
When did Starbucks introduce the Pumpkin Spice Latte?
We’ll never know. Despite Kern’s concerns about a coffee company trying to sell drinks that were barely coffee, the pumpkin spice latte was piloted at 100 stores in Vancouver and Washington D.C in the fall of 2003. Dukes said "we couldn't keep up initially... we had to expedite inventory to the stores."
How much money is spent on Pumpkin Spice each year?
At least $500 million is spent on pumpkin spice-flavored items in the U.S. each year. Noting that Starbucks started the pumpkin spice craze in 2003 with the introduction of its Pumpkin Spice Latte, Johnson said the drink was “an instant success” and became “the most successful seasonal drink of all time.”
What happened to the Pumpkin Spice Latte controversy?
The peak of the PSL hype and controversy was in 2015 according to Google Trends, which shows searches for the “pumpkin spice latte” spiked in September of that year. The hype, the hot takes and the backlash — including essays about how the backlash to the PSL was a sexist manifestation of class anxiety — has all long quieted down online.
When do pumpkin spice cookies go on sale?
As the pumpkin spice cookies will be available nationwide in August 2022 until "supplies last," it stands to reason that they may not last until October if they prove to be particularly popular. So When's The Right Time For Some Pumpkin Spice?

Did Starbucks start the pumpkin spice craze?
Starbucks started selling pumpkin spiced lattes in 2003, beginning the fall craze. In 2019, the coffee giant added its second pumpkin drink, the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew.
When did Starbucks start selling pumpkin spice?
2003Starbucks has added new drinks to its fall lineup. Starbucks says it has sold more than half a billion pumpkin-spiced lattes, or “PSLs,” since launching the drink in 2003.
When did pumpkin spice become a thing?
McCormick introduced the first commercial pumpkin pie spice in 1934, and the blend is still sold today. After its launch (and still to this day), McCormick published recipes featuring its pumpkin pie spice.
Who made pumpkin spice popular?
By the 1960s, editions of the New Cook Book simply called for pumpkin pie spice, which was by then popular thanks to McCormick.
Where did the pumpkin spice craze start?
It can really be attributed to coffee lovers in the late 1990s when the hot new beverage of cafes became a pumpkin spice flavored coffee, and the craze spread like wildfire across America in 2003 with the introduction of Starbuck's Pumpkin Spice Latte.
What was pumpkin spice originally called?
pumpkin pie spicePumpkin spice is a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. (Some varieties add ginger, and I imagine if you are creating the mix from scratch it is based entirely on your tastes.) It was originally called pumpkin pie spice, and as the name implies, was meant specifically for flavoring pumpkin pies.
Why is Pumpkin Spice Latte so popular?
Pumpkin spice latte's enduring popularity likely stems from Americans' nostalgia and reverence for Thanksgiving (above), where pumpkin pie is a staple. Pumpkin spice latte's enduring popularity likely stems from Americans' nostalgia and reverence for Thanksgiving (above), where pumpkin pie is a staple.
Why is pumpkin spice called pumpkin spice?
Pumpkin spice earned the name “pumpkin spice” because it was originally used in cakes and pies that contained pumpkin. In the 1950s and 1960s, spice manufacturers such as McCormick began marketing “pumpkin pie spice” and “pumpkin spice” to save consumers the effort of having to blend the mixture on their own.
Does Starbucks have Pumpkin Spice Latte all year?
Topped with whipped cream and pumpkin pie spices, PSL is available hot, iced or blended at U.S. stores throughout the season while supplies last. Also available for a limited time is the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, which returns to the menu for a fourth year.
Does Starbucks still have pumpkin spice 2022?
Starbucks said the iconic Pumpkin Spice Latte returned for its 19th year on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022, along with the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew. Signed-in readers now can bookmark stories to read later.
How old is the Pumpkin Spice Latte?
The PSL was created in Seattle in 2001 and is celebrating its 19th year in stores in 2022. It's a Gen Z baby: It grew up with the generation raised on YouTube and memes. Kind of fits, right? Pumpkin Spice Lattes are espresso beverages made with cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, “pumpkin sauce” and steamed milk.
How many pumpkin spice lattes Does Starbucks sell a year?
Starbucks reportedly sells more than 20 million pumpkin spice lattes each year, and the chain has sold over 600 million since the drink debuted in 2003, according to CNN. That success has made the pumpkin spice latte one of the coffee giant's most popular menu items.
The best last minute decisions Starbucks ever made
The PSL almost didn’t exist. Executives nearly binned the drink during development for the exact quality that has made it beloved to consumers.
Instant addiction
Despite Kern’s concerns about a coffee company trying to sell drinks that were barely coffee, the pumpkin spice latte was piloted at 100 stores in Vancouver and Washington D.C in the fall of 2003. Dukes said "we couldn't keep up initially...
Selling a season
Part of the PSL’s rise to fame was that Starbucks successfully convinced people that drinking a warm cup of milk, sugar and spices were the ultimate way to experience fall — a way to make fall feel even more like fall.
The Pumpkin Spice Industrial-Complex
The PSL started a flavor revolution. Dunkin’ Donuts and McDonalds now serve their own pumpkin spiced coffee drinks, as well as pretty much very artisan coffee shop across the country come fall.
Pumpkin Spice Backlash
In opposition to this figure, hating on the PSL became a cult trend of its own. To be fair, the drink’s spine-shivering sweet taste can genuinely be quite polarizing.
From meme to moral panic
The backlash to pumpkin spice lattes was many-fold. They were rotting away at our souls and individuality, but also our organs.
Reclaiming the PSL
The peak of the PSL hype and controversy was in 2015 according to Google Trends, which shows searches for the “pumpkin spice latte” spiked in September of that year. The hype, the hot takes and the backlash — including essays about how the backlash to the PSL was a sexist manifestation of class anxiety — has all long quieted down online.