Skip the Pumpkin Spice this Fall Season

It’s the seasonal beverage that many love and some downright hate. About mid-September (sometimes earlier) we start seeing pumpkin spice lattes in our favorite coffee shops, restaurants, and gas stations.

If you are one of the many that love pumpkin spice drinks, you should at least be informed about what’s in these seasonal drinks.

What Makes a Pumpkin Spice Latte Taste Like a Pumpkin Pie?

Pumpkin spice lattes and other beverages are intended to taste like a pumpkin pie. More

specifically, they are intended to replicate the flavors that go into a pumpkin pie, such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger.

But these ingredients, while in the pie, aren’t really in the drinks. Instead, the flavor comes from a scientifically-manufactured mixture of compounds that mimic the flavors. According to an article written by Dan Charles of NPR, these compounds essentially trick our minds into thinking we are tasting pumpkin pie. Depending on the product, there can be numerous artificial flavors in your pumpkin spice latte, as well as plenty of sugars to add to the sweetness. (Sugar, just like pumpkin pie!)

While we’re on the subject, it’s worth mentioning the nutritional content of a pumpkin spice latte. According to Starbuck’s website, a 16-ounce pumpkin spice latte with 2% milk and whipped cream has 380 calories, 40% of your daily saturated fat, and 18% of your daily cholesterol. By comparison, a 12-ounce ORAC Tea has 90 calories, zero saturated fat, and zero cholesterol!

Of course, pumpkin spice is not advertised as a health food, but it still help to understand the difference and, if needed, find new healthy fall drinks.

ORAC Beverages, LLC

– Drink well. Live well. Feel well. –