Society may have gone too far with the pumpkin spice trend. From the staple pumpkin spice latte to pumpkin spiced chicken wings, there doesn’t seem to be a single product (food or otherwise) that can’t be flavored with that chemical, cinnamon taste. Whether you enjoy it or not, you can’t stop this pumpkin spice wave. Here is a non-exhaustive ranking from worst to best of products with the taste that epitomizes fall.
7. Pumpkin Pop-Tarts
I don’t want it to seem as if the pumpkin Pop-Tarts are bad. They just aren’t as good as the other things on this list. They’re still perfectly average and have a nice pumpkin taste. Since I tried it “raw” at room temperature, my recommendation is to try it toasted first.
6. Starbucks Pumpkin spice latte
This is good, but there are much better things.
5. Pumpkin spice creamer
I added this to my homemade chai because I was at the end of my cup, but it was way too strong. I don’t think I got enough of a taste to truly know and understand its potential, and the potential is potent.
4. Homemade Pumpkin pie
A fall staple. Simply a classic.
3. Chocolate Moose Pumpkin ice cream
As an unbeliever, I was reluctant to try this. Pumpkin flavored things are typically warm, and pumpkin ice cream just seemed wrong. However, I was very pleasantly surprised. Definitely try the pumpkin ice cream from the Chocolate Moose—it’s amazing! The pumpkin flavor is so smooth and creamy. I’ll be buying more soon.*
2. My Grandma’s Pumpkin bread
My grandma makes the best pumpkin bread. My family goes absolutely crazy for it. I visited my grandparents for fall break and I was lucky enough to take a loaf home with me. It’s great alone, but even better with cream cheese frosting on top. It’s soft and full of fall flavor—what more could you ask for? Truly a fall staple that is actually worth the hype.
1. Pumpkin spiced chai
The answer to “what more could you ask for” is pumpkin spiced chai. I love chai and adding pumpkin to it just takes the cake. The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf can stop making anything else because they have hit their jackpot. If you want fall in a cup, this is what you should buy.
Wild Card: Pumpkin spice wings
Apparently, Buffalo Wild Wings has pumpkin spice wings now? Unfortunately, I’m a vegetarian, so I can’t really indulge in this. If you have tried this, please let me know your thoughts and feelings, because I am so curious. Is this good? Is it bad? Or just plain weird?
*Note from the editor: I sent Olivia to Chocolate Moose and she reported back, "There are graham cracker crumbs on top to maximize FallFlavors™️."
This is a featured part of our Halloween Zine in collaboration with the Art Committee!
