I would be lying if I didn’t say that I’ve been waiting all week to spread the good news. No, not the Gospel (sorry for the joke, Mom). But this good news: Starbucks is giving its classic Pumpkin Spice Latte a makeover and using real pumpkin puree instead of caramel coloring and other nonsense.
You know why this is particularly exciting for me? I’m as basic as it gets in every way. I live in my lululemon leggings, I wear scarves the minute the temperature dips below 70 degrees, I crave Diet Coke like a MOFO when I’m stressed out, and when September comes around I want ALL THINGS PUMPKIN. The one thing I haven’t gotten on board with? The PSL. It’s just never tasted good to me. So who knows — maybe this change will bring me to full-fledged basic status.
How Much Do You Know About Food? I was really excited to rock the crap out of this test. And then I got 15/20…which, if I remember from high school, would be a D. So apparently I’m a fraud. You all can just close your browsers now. Damn you, Taramasalata!
I was recently coerced into buying $12 worth of chicken sausage at the store. Now, before you get all judgey, just hear me out. There were samples, it was a sweet old man selling them, we talked for a few minutes about all the dishes I could incorporate them into, AND he topped it all off with a coupon. SOLD.
I have been alllllllllll about that chicken sausage life since buying these. My roommate Emma and I have been putting our two selections in all the food: I’ve been slicing the Pineapple and Bacon and throwing it into my omelets every morning, and adding the Sun Dried Tomato sausages to pasta dishes. It’s been a magical, meaty few days.
I recently discovered a Forever Yogurt that is a straight up club. It’s located underground and the inside is lit up by neon lights. It’s right by my work and is going to make things very difficult from now on. Not only does Forever Yogurt have all the toppings imaginable, this place is like The Mid at 2am on a Saturday night, so once you’re in it feels like a froyo rave (how are these not a thing yet?)
Speaking of temptations near my work, a Goddess and Grocer opened up as well. Their sandwiches, baked goods, hot bar, etc. offer outstanding choices (remember the sandwich I got from there a few months ago?)
Well now I’m on their coffee kick. 1) because it’s killer coffee 2) because their sleeves all have different sayings on them. The first cup I read said: “Raisin cookies that look like chocolate chip cookies are the main reason I have trust issues.” I’ve been back a few days a week ever since just to see what the sleeve will say. Well played, Goddess. Well played.
Well that’s all I’ve got in the world of foodie news. Cutting edge journalism, as usual.
Questions:
- Raisin cookies: delicious in their own right or manipulative?
- PSL: can’t live with ’em or can’t live without ’em?
i had a big lunch 
That’s pretty awesome about the PSL – I might get one now!
I would so go to a froyo rave – sounds like perfection! dancing and sweet treats, yay! I have found a froyo place not far from me here in Perth! So good! We didn’t have any in Glasgow so I need to make up for lost time!
Now away to take that food test…
That’s so exciting that you now have easy access to froyo!
a froyo club?! whaaaa? so crazy and yet cool. re: PSL –> i’m so with you. i love all the pumpkin things but have never even considered ordering one of those b/c of 1) how ridiculously sweet they are (i’ve sipped one and couldn’t handle it) and 2) the nutritional facts are naht up my alley! hopefully the real pumpkin puree will be a huge change. have a lovely wknd, sweets!
I’m excited to give it a try! will report back 🙂
Ugh, raisin cookies are such a tease! It’s so upsetting when I think I’ve nabbed chocolate chip instead.
I usually have a couple PSLs during the fall season, so I’m excited to hear that Starbucks is at least starting to move in the right direction. Can’t wait for leggings/scarf season!
I know it’s terrible how excited I am for fall! I know summer is supposed to be the best but the minute fall is in the air I get so pumped.
I work at Starbucks, and find the PSL to be horrifying. Then again, I find ALL the sugar bomb nonsense wannabe coffee drinks horrifying. I wouldn’t touch the PSL with a 10ft pole. Hopefully the new version is better. HAHA. No shame in my Starbucks judgement.
Keep us all updated on the new PSL since you’re on the inside haha 🙂
I have always liked the PSL but can’t have it too often b/c it is super sweet. It’s more like an occasional dessert for me! But I’m sure it will be even better now with real pumpkin! Yay Starbucks! And I think that’s such a great idea having coffee cup sleeves with different sayings. Makes for an interesting morning for sure 🙂
I love the sleeves! It really puts a little extra zest into my morning 🙂 I’m not sure why I went with the word zest but let’s roll with it! Have a great weekend 🙂
I used to be all about the PSL until a couple years ago when I had it again and it tasted really artificial and gross. Now I am excited to check out this new one.
G&G is definitely delicious but I can’t spend like $10 on a bagel all the time. If only…
Yeah I stick with their coffee unless I’m really truly craving it. It’s expensive but oh so good. We’ll have to have a PSL date to test it out! blog research, of course 🙂
I don’t totally love PSLs because they make me feel super bloated and leave a sugary milky film on the inside of my mouth. EWW. Gross. I can drink one if I’m starving but otherwise they fill me up too much. I’d rather eat my calories. Like, I’m all about sausage all day long every day (twss).
