Everyone knows what fall brings, basic white girls and pumpkin spice everything. From lattes to pumpkin spice spam, it seems like it’s only getting more popular, but why? Why is America so obsessed with indulging in things marketed as pumpkin with no actual pumpkin flavor? Starbucks boosts sales by releasing holiday and limited time drinks, therefore making them in higher demand and more popular.

There are many reasons someone would want a pumpkin spice item. Could it be the warmness that we crave during the fall season, or that sugar makes our brain happy? According to analytics website The Conversation it’s both and more. What if i told you a main reason we love pumpkin spice things is social conformity? We feel a need to fit in and one part of that is drinking popular drinks.(Lewis 1)

It is also fueled by Starbucks promoting it as a ‘limited time offer’. Most people feel pressured to buy something when they know that it will end soon, and they have waited all year to have it. But could there be a scientific reason to it? According to Nicole Spector of NBC News, “It all comes down to smell.” Even though it may seem like we are tasting something, we are most likely smelling it. So, when something smells good we are probably going to think it tastes good, even if it doesn’t. (Spector 1)

Of course there are people who don’t like pumpkin spice stuff, and I envy them. They get to save money without feeling like they are missing something they love. Coffee drinks can be expensive. Americans spend up to $2,008 on coffee a year (Caldwalader 1). They could sail to the Caribbean or spend nine days at Disneyland for that amount. Are pumpkin spice drinks really worth it?

Cited
Lewis, Jordan Gaines. “Why Americans Are so Obsessed with Pumpkin Spice Everything – According to Science.” The Conversation, 23 Sept. 2019.

Spector, Nicole. “Why Do We like Pumpkin Spice so Much? The Weird Science behind PSL.” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, 20 Nov. 2017, www.nbcnews.com/better/health/why-do-we-pumpkin-spice-so-much-science-behind-psl-ncna815071.

Cadwalader, Zac. “How Much Do You Spend On Coffee Each Year?” Sprudge, 27 Aug. 2018, sprudge.com/how-much-do-you-spend-on-coffee-each-year-136082.html.

Emmiemartin. “6 Ways You Could Spend $1,000 Instead of on an IPhone X.” CNBC, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2017, www.cnbc.com/2017/10/31/6-things-you-could-do-with-1000-instead-of-buying-an-iphone-x.html.