The Pumpkin Spice Latte Had Its Run. These New Flavors Should Take Its Place

Pumpkin herb latte play is present again, which intends 1 thing: we’re each astir to person nan aforesaid statement we’ve been having since 2003. 

For some, nan PSL is simply a cozy autumn ritual, nan first sip signaling that sweaters, crunchy leaves and Halloween candy are officially successful play. For others, it’s an overhyped sweetener explosive that tastes much for illustration nutmeg perfume than coffee. Love it aliases loathe it, nan PSL is unavoidable; pinch October 1 moreover being named National Pumpkin Spice Day. But aft much than 2 decades astatine nan top, possibly it’s clip to inquire if our favourite autumn portion is yet fresh to walk nan crown.

When Starbucks first introduced nan PSL successful 2003, it wasn’t a guaranteed hit. Peter Dukes, nan merchandise head who developed nan drink, wanted to vessel nan spirit of pumpkin pastry — not nan squash itself, but nan nostalgic blend of cinnamon, ginger and cloves. 

At nan time, seasonal java was hardly a category, and nan PSL was a bold research that could person been written disconnected arsenic excessively niche. Early attraction groups really had to taste-test nan portion alongside bites of pumpkin pastry to “get” nan concept. Its moving sanction was nan “Fall Harvest Latte,” earlier landing connected nan acquainted title we know. 

The portion launched successful astir 100 Starbucks stores successful Washington, D.C. and Vancouver, B.C., wherever it quickly sold out. By nan pursuing fall, it was rolled retired nationally and nan PSL began its climb to taste phenomenon. With nan emergence of societal media, nan PSL wasn’t conscionable a beverage — it became a signal. The whipped pick swirl and dusting of herb photographed beautifully, and suddenly, holding a PSL cup successful September was shorthand for embracing nan season. 

It wasn’t agelong earlier nan portion generated half a cardinal dollars annually and inspired endless pumpkin-spice-infused recipes, memes, and moreover candle scents that seizure nan PSL magic. More than immoderate different beverage, nan PSL cemented Starbucks’ seasonal strategy and reshaped what consumers expect from java menus nationwide each clip nan upwind changes.

But power comes pinch drawbacks. For some, nan PSL’s sweetness and vaguely “pumpkin-y” spirit haven’t aged well. PEOPLE’s ain Michelle Tauber argues nan pecan crunch oatmilk latte is vastly superior, offering texture and extent without what she calls nan “weird pumpkin fruitiness.” Meanwhile, unit writer Julia MacCary is pulling for a autumn pome crisp spirit (though she notes astir Starbucks versions thin excessively sweet). 

Even devoted PSL fans sometimes admit they tin only grip 1 per play earlier moving on. And nan information backs it up: successful 2024, for nan first time, Google searches for “matcha” outpaced “pumpkin spice” successful September. Pumpkin herb is still huge, but possibly not arsenic ascendant arsenic its been successful erstwhile years.

So what’s next? If nan PSL defined a procreation of autumns, its successor will request to seizure that aforesaid operation of nostalgia, comfortableness and taste relevance and, to beryllium a adjacent contender, person nan imaginable for yearly virality. There are immoderate beardown options already vying for nan throne.

The pecan crunch oatmilk latte makes consciousness because it hits autumn flavors without veering into pastry territory. The nutty, caramel-like notes consciousness seasonal but little polarizing than pumpkin.

Apple crisp-inspired drinks are an evident prime arsenic apples are arsenic emblematic of autumn arsenic pumpkins, and erstwhile done right, nan operation of cinnamon and baked-apple spirit tastes for illustration a lukewarm sojourn to an pome orchard successful a cup.

Pistachio lattes, a individual favourite of PEOPLE’s Michele Corriston, bring a caller twist. They connection nan richness of a nut-based spirit floor plan while emotion modern and versatile — plus, pistachio has been having a “moment” crossed desserts and drinks.

And past there’s matcha, nan stealth competitor already stealing PSL’s crown connected hunt engines. Matcha isn’t conscionable a spirit but a manner marker, pinch its ties to wellness, ritual and its vibrant greenish is aesthetically a vibe. A seasonal matcha riff — spiced pinch cardamom aliases chai-like flavors — could easy go nan adjacent autumn flex.

My individual prime would beryllium nan pecan. It’s nutty, seasonally fitting and tin beryllium saccharine aliases savory, depending connected nan dish, giving measurement to nan imaginable virality crossed everyone's java cups and meal spreads. A Pecan Cinnamon Latte has a tiny ringing to it, and still has that PSL phonetic consciousness pinch its acronym being “PCL.” Plus, Starbucks' Pecan Oatmilk Cortado is here, truthful nan ingredients are already there.

Other ideas worthy testing? Maple, brownish butter, saccharine murphy and moreover salted caramel, each having their ain respective loyalists. The cardinal is uncovering thing that balances cozy comfortableness pinch capable novelty to spark an yearly contented each season. Because arsenic overmuch arsenic group emotion pumpkin spice, what they really crave each autumn is simply a portion that feels for illustration an arena — thing to people nan displacement successful play and footwear disconnected a caller rhythm of rituals.

Whether pumpkin herb stays connected apical aliases hands complete nan reins, nan instruction of nan PSL is clear: 1 beverage really tin specify a season. It’s difficult to ideate different portion inspiring memes, bath products, and candle aisles rather nan aforesaid way, but past again, nary 1 predicted nan PSL would do it either. Maybe nan adjacent iconic autumn spirit is already connected nan menu, waiting for its infinitesimal successful nan September sun.