Yesss I’ve been waiting for a TWSS joke about the sausages. I should’ve known it would come from you
Oh my gosh, yes, I feel like my level of basic hits an all time high in the Fall. Pumpkin everything, pinning October themes for days, leggings, bonfires, so good.
I totally own being basic. It’s a happy, carefree life haha
Raisin cookies are so deceptive- Tricking me that they are chocolate chips. I am stoked about the PSL news- It was always sickly sweet for me but now…I’m intrigued! Also, lets’ froyorave. Hashtag it too.
I’m down for that hashtag. Raisin cookies ARE deceptive — I mean they’re not BAD, but who would pick raisins over chocolate chips?
I’m actually not big on pumpkin stuff, and I have never tried a PSL. But I would be more likely to try it knowing that its actually made with pumpkin. i took that quiz and managed to get a 16, although i had alot of lucky guesses!
Haha good to know someone else struggled. Those questions were hard!
HAHAHA I know exactly which Forever Yogurt you’re talking about, though perhaps I haven’t been there at the right time of day, because I have never seen as much unclothed skin at that Forever Yogurt as I’ve seen at the Mid. Ohhhhhh the Mid. I can’t even talk about the Mid without saying, “Ohhhhhh the Mid.” Hahaha. (Completely unrelated side note: there’s a DJ/producer playing there next Saturday that I am dy.ing. to see after I missed his Lolla set, but the Mid isn’t exactly a place where you can ask just anybody to accompany you, you know? Like, you’ve got specific Mid-tolerant friends that will go along with you. Well, my only Mid-tolerant friend is going to be out of town that night, and I was like, “WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?????” Haha. Because ain’t no WAY I am flying solo at the Mid. No. Way. In. Hell. I also treasure the rest of my friendships way too much to ask any of my other friends to go along with me, especially since most of them don’t even like EDM, period, never mind trap, NEVER MIND the Mid. What a place. Let’s not discuss the number of times I’ve been there [though, to be fair, it’s always been to see whoever was playing, never to party for the sake of partying, and they *do* bring in some killer DJs]).
Anyway.
I get the excitement over Starbucks adding pumpkin to the PSL, but I have wondered: aren’t most people FAR more interested in the “S” aspect of a PSL rather than the “P” part? It seems to me like pumpkin spice is the actual delicious part of it — but because that combination of spices are associated with pumpkin things, we throw the pumpkin in there, because “Cinnamon Ginger Nutmeg Cloves Allspice Latte” is a bit more of a mouthful. The spices are what you really taste, yes? It’s not like the actual drink tastes like squash.
As usual you bring up a good point haha. The spice is where it truly is at. Great to see you this weekend!
I’ve actually never been a big fan of PSLs, either. Maybe the new natural pumpkin flavor will taste better to me? Not sure if it’s worth the $ to try it to me, but if you do and it’s good, report back and I’ll try it 🙂
You should get a rewards card there — I put $20 on it every few weeks and end up with tons of free stuff. It’s definitely worth it (especially since I’m a gold card member now … I feel like it’s totally fine for me to run in and use the bathroom now without buying anything cuz if anyone says anything I can just whip out my gold card haha)
I’m a little nervous about the new PSL. I think they tweaked the Gingerbread Latte a year or two back and it just wasn’t the same. Hope it still tastes as good! Although I know I’ll be lining up on the first day it’s back to try it. #PSLaddict 🙂
I’m hoping that the more natural change doesn’t make it just taste bad — it’s funny how quick we are to hate unnatural ingredients but half the time that’s the reason people love them so much. They don’t realize how great those ingredients make things taste! Haha I’ll be the first to admit it!
I’ve never had a PSL because I work at a coffee shop and refuse to buy coffee anywhere else. I think they are pricey drinks served by people who stick up their nose at me. I always feel so uncomfortable in a Starbucks because I also hate espresso.
I would be disappointed if I got raisin expecting chocolate chips, but I do like oatmeal raisin cookies in the fall 🙂 I go on a health kick with that haha
When I worked as a barista I didn’t visit a Starbucks once — why do that when you get coffee for free? Although now that I work next to one I go a bit too often and I’ve never experienced the snobbiness — sorry that’s been your experience! I do love a good oatmeal raisin cookie…but oatmeal chocolate chip is even better 🙂
You and I can be D students together because I scored 16/20. Whoops. I can’t live with pumpkin spice lattes. I tried one once and it tasted like cough syrup so I immediately threw it out. I’m really anti pumpkin spice out of principle.
Yeah I’m realllly excited to give the new one a shot because the original PSL was a sorry excuse for pumpkin spice. Glad another foodie didn’t do great on that quiz haha I had so much confidence going in!
I had a pumpkin spice latte once… it tasted like cough syrup. Not my jam for sure. I also scored a 16/20 on that quiz, so let’s be D students together.
LOL at being basic this fall :P. I’d be curious to try the PSL this season!
I’m excited for all of us to try it and give it a review!