Pumpkin Spice Latte facts for kids
The Pumpkin Spice Latte is a popular coffee drink. It mixes classic autumn spice flavors like cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. It also has steamed milk, espresso, and often sugar. The drink is usually topped with whipped cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice. This special drink is most famous for being sold by Starbucks. They first offered it in the fall of 2003. Its popular flavor has led to many other products that appear only for a short time each year.
How the Pumpkin Spice Latte Started
Starbucks began creating the Pumpkin Spice Latte in January 2003. They had already seen great success with other seasonal drinks, like the Peppermint Mocha. Peter Dukes, who worked for Starbucks, said they realized the pumpkin flavor was special. At that time, there weren't many pumpkin-flavored drinks around.
The company tried out different mixes of pumpkin and spices. Interestingly, the first recipe they chose did not actually have any real pumpkin in it!
In the fall of 2003, Starbucks tested the new drink in Vancouver and Washington, D.C.. People loved it! Sales were much higher than Starbucks expected. Peter Dukes mentioned they had trouble keeping enough ingredients in stock. The drink became available in all U.S. Starbucks stores the next year.
The Pumpkin Spice Latte quickly became Starbucks' most popular seasonal drink. By 2015, over 200 million had been sold since it first came out. This drink also started a big trend. Soon, many other products began to appear with pumpkin spice flavor. You could find pumpkin spice candles, air fresheners, donuts, breakfast cereals, and even cough drops!
In August 2015, Starbucks changed the recipe. They added real pumpkin to the drink. They also removed artificial colors. The new syrup included sugar, skim milk, pumpkin puree, and natural coloring.
Why the Pumpkin Spice Latte is Popular
The Pumpkin Spice Latte is Starbucks' most popular seasonal drink. It has sold around 424 million cups worldwide. In 2015, Forbes magazine estimated that this drink alone brought in $100 million for Starbucks.
One reason for its success is that it's only available for a limited time. This makes people excited to get it before it's gone. Starbucks also uses social media like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to tell people about the drink. In 2013, they even let customers "unlock" the drink early using a special code.
Since Starbucks introduced their Pumpkin Spice Latte, many other companies have made their own pumpkin spice products. Between 2008 and 2012, pumpkin-flavored items offered by restaurants grew by 234 percent! Some examples include pumpkin M&M's, pumpkin coffee pods from Dunkin' Donuts, and even pumpkin-flavored whiskey. You can also find pumpkin spice lotion, shampoo, and candles.
At Starbucks, you can ask for the Pumpkin Spice Latte to be made iced. You can also get it as a Frappuccino. In 2017, Starbucks added a Chai version called the Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte. They also offer pumpkin spice-flavored instant coffee packets for you to make at home.
See also
In Spanish: Latte de Especias de Calabaza para niños
