What do they call aunt jemima syrup now

Brand Origins

It is the start of a new day: Aunt Jemima is now Pearl Milling Company. Though the Brand is new to store shelves, the name itself has been a part of our story for over 130 years. Pearl Milling Company was a small mill in the bustling town of St. Joseph, Missouri. They produced flour, cornmeal, and, beginning in 1889, the famous self-rising pancake mix that would go on to be known as Aunt Jemima. Our pancakes have been bringing smiles to the breakfast table ever since.

In June 2020, PepsiCo and The Quaker Oats Company made a commitment to change the name and image of Aunt Jemima, recognizing that they do not reflect our core values. While the name on the box has changed, the great tasting products – the “pearl” inside the familiar red box – remains the same, with a mission to create joyful breakfast moments for everyone. Please see the “P.E.A.R.L. Pledge” tab for information on our community impact initiative.

We want to thank everyone who has made us part of their family over the years, and look forward to starting a new chapter as the Pearl Milling Company.

Scroll through the timeline below to learn more about key moments in our brand’s history.

Our History
Aunt Jemima® has a rich history spanning over 130 years. Use the timeline to explore.

The Pearl Milling Company in St. Joseph, MO was incorporated and produced a range of milled products.

Our famous pancake mix originated at Pearl Milling Company, and was later branded “Aunt Jemima”.

The Quaker Oats Company entered into a contract to purchase the Aunt Jemima brand.

Launch of Aunt Jemima Buttermilk Pancake & Waffle Mix.

Launch of pancake syrup with the campaign, “What took you so long?”

New product launches such as Complete Pancake + Waffle Mix and Lite Syrup.

The brand’s icon was updated.

Launch of new Butter Rich syrup.

PepsiCo acquired The Quaker Oats Company, bringing the Aunt Jemima brand into the PepsiCo portfolio.

Quaker announced it will remove the Aunt Jemima icon from its packaging and change the name of the brand.

Quaker announces new brand name, with new packaging hitting the shelves starting that summer

• Pepsi Co. has retired the Aunt Jemima brand and has renamed it Pearl Milling Company.
• Aunt Jemima is based on a real woman, Nancy Green, who was a storyteller, cook, and missionary worker.
• Nancy Green actually worked with the Aunt Jemima brand until 1923.

After years of criticism that the Aunt Jemima label is a caricature of Black women and promoted racist stereotypes, namely the "mammy" character, Pepsi Co. has finally taken action.

The company, which owns the Quaker Oats Company behind the controversial brand, announced on Tuesday that the popular pancake mix and syrups will now be under the name, "Pearl Milling Company."

Consumers can expect to find Pearl Milling Company brand pancake mixes, syrups, cornmeal, flour, and grits products on shelves in June, according to a press release. The packaging (and what’s inside) will be the exact same—they’ll just feature the new Pearl Milling Company logo.

Pepsi Co. says there is history to the brand’s new name. Pearl Milling Company was founded in 1888 in St. Joseph, Missouri, and was where the self-rising pancake mix that would later become known as Aunt Jemima was created.

The company says it worked with consumers, employees, external cultural and subject-matter experts, and "diverse agency partners to gather broad perspectives and ensure the new brand was developed with inclusivity in mind."

Quaker Oats has also pledged a $5 million commitment to support the Black community, including a $1 million commitment to empower and uplift Black girls and women, inviting people to nominate non-profit organizations for an opportunity to receive grants to further that mission. PepsiCo has also launched a more than $400 million, five-year investment to uplift Black business and communities, and increase Black representation at its company.

The company previously announced in June 2020 that it would be retiring the Aunt Jemima brand as part of a larger racial reckoning happening in the U.S.

"As we work to make progress toward racial equality through several initiatives, we also must take a hard look at our portfolio of brands and ensure they reflect our values and meet our consumers' expectations," the company said in a statement to CNNat the time.

Quaker Oats didn’t mention it, but the change seemed to be tied to a viral TikTok from @singkirbysing in which the singer detailed "how to make a non-racist breakfast." In the TikTok, Kirby talked about the history behind the Aunt Jemima brand, and ended with,"Not today. Black Lives Matter, people," as she dumps a box of Aunt Jemima pancake mix down the sink.

This wasn't the first time the Aunt Jemima logo came under criticism. In a 2015 opinion piece for the New York Times, Cornell University professor Riché Richardson said the logo was "very much linked to Southern racism" because it was based on a "'mammy,' a devoted and submissive servant who eagerly nurtured the children of her white master and mistress while neglecting her own."

So, what exactly is the history behind Aunt Jemima, and was the controversial character based on a real person? Here’s everything you need to know:

Aunt Jemima was based on a caricature that a real Black woman, Nancy Green, was hired to portray.

According to the Aunt Jemima website, Aunt Jemima was first "brought to life" by Nancy Green, a woman they ID as a "storyteller, cook, and missionary worker" and who was hired to promote the pancake mix and syrup.

The brand’s name, though, is based off of a song called "Old Aunt Jemima." After Chris Rutt, a newspaperman, and Charles Underwood came up with the idea for a ready-mixed, self-rising pancake flour, Rutt attended a vaudeville show in 1889 where he heard "Aunt Jemima" sung by a blackface performer who was wearing an apron and bandanna headband, according to African American Registry (AAREG). The song was also reportedly sung by slaves, according to CNN. After hearing the song, Rutt decided to call their pancake flour "Aunt Jemima."

Learn more about the real story behind the Aunt Jemima brand:

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Nancy Green was one of the first Black corporate storytellers in the U.S.

Nancy didn’t come up with the Aunt Jemima recipe, but she became the first living trademark in the advertising world, per the AAREG.

Nancy was born into slavery.

Nancy was born a slave in Montgomery County, Kentucky. (Worth noting: The Aunt Jemima website neglects to mention this part of Nancy Green's biography.) She was recruited by the R.T. Davis Milling Company, who bought the Aunt Jemima formula and brand, when she was 56.

Watch this to learn more about Nancy Green's life:

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Meet Nancy Green, the Real Aunt Jemima

Nancy regularly promoted the Aunt Jemima brand.

At the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893, Nancy demonstrated the pancake mix and served thousands of pancakes. Her booth became so popular that special police officers were assigned to it to keep the crowds moving, the AAREG says. She was given a medal and certificate by fair officials for her performance.

Nancy signed a lifetime contract to promote Aunt Jemima.

Afterward, she traveled on promotional tours across the country, the AAREG reports. Suddenly, pancakes became hugely popular. Nancy stayed in the job until she died in a car crash in 1923.

Korin Miller is a freelance writer specializing in general wellness, sexual health and relationships, and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Self, Glamour, and more. She has a master’s degree from American University, lives by the beach, and hopes to own a teacup pig and taco truck one day.

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