With the fall season approaching, you’ll be hearing more and more folks talking about grabbing a ‘PSL’–this means your friends and coworkers are enjoying what is far and away the most popular Starbucks concoction. 

We’re talking about the magic pumpkin syrup mixed into Starbucks’ signature drink, the Pumpkin Spice Latte. 

Pumpkin Spice: From Pie to Perennial Passion

For those of us old enough to remember life before Starbucks, pumpkin spice will always make us think of the Thanksgiving dinner table. Whether it was grandma's pumpkin pie or Sara Lee’s, it didn’t matter. That flavor is so ingrained that just one smell is enough to bring back happy memories. 

When, exactly, did pumpkin spice start flavoring everything other than pie? It’s a tradition dating back well over a century.  

American colonists had long eaten boiled pumpkin, but British trade routes introduced spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger, which were gradually added to the dish. As home cooks swapped recipes, they eventually arrived at what people today would recognize as pumpkin pie spice. This culminated in 1934, when spice-giant McCormick introduced its signature pumpkin spice blend.

From Passion to Obsession

By 2003, Starbucks seemed to be on every corner, and people doubted they could expand further. Starbucks was just warming up, however, and its Pumpkin Spice Latte was part of that expansion.

Since 2003, the global count of Starbucks stores has soared. There are now five times as many Starbucks worldwide. 

Starbucks isn’t just a coffee company–it’s also full of marketing geniuses. In the early days, basic advertisements and word of mouth launched Pumpkin Spice Latte sales into space. With the dawn of social media and hashtags in the mid 2000s, ‘PSL’ began to take on a life of its own. Soon, users were sharing their photos and experiences with the drink, and sales went intergalactic. 

Pumpkin Spice Isn’t Guilt-Free

While the legendary PSL may be a huge hit each and every year, it doesn’t come without its costs. When people wonder how to make pumpkin spice syrup for coffee, they typically don’t realize it requires a massive amount of sugar. For example, a venti Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte with no add-ons ends up being nearly 500 calories.

This amount of sugar is similar to downing three Cokes at once! By the time you finish your morning emails and coffee, you’ll have consumed 25% of your daily calorie allowance. The PSL isn’t alone, either, if you check the numbers on drinks similar to the Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks.

Guilt-Free Skinny Mixes

If you love the flavor of pumpkin spice in your coffee but you’re trying to make sure your summer body lasts through winter, you’re going to need some help along the way. Choosing Skinny Mixes lets you keep the pumpkin spice vibe going year-round without any of the calories or sugar.

All Skinny Mixes syrups are calorie- and sugar-free, so you can enjoy guilt-free pumpkin spice flavor any time of year!