The oversees caffeine giant strikes again with an American twist on a festive tradition.
Ahhh STARBUCKS™, you are sometimes so wonderful…
For weeks now Americans have been bombarding the internet with pumpkins. Treats of all kinds have been appearing because of Thanksgiving and Halloween but mainly they have been boasting about the latest PUMPKIN flavoured creation to be adapted to coffee or iced treat and, I can officially announce… that splendour has officially been shared with the UK as of 29th!
But that’s not all!
So curious was I and impatient to experience this bizarre wonder for myself, I took it as a personal challenge to acquire it the day the offer appeared in my Facebook feed – Friday 28th. On this mission I recruited one enthusiastic compatriot, one reluctant companion and two students with nothing better to do. One of whom was lost on the way there. A fleet of four it was to be.
And I succeeded! Though the offer was technically not due to start til Saturday 29th September, I took the initiative and… just asked nicely, actually. The barrista behind the counter looked impressed I even knew about it so…
I give you, one of the UK’s first ever STARBUCKS™ servedPUMPKIN SPICED LATTE‘s!
they spelt my name wrong on the personalised cup… 
Should be ‘Gemma’ not ‘Jemma’ but I’ll let it slide… this time… 
This thing was so exclusive in the UK when I asked for it that their website hasn’t even updated to include it on their menu yet! (link at the top of the page!)
The offer is exclusive to lattes, which is a bit disappointing as I know the pumpkin flavour is available across the full range of coffees in America. The only variation seems to be if you want whipped cream or not, as well as only being available for a month. That would be because it’s a Halloween promotion and all that…
Onto the taste test.
I’m not an expert on pumpkins, to the point where I actually have no idea what they taste like. But I can tell you this. It. Is. TASTY. It’s so good! So good, in fact, that far from tolerating the addition of milk in my coffee to experience this phenomenon, I actually enjoyed it. So good, I almost bought another one! Usually I hate milky coffee as it gives me headaches. Specialty lattes are often bearable because there is another flavour to dominate, but damn this was so good!
The flavouring was a little bit spicy, not like chili, more likeginger or cinnamon, and when added to the light, whipped cream it gave the coffee a sweetness I really never thought it would. I expected something heavier and something either very bitter, more akin to a headily scented, dense tasting coffee you might be served from a questionable looking, festive vendor, in a styrofoam cup, or something very mild and savoury; like a non-citrus cheesecake in coffee form with an almost tea-like consistency… if that’s even possible. That thought might have been the product of having seen pumpkin flavoured goodies in the plastic, clear cups chilled drinks are served in. Never did I expect just how sweet it would be! The foam was light, the texture smooth, the aroma light and wafting. Delicious.
I would say that, taste wise, this is something of a girly drink, but I would highly recommend this particular speciality drink to everyone. Even if it doesn’t get you in a Halloween mood (something this sweet and scrumptiouscould never incite fear into anyone bar the lactose intolerant… nor can it celebrate the dead…) it will certainly give you a festive buzz. I personally hate Christmas, but that’s what it tastes like!
I recently purchased a candied ginger body butter fromThe Body Shop and it was a good thing I hadn’t been wearing it when I drained that mug – I’d have morphed into a little Christmas elf, perhaps sporting a jaunty witches hat, right there on the spot!
some pumpkin treats for you all!! STARBUCKS America full pumpkin range!! nutella swirled pumpkin pie, mini cinnamon sugar pumpkin muffins (no i’m not joking, that’s what they’re called) fudge brownie cupcakes with pumpkin cream cheese frosting(phew, what a title!) skinny pumpkin cheesecake brownie SIMPLE pumpkin cake a PSL, a modified PSL a “top 10 list”
credits have to go to: Sally’s Baking Addiction, (who I have a mild bakers crush on!! ) Caffeinated and Random, (whose loving rants about her other half make me LOL), Sweet Little Thang
Follow me on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/gemc200 , I hang out there occasionally.
And here is a link to the original blog post that this has been adapted from, if you are interested.
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