Pumpkin spice item collage (Sonya Bagala / The Puma Prensa)
By Sonya Bagala, Staff Writer
Many’s favorite fall flavors are pumpkin spice. Take a step into Trader Joes; the shelves are filled with pumpkin spiced pretzels, cookies, coffee, cereal— if you can name it, it has a pumpkin form. Traditionally this trend comes from the popular fall drink, a pumpkin spice latte. But, why is it so popular?
The key to understanding why it is so loved is knowing the smell of it. The smells of cinnamon, pumpkin, and many other spices remind people of everything they love about fall, whether it’s Halloween, Thanksgiving, or simply the colder weather. Cozying up with a pumpkin spice latte on a cold fall morning is what triggers nostalgia for some. Pumpkin spice has become more than just a flavor. It’s something that makes people excited for a new season.
Adding on, pumpkin spice has become so popular because of the feeling of fall itself. After months of hot weather, people are ready for sweaters, candles, Halloween movies, and going to the pumpkin patch. Pumpkin spice has somehow become a part of all these traditions.
Even when the weather is still warm out, the shift in months attracts buyers. One flavor can make people feel like the seasons are changing, even when the weather isn’t.
There's also something about a limited edition item that is so appealing to many. Popular chains like Starbucks release special fall menus which include the Pumpkin Spice Latte, that came out in late August, and ends when the winter menu comes out in early November. Although there are so many pumpkin spice items, there are only a few months when you can actually enjoy them, leading to so many hurrying to buy these items during that small period of time.
Companies know exactly what they’re doing when they make these products seasonal. If pumpkin spice lattes were sold all year round, would people be as excited about them? The fact that you can only get them for a limited time makes them seem more special than they really are, which is a great marketing strategy to attract customers in the fall. It’s the same reason people get excited when their favorite holiday candy or seasonal snack returns to stores.
Social Media also plays a huge role in the pumpkin spice obsession. Every fall, TikTok and Instagram are filled with people reviewing new pumpkin flavored foods, Starbucks orders, and sharing their fall shopping hauls. Even people who aren't huge fans of pumpkin spice might feel tempted to try something just because everyone else is talking about it.
However, the pumpkin spice trend has gotten a bit out of hand. Does everything need a pumpkin version? From pumpkin cookies to even pumpkin pasta, it seems that companies will put the flavor into anything just to get people to buy it. At some point, it feels almost like a marketing strategy rather than something people will actually enjoy.
Still, we can understand why people look forward to pumpkin spice season every year. It’s not necessarily about how good the flavor tastes, but more about the memories and feelings that come with it. Even if pumpkin spice isn’t everyone's favorite, there’s no denying that it has become one of the biggest signs that fall has officially arrived.