“I am pumpkin. I am spice. I am nice,” says a recording of a nice old man on the other end of the Starbucks hotline. “I am a pump-CAN, not a pump-CAN’T,” he continues on the meditation section of the fall activities offered when you dial the phone line.
From what you can see, Starbucks upped their game this year. The java chain teased customers with the fan favorite, the pumpkin spice latte, release by creating a phone line that customers can call that leads to a bunch of fall activities for them to listen to. Only one day after the phone line came out, the beloved pumpkin spice latte was released and that only means one thing: it’s the unofficial first day of fall.
The pumpkin spice obsession began back in 2003 and has only gotten more out of control with each year that passes. According to a Neisen data from 2018, pumpkin spice and pumpkin-spiced “industrial complex” is a $600 million market. So yeah, you could say it’s the most popular seasonal drink to date at Starbucks.
And today, August 25th, is the official first day of PSL season. Starbucks has released its fall menu at locations across the country days earlier than ever before. The fall menu also includes flavors like Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, Salted Caramel Mocha and Salted Caramel Mocha Frappuccino, along with bites like the pumpkin scone and pumpkin cream cheese muffin. So much yumminess.
Who cares about waiting until after Labor Day to call it fall? If the PSL is out, it’s the first day of fall. We know the rules.
