Each year around October, the autumn season brings colder weather, colorful leaves, and football games to Texas. According to some Ursuline students, it also means the return of delicious seasonal goods into their lives.
Pumpkin spice is a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and allspice. Together they produce one of the most iconic fall flavors. For example, the pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks comes in iced and hot varieties. “I love getting the pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks in the fall because it literally tastes like fall!” Briar Bundy ’22 said. “The pumpkin and the cinnamon blend so well with the coffee.”
Another Ursuline fan of this drink has to admit how comforting it can be. Bethany Roberts ’20 said, “I feel like it creates such a cozy vibe. Being able to sip on my latte while doing homework just comforts me.”
Through its wide reach and popularity across the world, Starbucks sparked the pumpkin spice mania. The latte is the coffee giant’s top selling seasonal beverage. Culinary trend reporter Food Management agrees that this famous latte is one of the most popular autumn trends, as it has now entered its sixteenth season as an available option.
During the pre-Thanksgiving season, pumpkin is incorporated into breads, pies, cakes, and pastries. Bundy said, “I also love getting Starbucks’ pumpkin scone to go along with my pumpkin spice latte. It’s a great treat for before or after school!” Meanwhile, Grace Van Dinter ’22 prefers using recipes to bake her own fall foods. She said, “Each year at Thanksgiving and Christmas, I enjoy making pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread for my family.”
Cinnamon, one of the pumpkin spices, is another common favorite during the fall. Like pumpkin, it adds flavor to a multitude of seasonal drinks and baked goods. Though much less popular than the beloved PSL, Starbucks’ cinnamon dolce latte is a mixture of espresso and steamed milk, usually topped with whipped cream and ground cinnamon.
Another widely enjoyed pastry can be considered a classic breakfast or desert: the cinnamon roll. Natalie Ro ’22 said, “I love biting into a warm cinnamon roll, especially once the weather gets colder.” Although cinnamon rolls can easily be eaten at any time of year, Ro believes that fall sets the perfect mood for cinnamon roll consumption.
Apple is also a beloved fall flavor. Apple cider, which can be served hot or cold, is representative of fall. Apple pie almost always makes an appearance at Thanksgiving dinner. In addition, caramel apples are often sold at fall fairs and carnivals.
Halloween is known for its vast assortment of candy, including candy corn and a number of chocolate and candy brands. Carolina De La Rosa ’22 said, “Candy corn is my favorite Halloween candy, and I only eat it in October.” These triangular white, yellow, and orange pieces are most often enjoyed at their peak of store availability, which tends to be before and slightly after Halloween.
And who could possibly forget about hot chocolate? As the temperature drops, hot beverages come into style and prepare people for winter. Anupa Mathew ’22 said, “During the fall[2M1] , the perfect drink for me is hot chocolate because it’s the best comfort drink to relax, cozy up and watch movies with.” A nice cup of hot cocoa is perfect as we settle into Christmastime, too.
Among pumpkin, cinnamon, apple, candy, and hot chocolate, pumpkin appears to shine through as the average Ursuline girl’s favorite flavor to get them in the mood for the changing seasons. After the Thanksgiving holiday passes, grocery stores and restaurants will shift to Christmas-themed flavors such as gingerbread and peppermint. Before you know it, Christmas will be right around the corner!
