This might strike some of you right in the feels, but I had my first pumpkin spice latte (PSL) today. I know. Bundled up together in this post will be my first ever experience, some opinions, and the benefits of this favorite fall drink!
I have heard many reasons why this latte has become a fan favorite. One opinion included below was shared by my sister-in-law after describing my plan for this post:
“Honestly, there is nothing better than the first pumpkin spice latte of the season. Leaves are falling, I have my scarf on and I am warmed from the inside out. I love it.”
My precious husband (her brother) responded with, “Should be a short post: pumpkin, spices, a latte”. His support is incredible, his advice invaluable as always.
The PSL is a staple through the fall months and is typically available to consumers from September through Christmas. Since its debut in 2013, over 200 million pumpkin spice lattes have been sold. Maybe that isn’t surprising for all of you? Drop a comment below if you or a friend make up a significant fraction of that 200 mil!
A quick search for common ingredients came up with this general consensus:
- milk or your choice
- pumpkin puree
- sugar
- vanilla extract
- pumpkin pie spice (cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and clove)
- coffee or espresso
- whip cream for serving
Now, there is and forever will be a massive debate around organic, genetically modified organisms (GMO), or preservative-containing products that I am going to avoid for now. This link here is an article from foodbabe that garnered a lot of attention about the Starbucks ingredients.
Whether or not you trust Starbucks or you don’t, you care or you don’t, or you will check back to my blog in the future for more information on this topic or you won’t is for you to decide.
However! We are going to focus on the spices here! Because it is truly these that create the comforting fall aroma so many have come to love.
Cinnamon: Cinnamon is the second most popular spice in the US after black pepper. It has plenty of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties which may lower your risk of disease. Cinnamon is heart healthy! It has been shown to lower blood pressure and cholesterol. It can be used for cleaning surfaces and for oral health because of its anti-fungal properties.
Ginger: Ginger is also high in anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties! It is useful for curbing various types of nausea and has been shown to reduce the day to day progression of muscle pain and may reduce exercise induced soreness. Ginger is also heart healthy with the potential to lower blood sugar levels and cholesterol. Interestingly, it appears to speed up the process of emptying the stomach which can help with indigestion and related stomach discomfort.
Nutmeg: Nutmeg has been shown to act as a mild pain reliever and can reduce the effects of insomnia by promoting relaxation and sleep. Some studies have suggested that nutmeg may eliminate toxins stored in the liver and kidneys and promote beneficial digestion. Like cinnamon, it has antibacterial components that fight bad breathe and improve oral health. Nutmeg is also great for the health and appearance of your skin.
Clove: Cloves contain fiber, vitamins, and minerals which are essential to your overall health. It is also high in antioxidants and has shown antimicrobial properties. It may protect and improve liver health, promote healthy insulin production and lower blood sugar all of which promote cardiovascular health.
These are wonderful things! However, it is important to keep in mind that each pumpkin spice latte has less than a teaspoon of all of these spices combined. While ‘too much of a good thing’ can be true for natural ingredients (and sometimes dangerous, plant based food items are rarely meant to be consumed in large doses), I encourage you to experiment with some other seasonal recipes this fall!
To get you started…..
- Healthy Pumpkin Muffins from Gimme some Oven (my favorite cooking blog)
- Pumpkin Spice Vinaigrette from Tablespoon
- Autumn Pumpkin Popcorn from Genius Kitchen
As for me, I found the drink to be surprisingly average. It was enjoyable, but I would not necessarily order it over some of Starbuck’s other warm drinks on the menu. I will also provide the disclaimer that pumpkin is not my go-to flavor, creating some potential bias. Also, I have been called a texture wuss so the thicker feeling of that pumpkin puree may have set me off.
For the PSL lovers out there, I am not surprised that this drink elicits a strong attachment to the emotions of fall. If I had one every September, I have no doubt that I would crave one each year when the leaves starting to turn.
Cheers to a season full of cinnamon, spice, and all things nice! I think that is how that saying goes.
xoxo Drifted Way
