By Nicole Belair, Staff Writer
It’s that time of year again: Pumpkin Spice is taking over.
Over the past ten years, Starbucks’s “Pumpkin Spice Latte” has become increasingly successful, inspiring other chain and local coffee shops to get involved in the trend.
The development of the Pumpkin Spice Latte began in 2003, when Starbucks director Peter Dukes wanted to expand on the seasonal drinks that they typically offered, such as the Peppermint Mocha and Eggnog Latte.
Developers immediately realized that there was something special about pumpkin: no one had ever done it before.
Over 200 million Pumpkin Spice Lattes have been sold in the last thirteen years, bringing in about $80 million per year. It’s no wonder that other companies have started to catch on.
Students at UMass Dartmouth are lucky to be centrally located amongst several coffee shops in the area where they can pick up anything Pumpkin Spice.
First, there are at least three Dunkin Donuts locations within a mile of campus.
Starbucks was also introduced to the area over the summer when a location was built just next door to a third café: Mirasol’s.
Mirasol’s, home of the infamous “Chippi” is a favorite amongst college students and young adults.
Finally, New York Bagel is yet another option for food and coffee.
When comparing these four options there are a couple of factors to be considered: taste and price.
Starbucks, home of the original PSL, is the most delicious, but also the most expensive. A grande (medium) size is over $5.00, but you are guaranteed to love every sip.
Dunkin Donuts is almost always a reliable option, and it tends to be on the cheaper side. You can get a medium or large Pumpkin Spice Latte for around $3.00, and it tastes great.
If you’re not a huge fan of lattes but still want that fall flavor, Dunkin Donuts also offers a pumpkin flavor swirl for your coffee.
Mirasol’s Café on State Road is an option if you prefer local shops instead of chains. While the café itself has mixed reviews, their signature “Chippi” is raved about all over town.
People across the state even sport “Chippi” bumper stickers on their cars to profess their love for the delicious drinks.
This fall, Mirasol’s introduced the Pumpkin Pie Chippi, which has been a big hit. While tasty, it’s just about as expensive as Starbucks, but without that authentic Pumpkin Spice flavor.
Finally, New York Bagel is another location that has become obsessed with pumpkin everything. Not only do they have Pumpkin Spice beverages, but they have pumpkin bagels and muffins, too.
For two dollars and some change you can enjoy a pumpkin iced coffee from New York Bagel, but the taste falls incredibly short of Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks.
But hey, at least there are options!
Not only has the flavor become a sensation, but the scent has as well. At Bath and Body Works, you will find several pumpkin-related seasonal fragrances.
If drinking pumpkin spice isn’t enough for you, you can also lotion and bathe yourself with Bath and Body Works’s “Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin” or “Marshmallow Pumpkin Latte.”
Just a few stores down from Bath and Body Works at the Dartmouth Mall, Yankee Candle also offers several pumpkin scents. They offer Apple Pumpkin, Pumpkin Buttercream, Pumpkin Pie, and Spiced Pumpkin.
These scents and fragrances aren’t necessarily called “Pumpkin Spice,” but it’s all the same idea.
These days, Pumpkin Spice is more than just a flavor. Some would argue that fall officially begins when Starbucks starts serving Pumpkin Spice Lattes once again.
Luckily, there are plenty of places around UMass Dartmouth where we can get our fix of Pumpkin Spice.