It's here, it's finally here...fall 2016! Time for cozy sweaters, dark beautiful lip colors, and everyone's favorite drink of choice, the Starbucks pumpkin spice latte. Being an autumn lover myself, I have at least five of these gorgeous drinks weekly. The orange of the pumpkin syrup, brown espresso shots, and white milk make for the perfect fall ombre accessory to any outfit. But do you know where your favorite fall drink came from? How this million dollar idea became a reality? How much of this beverage the US alone consumes per year? Read on fellow pumpkin-philes, because this article is for you!
1. January 2003: Development Begins
Peter Dukes, the Starbucks' director of espressos in America, noticed that the chain's seasonal drinks at the time (Peppermint Mocha and Eggnog Latte) were the most popular during the year. Wanting to add to the menu, Dukes and developers presented consumers with 10 new drink options, with testers voting on their favorite. Surprisingly, Pumpkin Spice came in last, although it was commended for straying away from the typical chocolate and caramel options.
2. Fall 2003: The Big Premiere
After some more tests and spice added to the recipe, the PSL debuted in Vancouver and Washington D.C. Starbucks locations were met with overwhelming positivity. Initially, Starbucks could not keep up with the demand of the drink and by the next year it became a staple for the oncoming fall season.
3. 2008-2012: Sales Increase
Because of rising popularity and notice, sales of the Pumpkin Spice Latte increased 234 percent resulting in the sale of over 200 million individual drinks.
4. 2015: Time For a Change
Starbucks reformulated their pumpkin sauce to remove any artificial coloring and add actual pumpkin puree. In case you were wondering, here are all the ingredients: Milk, Pumpkin Spice Sauce [Sugar, Condensed Skim Milk, Pumpkin Puree, Contains 2% Or Less Of Fruit And Vegetable Juice ForColor, Natural Flavors, Annatto, Salt, Potassium Sorbate], Brewed Espresso, Whipped Cream , Vanilla Syrup (Sugar, Water, Natural Flavors, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid)], Pumpkin Spice Topping [Cinnamon, Ginger, Nutmeg, Clove, Sulfiting Agents].
5. 2016: #PSL
Pumpkin Spice isn't just a drink, it's a movement. Nearly every food product has a pumpkin variety come fall, from Oreos to Cheerios to clothing to whatever you can find. This drink started a consumer revolution, but there is nothing like an original Pumpkin Spice Latte.
What are you waiting for? Go out and get your PSL!
