In the month of October, I spent a whopping $119.43 at Starbucks. Of that, $87.50 were enthusiastically spent on Venti Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Lattes, which individually price at $6.25. Doing the math, that means in the month of October, on my rewards account alone, I consumed 14 Pumpkin Chai’s. This obnoxious number does not even include when my mother graciously decides to pay on her account. You may be asking, “What’s so great about pumpkin drinks?” You may also be asking, “What is wrong with you?” The answer is, I am irrevocably consumed and hooked on Starbucks’ Fall Beverages and I am proud. 

What is the hype around Fall pumpkin drinks? Starbucks originally launched their “Pumpkin Spice” drinks in the fall of 2003. Being some of Starbucks’ most successful seasonal drinks, Pumpkin Spiced theme drinks have brought in hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue for the company.

What I find most appealing about these drinks is the aroma and comfort it brings. As summer comes to an end, the final beach days and poolside lounging are quickly replaced with crisp air and leaves. Teenagers’ binging  of Outer Banks is replaced with Gilmore Girls, and fruity beverages are replaced with warm (or iced) coffees and lattes.

The appeal of pumpkin spice for many is the nostalgia autumn brings. As I sip on my pumpkin drink, I reminisce about the childhood memories of hayrides and pumpkin patches and carving.    

I may occasionally enjoy an Iced Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte, a drink served on this year’s 2023 Winter menu. However, nothing beats the creamy and sweet goodness of fall drinks. If you give my order a try—Venti Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte with Light Ice and a Shot of Espresso—you may become just as absorbed, addicted, and consumed as I am.