As the wind picks up and the air cools down, the season of fall drinks rolls back around. Among all the festivities jammed into one season, the return of seasonal drinks is arguably an anticipated one. Whether it’s a pumpkin spice latte or a classic hot chocolate, the perfect beverage brings the hint of comfort that makes fall, fall.
The drink that has come to symbolize the autumn season is the iconic pumpkin spice latte. The pumpkin spice latte, one of the most highly anticipated seasonal drinks, is only available for a limited time each year, usually from the very end of summer to the start of the christmas season. Pumpkin spice is a mixture of ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon, the spices that are used in classic fall foods like pumpkin pie, instantly bring up those fuzzy feelings of nostalgia.
Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte is one of their most well-known beverages, bringing crowds to their doorsteps every fall. A staple of the ‘autumn girl fall’ lifestyle, the pumpkin spice latte is practically everywhere.
If you’re not the biggest coffee fan, Apple Chai is two fall classics into one drink; the apple pie and pumpkin spice. It has tinges of apple flavor, but just enough where it’s not overbearing. The apple pairs greatly with the chai, creating a top-tier fall drink.
Chai lattes are spice-packed, which makes them a perfect drink for fall. This drink is great for those who prefer flavorful drinks but want a break from stereotypical autumn flavors. If you want to save money, you can make them at home! All you have to do is brew some black tea, add milk, ground your spices, and add sweetener, if you wish.
Isabella Gallego, a sophomore, insists that “the Arnold Palmer is a fall drink. It’s a mix of sweet tea and lemonade. It sounds summer-like, but it really is fall.”
Although her opinion that sweet tea is a fall drink may be unpopular, Mr. Seger agrees, as his “favorite fall drink is sweet tea” as well.
Even if their favorite drinks aren’t what comes to mind immediately when thinking of fall, if it brings the right vibes, then it’s the perfect drink.
Hot chocolate is a traditional cold-weather favorite, and with a few alterations, you can turn it into the ultimate fall drink. Zoriel Beneby, a sophomore, shares: “I don’t really have a favorite fall drink, I have to think about it. But if I had to say, I would say pumpkin spice hot cocoa. I just add pumpkin spice creamer or cinnamon, and it tastes like pumpkin spice.”
Adding a hint of cinnamon or nutmeg to your usual hot cocoa makes an easy spiced version, or you can take the long route. With some syrup, pumpkin puree, spice, and brown sugar, you can make your own pumpkin spice hot cocoa. If you want to be fancy, add whipped cream and sprinkle cute little marshmallows on top for a cafe-like finish.
Apple cider is another delicious autumn beverage that is not coffee. Although It frequently gets confused with apple juice, apple cider is unfiltered, giving it a powerful flavor in comparison to apple juice.
Fall is the season when the world cools down and prepares for the often harsh weather (not in Florida, though), and doubles as the best time to settle into your bed every weekend, sip your beverage of choice, and say goodbye to the tensions of the week. Grab your favorite drink, whether it’s chai or coffee, or anything else, and enjoy your fall, Noles.