Pumpkin Spice season

Each year, nine long months pass until we finally get our favorite autumn treat. I’m not talking about apple cider donuts or Halloween candy, but the pumpkin spice latte. The modern-day novelty is delicious, but why is it so popular?

Pumpkin Spice is usually made with ground cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and occasionally allspice. Even though there is no pumpkin added to this mixture, these are the same ingredients used to make pumpkin pie, a dessert dating back to the 1600s. The pumpkin spice recipe has been around for a while, but started trending when Starbucks launched the drink in 2003 as a test run. In 2004, the drink reached all Starbucks locations around the U.S. and the unique flavor made its way to other chain coffee spots like Dunkin’ Donuts and Tim Hortons. 

The delicious beverage can be served  hot or cold and seems to be massively popular with the younger generations. Danielle Vitulli, a pumpkin spice lover, was at Starbucks the first day fall drinks were released. “Customers like the pumpkin spice latte because it reminds them of fall and the leaves changing and being cozy, I don’t think it is so much the taste.” said Vitulli.

Pumpkin Spice is more about the feeling than the flavor. When you can order your fall favorites you know it’s almost time for your favorite holidays, scary movies and spending time with your family. Our taste buds are associated with memories and feelings. This year, the Starbucks fall drinks were released early, by the end of August, there were more than six new fall  beverages at every Starbucks location. 

Angelo Justice has been an employee of Starbucks for over a year now and says each year people are more excited than the last to get their hands on the pumpkin spice latte and all the other autumn-inspired drinks and treats. “I make around twenty-five to thirty fall drinks every shift, we are not a huge location and are probably selling around sixty drinks per shift.” Justice continued, “From September to October, I would say half of the drinks we make in a day are fall-related. Next to the pumpkin spice, our apple crisp is also extremely popular.”

The pumpkin spice latte is a phenomenon the world may never get over. Throw on your UGG boots and a cozy scarf and try the latte for yourself. You can be a part of the pumpkin craze too.