Last week, I made apple butter - an October tradition that fills my kitchen with steam and the rumble of my water bath canner. As I was cooking the apples down, transforming them into their smooth and spiced glory, I started thinking about food keywords for the twelve seasons.
Food keywords are common in the names of clothing and cosmetics, and can provide valuable clues about which season a lipstick or sweater might be - as well as which seasons they might not be.
A color such as “apricot” could be any spring, or any autumn, and potentially even Light Summer, depending on the exact hue. But it’s unlikely to be any winter, Soft Summer, or True Summer. It’s difficult to picture a juicy apricot in a smoky Soft Summer forest. Why is the apricot there? Why is it so lurid and orange among these soft blues and greens? Similarly, it’s difficult to picture a soft and tawny apricot among the bright maraschino cherries and sapphire jewelry of Bright Winter.
Food keywords can refer to common fruits and vegetables, as well as edible flowers, spices, and herbs. They can also refer to specific dishes or beverages, like sangria or buttercream.
Spring and autumn colors are more generously referenced by food words, whereas winter and summer colors are often more easily referenced by flowers or landscape words.
Spring colors are more likely to be described by foods which are juicy and sweet, like fresh tropical fruits or dairy products. Autumn colors are more likely to be described by foods which feel more dry and “earthy,” such as spices, nuts, grains, and root vegetables.
Here are some food keywords I’ve collected for all four parent seasons. You may notice some overlapping words on these lists, as many foods come in a variation of hues. No matter how safe a keyword seems, swatching is still paramount!
Common Food Keywords For Winters:
Apple, Aubergine, Beet, Berry, Blackberry, Blackcurrant, Caviar, Cherry, Citron, Coconut, Coffee, Coulis, Currant, Cranberry, Dragonfruit, Eggplant, Elderberry, Espresso, Grape, Hibiscus, Jam, Juniper, Lemon, Loganberry, Maraschino, Marshmallow, Matcha, Merlot, Mulberry, Plum, Pomegranate, Raspberry, Redcurrant, Red Velvet, Sangria, Strawberry, Sugar, Violet, Wasabi, Wine
Common Food Keywords for Springs:
Almond, Apple, Apricot, Banana, Bergamot, Butter, Buttercream, Buttermilk, Cantaloupe, Cashew, Champagne, Clementine, Coconut, Cream, Cucumber, Daiquiri, Dill, Fruit Punch, Ginger, Grapefruit, Guava, Hibiscus, Honeycomb, Honeydew, Kiwi, Latte, Lemonade, Lime, Lychee, Mandarin, Mango, Marshmallow, Melon, Milk Chocolate, Nectar, Orange, Oyster, Papaya, Peach, Pear, Persimmon, Pineapple, Praline, Root Beer, Salmon, Shrimp, Strawberry, Sugar, Tangerine, Tapioca, Tomato, Vanilla, Violet, Watermelon, Yogurt
Common Food Keywords for Summers:
Bay Leaf, Berry, Blueberry, Buttercream, Champagne, Cocoa, Cotton Candy, Cream, Eggshell, Fig, Juniper, Lavender, Lemonade, Marsala, Marshmallow, Meringue, Milk, Mint, Mulberry, Mushroom, Oregano, Oyster, Peach (LSu only), Plum, Raisin, Raspberry, Rhubarb, Rice, Rose, Rosemary, Rosewater, Sage, Sagebrush, Strawberry, Watermelon, Yogurt
Common Food Keywords for Autumns:
Almond, Apricot, Aubergine, Blood Orange, Butter, Buttercream, Buttermilk, Butterscotch, Brown Sugar, Caramel, Cardamom, Cashew, Cayenne, Champagne, Chestnut, Chili, Chocolate, Cider, Cinnamon, Clove, Cocoa, Coffee, Cognac, Cornmeal, Cream, Date, Dijon, Dried Cherry, Eggplant, Eggshell, Espresso, Fig, Ginger, Gingerbread, Honey, Jalapeno, Latte, Licorice, Malt, Maple, Marigold, Marsala, Matcha, Mocha, Molasses, Mustard, Nutmeg, Oatmeal, Olive, Paprika, Parsnip, Pea, Peanut, Pear, Pecan, Pepper, Persimmon, Pistachio, Plum, Poblano, Praline, Pumpkin, Raisin, Rice, Rosemary, Russet, Saffron, Sage, Salmon, Sesame, Tahini, Tea, Turmeric, Vanilla, Walnut, Wasabi, Wheat, Whiskey, Wine
If reading this left you not only craving a snack but wanting to book your color analysis right away, you’re in luck! I have appointments available this weekend (October 28th and 29th) at my Louisville studio. You can book your session at the link below.