Ever since coffee shop chain Starbucks first added the Pumpkin Spice Latte to its menu in 2003, the drink has become a staple for everyone who wants a taste of pumpkin in a mug. However, a new drink has been conquering the internet for a while now, one that is perfect for those who don’t like coffee: the Pumpkin Spice Matcha Latte.
Was Starbucks the inventor of the Pumpkin Spice Latte? We’ll probably never know, but the coffee shop chain most certainly was responsible for the immense popularity of the drink. Traditionally only available at Starbucks during autumn, the drink gets added to the seasonal menu a bit earlier every year, a testament to its popularity.
A green-hued autumnal drink
However, after a more than 20-year reign, the Pumpkin Spice Latte era might soon come to an end. Made with the popular matcha instead of caffeine, the Pumpkin Spice Matcha Latte is said to be milder in taste and perfect for anyone who doesn’t like coffee or the immediate spike in energy it can provoke. Instead, matcha is widely considered to have a range of health benefits, attributed to its antioxidant properties and alleged anti-inflammatory effect. Moreover, its typical lemon green colour is easily recognisable and scores well on social media.
Starbucks fans all over the world are increasingly under the spell of a drink that was part of the so-called secret menu – a list of drinks only available upon special request to the barista, requiring the customer to give clear instructions on how to prepare it. The Pumpkin Spice Matcha Latte used to be one of them, but due to its growing popularity, Starbucks has now made it part of its temporary offers on the app.
However, when the drink is not available through the offers tab on the app or when one wants to order a Pumpkin Spice Matcha Latte in real life, this still requires a list of instructions to be given to the barista:
- Ask for a Grande Iced Matcha Latte.
- Add oat milk instead of 2% milk.
- Remove the classic syrup.
- Add two pumps of brown sugar syrup, one pump of pumpkin sauce, pumpkin cream cold foam, and pumpkin spice topping.
Before ordering a Pumpkin Spice Matcha Latte or trying to make one, however, it is worth noting that the surge in matcha demand over the recent years has led to some discontent and even shortages in Japan. Local producers are specifically asking everyone not to mix the different kinds of matcha and not to use the so-called ceremonial-grade matcha for other purposes, making sure it remains available to those who wish to enjoy it in its traditional form.
