We are now on the fifth day of pumpkin spice season. Here are a few important dispatches from the front.
Is it pumpkin spice season? Yaaas. To the delight of Starbucks fans and resignation of the baristas who serve them, the pumpkin spice latte, that beloved seasonal beverage also known as the PSL, is officially back in stores, as of Sept. 1. But that’s not all! Never one to miss an opportunity to offer even more limited items to the menu, Starbucks is debuting a few official variations on the PSL, inspired by fans’ customized orders.
Allow us to introduce the Pumpkin Spice Chai Tea Latte. While Starbucks does not specifically describe the recipe, one can surmise it’s a standard chai tea latte, now with a pump of pumpkin — topped with whipped cream and the “warm fall spices” of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and clove.
Of course, your friendly neighborhood barista can still make whatever it is that you have in mind and even offer their own recommendations. After all, more than a few popular limited time Starbucks menu drinks began as grassroots barista beverages.
Another variation on the pumpkin spice latte you may find in the wild is the Pumpkin Spice Nitro. The one advertised — at a Starbucks in Seattle — looks incredible. (Delish surmises it’s a nitro cold brew infused with pumpkin spice syrup.) But presumably, you need to be at a Starbucks serving nitro on tap for that.
And last but not least, we’d be remiss not to mention that the iced pumpkin latte is still available in stores for those experiencing the hotter effects of global warming. (We’re all experiencing vastly different fall weather at the moment.) It’s also available iced in store or “blended” i.e. as a Frappuccino.
Next: Is maple a better fall flavor than pumpkin spice?
With all this mind, go forth and live — nay, order — your truth. The PSL is more accessible than ever and it’s important to live in the moment and seek comfort where you can in these trying times.