Whether you drink Starbucks or not, you know of the Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL). It is Starbucks’s signature fall drink as it blends together the flavors of coffee and a pumpkin pie all in one. But pumpkin spice has taken over the world. I’m not kidding.
With a simple Google search, I found Meyers, a cleaning supplies company, selling pumpkin spice-smelling cleaners. Williams and Sonoma sell hand lotion with the scent pumpkin spice. J. Crew Factory sells pumpkin spice socks for the season, as well. Fall has become the season of pumpkin spice, and we have Starbucks to blame.
On August 27, 2019, Starbucks brought back its seasonal drink for fall. August 27th comes almost a month before the season of fall officially begins. Labor Day had yet to pass when the fall drink had come out. The wildly popular drink has even garnered its own acronym: PSL. According to a USA Today article on the subject, the year 2003, when Starbucks launched the PSL, marks the beginning of the pumpkin craze.
It is no surprise considering the prevalence of Starbucks in our society. But we once again can marvel in the master marketing of the company. To combat areas of the US that still experience warm weather throughout the end of summer and early fall season, Starbucks introduced a Pumpkin Spice Cold Brew, according to CNBC. Starbucks has also expanded the market by introducing a make-it-at-home pumpkin spice creamer and flavoring.
Starbucks even acknowledge the PSL fanbase on their own blog. They cite that there is a dedicated fan club who has been known to post 330 times per day in the month leading up to the PSL release. In the words of Starbucks, PSL is a “cultural phenomenom” and it “represents the true start of autumn.”
Pumpkin Spice Lattes capture the flavors and the colors of fall. As the leaves turn orange and yellow, the brown spices on top of a stark white whipped cream compliment nature beautifully. Starbucks touts its use of real pumpkin in PSL to enhance the fall effect. More than anything, the PSL is a beautiful counterpart to the fall weather because holds some nostalgia. The flavors and scents we are familiar with waft from the drink. Personally, as I drink my own PSL, I am reminded of Thanksgivings and raking leaves in my backyard. YouGov says that most Americans say fall is their favorite season. This drinks, with its early release, does just that. Moreover, PSL reminds us of our favorite memories during a time that many of us favor.