Veterans of Starbucks are no strangers to the seasonal drinks that the company brings back each year. With autumn comes one of the most popular hot drinks around: the pumpkin spice latte. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the PSL, so it was only fitting that we take to the streets, interviewing fellow students about the fall favorite. As it turns out, people are rather opinionated about the drink. Truly, there is a strong divide between the PSL addicts and the haters.
The color of the drink was usually the first thing mentioned.
“The color of the latte is kinda weird, but pumpkin stuff makes me happy,” said Munira Pulodi, a senior majoring in human development.
She was not the only one to bring up the drink’s alarming shade of orange. Some students are put off by its hue, which deters them from the drink altogether.
“It’s an unnatural shade of orange. It’s almost glowstick-esque. A drink at Starbucks is about $4 and I’d rather get something that I know I like,” said Xin Ke, an undecided sophomore.
Other students believe that the orange color just adds to the experience: “Pumpkin is scrumptious, and the orange of pumpkin is very distinct. So that shade of pumpkin orange in a latte creates a euphoric visual sensation,” said Alex Kleiner, a senior double-majoring in computer science and cinema.
As for the caffeine factor, many agree that the PSL barely tastes like coffee. This is probably due to the “pumpkin preservatives and the crap load of whipped cream on it,” said Connie Chan, a sophomore majoring in biology.
Finally, students weighed in on the flavor itself.
“I like it, because of the pumpkin taste. It’s sweet, strong, refreshing and delicious,” Pulodi said.
This is a popular opinion, as pumpkin items are extremely sought-after this time of year due to a mix of marketing and actual deliciousness factor.
There is something magnetic about the PSL. It’s something that you should try at least once; it’s a part of our culture that can’t be avoided. And who knows? You may love it! Or, you’ll be out $4 and left with a bad taste in your mouth, but hey, you tried.