TALLAHASSEE, FL (#WTXLDigital) - The calendar tells us that fall is here, even though it may not feel that way in Tallahassee. But who needs the cooler weather and the falling leaves when pumpkin spice has taken over?
It's in your lattes, muffins, candles, and even cookies. As soon as September rolls around, people come running at the idea that the arrival of pumpkin spice is approaching. Instagram becomes filled with Starbucks orders of the pumpkin spice latte, most likely with a hashtag in there somewhere. However, why is pumpkin spice the flavor of the fall?
Jolene Hazelwood, owner of Atomic Coffee, emphasizes that nothing says it's fall like pumpkin: "I think the flavors and smells remind people of this time of year as a kid."
Hazelwood says that her pumpkin lattes and muffins are big sellers during the fall, but how much do coffee drinkers everywhere enjoy their dose of fall in a cup?
It probably started from the obsession with the pumpkin spice latte, which now has its own Twitter account. Try tweeting at the account and see if this fall favorite talks back. Let us know if it does.
From coffee to liquor, candy, and even waffles, pumpkin spice has really spiced up the fall or just made grocery stores stock up even more on those items.
If you're really dedicated to the cause of uncovering everything related to the over hashtagged flavor, there is a Twitter that tracks down pumpkin spice products.
So, why are there so many people obsessed with pumpkin spice? Hazelwood is spot on about how it reminds everyone of fall, especially being in an area that doesn't fully experience the change of season.
Coffee lover and Atomic Coffee VIP cardholder Liz Fontana says that pumpkin spice is the "Florida introduction of fall," and that the smell of the flavor is the reason behind those long lines at coffee shops.
However, it's not always about coffee. Owner of Lucy and Leo's Cupcakery, Paula Lucas says that pumpkin is what fall tastes like, and it's "also an excuse for cream cheese frosting and that's never a bad idea."
Another reason is that maybe people just think it tastes good. Customers were pretty upset two years ago when Starbucks announced a shortage of the syrup to make the drink, with one man saying that he felt like his "world almost ended." They must be upset because they enjoy the taste, but let's hope that this doesn't lead to products like pumpkin spice toothpaste.
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