Now that September is over, the days are finally getting a little cooler and the leaves are starting to change colors. Fall is slowly creeping in, and we all know what that means: seasonal treats.
Suddenly, apple cider and hot chocolate are the hot drink item. Stores begin selling cinnamon-flavored candles and everything has a falling leaves motif. But nothing really signals the season like the annual release of the Starbucks pumpkin spice latte.
The pumpkin spice latte has become such a symbol of the season that people are buzzing about it on Twitter as early as August. This year Starbucks celebrates the 12th anniversary of this favorite fall drink that practically makes all of their money in the fall and winter seasons.
It all began in the spring of 2003 when Peter Dukes and his team at Starbucks' "Liquid Lab" in Seattle, Washington, were tasked with creating a new drink for the fall flavors lineup. The team had created holiday favorites such as the eggnog latte and the peppermint mocha before, and so they were ready to take on the challenge. Taking inspiration from popular fall decorations, the team singled out the pumpkin as the basis for the new drink.
Photo via Eating Rules
The team decided to try sampling a bite of pumpkin pie following a sip of different coffees to find flavors that were compatible. After trying pumpkin and espresso, the team knew they had found a winning combo.
The team began experimenting with a recipe for what would eventually become the PSL -- the final recipe uses pumpkin spice "sauce," with added cinnamon, clove and nutmeg, mixed into espresso and steamed milk, topped with whipped cream.
The recipe was released in 2003 to only 100 stores to test its popularity, and the results were compelling. The pumpkin spice latte was a winning recipe, and soon the drink was added to the fall lineup around the United States.
Since then the PSL has been the most popular seasonal drink sold at Starbucks, and is a holiday staple for many. Starbucks makes more than $300 million on pumpkin spice lattes every year, and the drink's popularity doesn't seem to be going away anytime soon. Other companies like McDonald's and Dunkin' Donuts have even tried to muscle in on the PSL's popularity with their own twists on the recipe because of its success.
The drink is so ingrained in America's culture at this point it has it's own hashtag on Twitter: #PSL. Anyone with an Instagram or Twitter is bound to have taken at least one selfie of themselves sippin' on a #PSL because they are so #basic at this point.
So, celebrate the season and the 12th anniversary of this iconic Starbucks dessert drink, and treat yourself to a nice cup of warm, fall-flavored coffee. Get it now before it's gone again!
Photo via Giphy
