For some, the pumpkin spice latte is a key ingredient in a perfect fall season.

This year Starbucks’ most famous drink is turning twenty and it is only gaining popularity. 

“Everybody wants to have it because it is only out in the fall season,” suggested 8th grader Laila K. to account for the trend.

Many marvel at this drink while others recoil in disgust, but nonetheless it is a staple of the season and has made its mark.  

“I really love the flavor,” explained Laila K, “I also personally enjoy coffee.”

Fellow student Sofia F. takes the opposite view. 

“I don’t really like coffee and flavors mixed together,” she admitted. “For me, I like plain pumpkins and plain coffee, not mixed together.”

Critics may complain that there is no real pumpkin in the latte and this was true until 2015 when Starbucks added the special sauce. The ‘Taste Of Home’ website details what is in this sauce: sugar, condensed milk, and pumpkin puree. 

Back in the beginning, however, the sauce included only the spices that usually go along with pumpkin pie:  cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg.  

This formula was first introduced In 2003, according to the Starbucks Stories website.  It was tested right here in Washington, DC. It did exceedingly well, its uniqueness penetrating the coffee business as others emulated the drink.

The PSL kept selling well for the next few years, but just as Starbucks was considering switching it up, an important change happened. In 2006 the arrival of social media helped the latte’s popularity to skyrocket. These days, social media brims with the excitement of fall and how these lattes are linked to the season.

Though it isn’t the healthiest thing you can buy at Starbucks, weighing in at 300 calories, fans don’t seem to mind. They don’t drink it for their health, it is the taste that is most important in this seasonal treat.

The PSL is so popular for a reason; it embodies the fall season and gives so many people nostalgia and refreshment. Even if people think it isn’t tasty, it has lasted for 20 years and is still going strong. Next time you get a Pumpkin Spice Latte, I hope you will cherish the 20 years and curated flavors that are behind the seasonal drink.