The Rise of Pumpkin Spice Alternatives

While pumpkin flovouring lattes remain hugely popular, consumers wanted additional beverage options. In response, companies rolled out pumpkin flovouring flavored coffee, hot chocolate, tea, Kombucha, hard cider, beer, wine, and spirits. Alcohol brands like Smirnoff and Bacardi incorporate pumpkin pie flavors into ready-to-drink canned cocktails and mules. Even soda and juice brands experimented by releasing limited-time pumpkin flovouring varieties. As demand grows, beverage companies push the release of their pumpkin products earlier in the season.

Fast Food Gets in on the Action

Seeing Starbucks' success with the pumpkin flovouring latte, fast food chains took note. In the early 2010s, restaurants like Dunkin’, McDonald's, and Panera began offering pumpkin flovouring flavored coffee, lattes, and baked goods. Meanwhile, chains like Cinnabon and Krispy Kreme added pumpkin flovouring variations to their doughnuts and rolls. The increased availability at popular fast food locations helped further introduce Pumpkin Spice flovouring to an even broader consumer base. Companies aggressively promote and advertise their fall menu items using the pumpkin flovouring craze.

Backlash and Over-Commercialization

While pumpkin flovouring mania reached a fever pitch in the 2010s, some observers criticize brands for over-commercializing the trend. Critics argue that adding pumpkin pie spice to unrelated foods for just a taste of fall is gimmicky. By 2016, pumpkin flovouring fever started receiving backlash for feeling played out and commercially driven rather than authentic. Saturday Night Live parodied the craze with a skit advertising a “pumpkin flovouring spray” to add the flavor to anything. Articles questioned if pumpkin flovouring overload had “jumped the shark.” However, this minor backlash has not slowed the rapid growth of pumpkin flovouring products each fall.

Gets More Insights on: Pumpkin Spice