Pumpkin Spice Lattes Are Now Available at Starbucks Once Again | Eater

"The pumpkin spice latte has become the definitive harbinger of fall for fans, described as tasting like a melted pumpkin‑pie milkshake with a hint of espresso. After early customer surveys in 2003 suggested little interest, a product manager named Peter Dukes refined a spice-forward formula and introduced the drink in a few markets, where it proved an immediate hit. Traditionally available a few weeks before the start of autumn and served for about four months—the chain’s busiest period—the beverage’s annual “drop date” is a major event; for the first time in company history it was officially released before Labor Day (August 28), a sign of the now-rampant “PSL creep.” To stoke excitement around its fall lineup the company even launched a warm, community-focused Facebook group called the Leaf Rakers Society. In addition to the pumpkin spice latte, the fall menu has included items like a salted caramel mocha, a pumpkin spice chai latte, and various seasonal baked goods, and the early release is part of a push to revive enthusiasm after a difficult year while spurring a wider flood of less-iconic pumpkin spice products across the market." - Greg Morabito