Pumpkin spice season heating up despite summer weather
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The early Halloween push known as Summerween is making way for "Augtober" and the pumpkin spice season.
Why it matters: The arrival of the fall flavor signals the unofficial seasonal switch despite the extreme summer heat.
- It also kicks off the annual debate over whether it's too soon for fall flavors and if "pumpkin everything" fanfare has gone too far.
- Retailers have been pushing out Halloween merchandise earlier than ever this year, including 12-foot skeletons, which Home Depot reveals in April.
Flashback: The pumpkin spice craze was born 21 years ago, when Starbucks debuted its Pumpkin Spice Latte — or PSL for short — in 2003.
When is pumpkin spice season 2024
The dates of the season change every year but products have been available for several weeks at grocery stores.
- Axios has spotted Chobani pumpkin spice yogurt and creamers, a new International Delight pumpkin cold foam creamer, pumpkin spice Cheerios and pumpkin beer.
What we're watching: Trader Joe's usually releases its massive pumpkin selection in early to mid-September.
7-Eleven and Krispy Kreme pumpkin spice coffee
Zoom in: 7-Eleven kicked off the season Aug. 1 with the return of pumpkin coffee and a new pumpkin-flavored Slurpee.
- Krispy Kreme's pumpkin spice cake doughnut and pumpkin spice latte returned Monday, which was five days later than in 2023.
- "It's August and we're all ready for pumpkin spice, somehow," Dave Skena, Krispy Kreme global chief brand officer, said in a statement.
What's next: Carvel brings back its pumpkin cheesecake items Thursday and Smoothie King's pumpkin line-up arrives Aug. 20 for loyalty members.
Dunkin' and Starbucks pumpkin spice plans
Between the lines: Starbucks and Dunkin' pumpkin products are available in grocery stores but the chains haven't announced when their fall menus will start.
- In 2023, Dunkin's pumpkin menu launched Aug. 16 and Starbucks returned Aug. 24.
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