September 7, 2024 | Awake & Dreaming

Origin story
Inspired by the success of Peppermint Mocha the previous winter, Starbucks wanted a hit for the fall season. Their research suggested that though caramel and chocolate were popular flavours, pumpkin won the best pick more often for its uniqueness. This led to the creation of Pumpkin Spice Latte by Peter Dukes in 2003. It was introduced as a test in 100 stores in Washington, D.C. and Vancouver, Canada.

Social media sensation
PSL is an influencer in itself! Brewed to perfection in the world of marketing, the drink flaunts its own Twitter account named @TheRealPSL, with millions of followers to its credit.

Dictionary approves it
The Merriam-Webster dictionary included the word ‘pumpkin spice’ in 2022. Now if that does not work as a testimonial to the phenomenon that PSL has become, what else does?

What’s in a name?
The name PSL is not just an abbreviation – the name comes from the three-letter beverage code written on the cups of the guests by baristas.

A slice of the cake
Less than a decade after its debut, PSL seemed to have infiltrated every industry. From candies and crafts beers to cosmetics and cleaning products, the pumpkin spice craze paints the town orange every autumn season.

Where I live we don’t need winter clothes. Or even autumn wear. That actually might be a good thing but when I see people in their cozy & cool looking sweaters, I do think that it would be really nice.

Autumn/fall weather, nice cool winds, the colours of the leaves all changing and the orange, amber & the yellows all decked out in foliage splendour. Even walking on the fallen leaves is nice. I imagine wearing jeans, boots and shawl necked sweater over my teeshirt and going in a car to a cafe. Once I get there, obviously to meet a very beautiful woman, I order a pie and a latte and sit in a chair.

There’s something about fall that just feels different. A lot of people especially in North America vote the fall as their favourite season. There’s nothing quite like the rare beauty that the season offers. The leaves turn every shade of ruby red, golden amber, and russet brown while the sun of summer still shines without the heat that leaves us all looking for the closest shade. There’s nothing like strolling through a golden walkway as the leaves fall around and crunch underfoot to erase the stress of the everyday and remind us that we live in a world that’s always surrounding us with the sublime.