Why do people like pumpkin spice lattes so much?
Overall, the combination of sensory appeal, cultural significance, and social experiences contributes to the love for pumpkin spice lattes. Smell and association two krieger school perception researchers say a key to understanding why people love pumpkin spice is the smell of it. Those notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger trigger deeply rooted cozy memories of autumn.This uniquely American craze has become a hallmark of autumn, blending nostalgic traditions with a modern obsession. What started as a humble spice blend for flavoring pies has taken on a life of its own, popping up in everything from lattes to candles—even dog treats.The spices used in the pumpkin spice latte have strong associations with holiday seasons, and likely some comforting memories, she said. So when you smell those spices, it will immediately activate emotive memories of joy, warmth and happiness.Once Starbucks introduced its Pumpkin Spice Latte (the “PSL”) in 2003, Americans were hooked. This humble latte created a frenzy that spread like wildfire, turning pumpkin spice into an iconic fall flavor and inspiring countless pumpkin-spiced foods, drinks, and even candles.
Why are we so obsessed with pumpkin spice?
The seasonal nature of a pumpkin spice latte hacks into the hunter-gatherer parts of our psychology, said Alice. The fact that you can only get them in autumn gives them a sense of scarcity, which drives our desire to get our hands on them. What does a Pumpkin Spice Latte taste like? Funnily enough, it doesn’t really taste like pumpkin. Instead, your palate will spot notes of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove – spices ‘inspired by the pumpkin season’.Why do we love pumpkin spice? Science journalist Alice Gray said the smell rather than the taste of pumpkin spice products is key. The spices used in the pumpkin spice latte have strong associations with holiday seasons, and likely some comforting memories, she said.According to her, the company’s pumpkin spice drinks taste different for two reasons—the syrup now contains real pumpkin ingredient and the syrup bottles’ pumps have changed. Apparently it’s not the same, like, full pumps, so you’re getting technically less [syrup], Maria said.Scarcity, flavor, and nostalgia equal obsession. People’s obsession with pumpkin spice is an intriguing psychological occurrence. The taste of pumpkin spice may be desirable due to its scarcity, as it’s only available during the fall.
What is a fun fact about Pumpkin Spice Lattes?
PSL was introduced as a test on October 10, 2003 in about 100 stores in Vancouver, B. C. Washington, D. C. U. S. Canada the following autumn. PSL got its nickname from the original three-letter beverage code for Pumpkin Spice Latte written by baristas on cups. The big boom of pumpkin spice truly came in the 1990s with the launch of the PSL. A little coffee shop named Starbucks launched the PSL, hesitantly, and initiated the pumpkin spice craze. The latte became the talk of the town with customers everywhere patiently awaiting the fall season just for their coveted PSL.A typical 16-ounce pumpkin spice latte contains around 50 grams of sugar—roughly equivalent to 12 teaspoons. For context, this amount is double the recommended daily limit of added sugars for most people.When the PSL launched for the 2015 season, the new recipe included real pumpkin puree made from kabocha pumpkins. It also removed caramel coloring. So yes, Starbucks’ current Pumpkin Spice Latte does in fact contain real pumpkin, although recipes and ingredients for other coffee chains’ versions will vary.But only about half of the Pumpkin Spice Latte’s 390 calories come from the milk and espresso you’d get in a regular latte (190 calories). The rest comes from pumpkin spice sauce—with more sugar and condensed milk than actual pumpkin purée—and whipped cream.The PSL is a significant contributor to Starbucks’ earnings. According to Nielsen, sales of pumpkin spice-related products exceeded $800 million in the 12 months ending July 2023.
Why is pumpkin spice so iconic?
Some think it relates way back to our colony days where pumpkins were one of the only crops the settlers could sustain and so, subconsciously, pumpkin reminds us of our roots. Others believe that the seasonal appeal of the pumpkin-flavor is what creates the allure. Either way, the pumpkin spice craze is here to stay. Pumpkin spice, originally known as pumpkin pie spice, is typically made with a blend of ground cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and occasionally allspice. It doesn’t actually have any pumpkin flavor in it — however, it is used to flavor a pumpkin pie, which is likely how it got its name.Cordelia Running, associate professor in the Department of Purdue Nutrition Science, says pumpkin spice is just another learned flavor body-wise, but the way it is marketed during the holidays makes many Americans crave pumpkin spice because of the warm, happy and feel-good memories of Halloween, Thanksgiving and other .Two decades later, McCormick and other spice companies began marketing a “pumpkin pie spice,” which found its way into a variety of dishes— with or without pumpkin. By the 1990s, pumpkin spice would appear in ads for clothing, candles, and — that’s right, coffee.Expand your spice rack with high-quality seasonings like our Great Value Pumpkin Pie Spice. Transform ordinary recipes into extraordinary culinary creations by adding this spice to both warm and cold favorites like stews, casseroles, pork, or chicken, and a varied selection of your favorite desserts.Pumpkin spice contains cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, which are all packed with antioxidants. These compounds help fight inflammation, reduce the risk of chronic diseases, and slow down the ageing process.
Why are pumpkin spice lattes so expensive?
To put it more bluntly, retailers charge extra for pumpkin-spiced products “because companies can get away with it,” Popovich said. The market will support it. Pumpkin spice season invokes images of harvest-festival nostalgia, Popovich said: Pumpkin pie at grandma’s house. Cinnamon comes from the Cinnamomum tree’s inner bark. It tastes sweet, woody, and a bit spicy. Pumpkin spice is a mix of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves. This mix gives a complex flavor that’s a bit sweet and earthy, perfect for fall.Pumpkin spice Flavour profile Most of the products I tried have a strong focus on cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger with a touch of clove in the background. Most of them were quite subtle and warm with some slight woody notes but nothing overpowering or harsh.Pumpkin spice, also known as pumpkin pie spice, is a mixture of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves. Some pumpkin spice mixes might leave out a spice or two, but most consist of at least two or three of the spices listed above.Two Krieger School perception researchers say a key to understanding why people love pumpkin spice is the smell of it. Those notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger trigger deeply rooted cozy memories of autumn.
Are Starbucks pumpkin spice lattes healthy?
In other words, a classic PSL packs in a meal’s worth of calories and carbs, with more than two days’ worth of added sugar! To put that in perspective, even a Starbucks Cheese Danish is lower in everything, including sugar, with 28 fewer grams than the Pumpkin Spice Latte. Starbucks Used Pumpkin Pie to Create the OG PSL. It took three months of tasting and re-tasting drinks until they settled on The Pumpkin Spice Latte—a recipe that hadn’t changed until last year (more on that below).The PSL is a significant contributor to Starbucks’ earnings. According to Nielsen, sales of pumpkin spice-related products exceeded $800 million in the 12 months ending July 2023.