If your favourite thing about fall is the Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL), then we’re here to give you the counselling you need in order to break your addiction…
We’re sorry to break it to you, but the Pumpkin Spice Latte is dated (introduced in 2003; along with iTunes, Finding Nemo, Clay Aiken from American Idol and the 5th Harry Potter book) and can pack up to 520 calories.
Plus they’re overpriced, and there’s just so much more that you can do with your tastebuds and your money (like travel!).
Break your PSL shackles – here’s how:
If you can’t leave the PSL flavour behind
1. DIY PSL for a healthier and cheaper option
This version contains real pumpkin and cuts out the refined sugars.
2. Go herbal
Switch your morning bevvy and try pumpkin spiced tea instead. You’ll save the calories AND you can sleep for an extra 10 minutes when you cut the coffee shop queue out of your morning routine.
3. Make it a meal
Your whole breakfast can be deliciously PSLy with amazing inventions like Pumpkin Spice Latte Overnight Oats.
If you’re ready for a newer, better drink to obsess over
We’ve scoured all of the food trend sites and these 8 drinks are the new PSLs of the future. Get ahead of the wave and try out these future classics before they’re mainstream:
4. Chai Latte
Keep the spices you’re so fond of (cinnamon, cloves), and the latte frothiness and switch out the coffee for tea. Oprah’s even on board with her own Starbucks version, and you can make it at home as well.
5. Cinnamon
As another key element of the PSL flavour, cinnamon can be added to your current bland bevvies for a bit of a kick without the syrups and calories.
6. Matcha
Matcha is basically green tea on steroids, and as the matcha-flavoured phenomenon spreads, the matcha lattes, cocktails and snacks will surely take over your favourite coffee shop as well. Did we mention that it’s also packed with antioxidants? Double win.
7. Sweet and savoury
Chocolate/ caramel and sea salt, citrus and mint – the pairings of sweet and salty/ savoury aren’t going anywhere, and the future looks bright for them in drink form too.
8. Plant based
Hey, pumpkins are plants, right? Explore further into the plant-based trend and pull out amazing flavours like almond and coconut (both whole or in milk form),
9. Honey
More and more people are putting down the syrups and sugar shakers for the natural sweetness of honey, and it goes so damn well in every bevvy.
10. Heat
If you love those PSL cloves, the spice of Asian teas like cardamon, ginger and masala will be right up your alley as well. With the popularity of peppers and sriracha on the rise we wouldn’t be surprised to see that incorporated into the beverage world as well.
