing. But no problem, more for me. Thanks for stopping by! 😉
I hope your pumpkin chunk boiled well! It is funny how you “splurging” habits change in a new land. The frozen pumpkin I buy in the Netherlands is more expensive than other foods, but I’m happy I can get it that way at least! Very cute post =)
You should try baking it and then straining it. I haven’t used canned pumpkin in years and I’ll never go back! Up here in Lille I guess it’s easier to get a “citrouille” — we’ve got local farmers who supply them this time of year here & across the border in Belgium. They’ll be small but it’s still fun to carve them 🙂
You’ll have to tell us how your purée turned out!
Hi! Well, the pumpkin came out bright orange and smells more like a squash than canned pumpkin, but not sure if that’s a bad thing. I mashed it with a fork because I don’t have a food processor. Gonna put it in a pie, so we’ll see how that goes. Hoping to find carving pumpkins this weekend! Thanks for your comment!
I love pumpkin and all the sorts we can find, butternut, “potimarron”, “patisson”. I have many receipes and I always look for new one.
On hellocoton (a social network for bloggin) there was a special file with receipes and I found that:
http://www.hellocoton.fr/to/qGmr#http://beijingmandarine.com/2012/10/10/pumpkin-spice-latte-recipe-facon-starbucks/
I immediatly thought about you!
Checking out the link now, thank you! And I’ve seen this potimarron thing a few times now. I’m intrigued. Buying one… might do a post on the cool pumpkin varieties in France.
You’ve inspired me to go bake some pumpkin spice bread later today! I’m going to try this recipe: http://www.littlehouseliving.com/easy-pumpkin-bread-recipe.html. Thanks!
Yum, how’d it turn out?
It’s spring Down Under, but even in the fall there’s not a whole lot of pumpkin goodness going on in Oz either. I asked my mom to include a couple of canned pumpkins in her most recent care package. I love all the pumpkin aromas and flavors of the fall season in the USA and miss that quite a bit.
Yeah I think the pumpkin frenzy is very American, and I really have come to expect and love it. Too bad we’re in the same boat, but I have to say that I kind of liked making my own puree and my pie was good!
Hi! I stumbled upon this older blog entry in my internet search for a pumpkin patch in France. To my dismay, it doesn’t exist except, you’re right, seems to be a few close to Paris. Being in the south, that is not helpful. This is my first fall here in France, and I am sad to be missing all the pumpkin patches, and especially the pumpkin pie (which is my fave). Can’t find canned pumpkin anywhere. My French husband doesn’t share my melancholy over this, but my 9yr old son feels the loss. Trying to embrace the change…..
Hang in there and hope you can find some pumpkin (canned and the actual vegetable to carve). I know some of my local supermarkets have pumpkins to buy directly but actual patches don’t seem to be very common even now. Have a good rest of your weekend!