# History of October: The Pumpkin Spice Saga > HISTORY OF OCTOBER: THE PUMPKIN SPICE SAGA ctober, the tenth month of the year in both the older Julian and the current Gregorian calendar, was the eighth month (Latin octo) in the ancient Roman calendar, but with the addition of… > URL: https://billpetro.com/history-of-october/ > Last modified: 2026-10-01T13:19:06+00:00 Reading Time: 4 minutes ## HISTORY OF OCTOBER: THE PUMPKIN SPICE SAGA **October**, the tenth month of the year in both the older Julian and the current Gregorian calendar, was the eighth month (Latin *octo*) in the ancient Roman calendar, but with the addition of January and February, it got bumped to Number 10. The way it actually played out is that the months January and [February](https://billpetro.com/history-of-february/) were added under the Roman King **Numa** (c. 713 BC), but at first they sat at the *end* of the year. October only became Month 10 when the civil year moved its start to [January 1](https://billpetro.com/history-of-new-years-day/) (153 BC). This month is significant because, according to the modern Gregorian calendar, it is the first full month of Autumn, and of **Pumpkin Spice Latte **Season, initially promoted by **St. Starbucks**. Or at least that’s the way it’s *supposed* to be. But it has not always been so.   *Therein lies the saga of this [coffee](https://billpetro.com/history-of-coffee) concoction.*   Table of Contents Toggle - [Origin of Pumpkin Spice Latte](#Origin_of_Pumpkin_Spice_Latte) - [Pumpkin Spice Latte Release Date](#Pumpkin_Spice_Latte_Release_Date) - [Appearance of Pumpkin Spice Latte](#Appearance_of_Pumpkin_Spice_Latte) - [Pumpkin Seasonal Confusion](#Pumpkin_Seasonal_Confusion) - [Pumpkin Contenders](#Pumpkin_Contenders) - [Pumpkin Proliferation](#Pumpkin_Proliferation) - [Related](#Related) ### Origin of Pumpkin Spice Latte This concoction of caffeinated, seasoned squash (well, squash-*flavored* until 2015) with superheated, lactose-laden bovine emulsion was first tested as a seasonal beverage in 2003 and rolled out nationwide in 2004, early in this millennium. Its formulation has not always been the same, however. In 2015, Starbucks added *real* pumpkin ingredients, a novel concept, and eliminated some artificial flavors and colors.     ### Pumpkin Spice Latte Release Date The first day this popular drink goes on sale varies from year to year. This is related to, but distinct from, what is called [Christmas Creep](https://billpetro.com/history-of-black-friday). Christmas shopping and decorations – back in more civilized times – used to go up the day after Thanksgiving; then they moved to immediately after [Halloween](https://billpetro.com/history-of-halloween/); now you can find Christmas merchandise in Costco in [September](https://billpetro.com/history-of-september). And you can find 12-foot Halloween lawn skeletons in July. Pumpkin Spice Latte (**PSL**), according to climate scientists, appears to be suffering from *PSL Drift *instead.   ### Appearance of Pumpkin Spice Latte It once appeared after [Labor Day](https://billpetro.com/history-labor-day/) in September, but now it arrives in August. This year, it went on sale at various times across the country on *August 25* (technically [Summer](https://billpetro.com/science-of-the-summer-solstice/), if you think about it), and they announced it on August 3 during high *Summer*! Sometimes there is *early access*, about 5 days earlier for select customers, depending on whether they have the Starbucks Rewards app and follow the magic account on X/Twitter (more later). This is among the earliest it has ever been available since the time of the Roman Empire:     ### Pumpkin Seasonal Confusion PSL Drift is wreaking havoc with the beginning and end of Seasons. Drinks like **Peppermint Mocha** were relatively well-behaved, confining themselves to the Winter Season. PSL, on the other hand, is a “crossover” beverage that spans both Summer and Fall… “for a limited time only.” That’s two seasons! It’s becoming like DST ([Daylight Saving Time](https://billpetro.com/history-of-daylight-saving-time)), which now comprises *most* of the year. PSL’s introduction each year has become the de facto harbinger of Fall, regardless of the astronomical importance of the [Autumnal Equinox](https://billpetro.com/history-of-the-fall) in September or the changing of the [Aspen](https://billpetro.com/history-of-the-aspen) leaves. And when we say Pumpkin Spice *Latte*, latte is Italian for milk, though not necessarily a cow’s. Starbucks offers some of its drinks with Almond Milk or Oat Milk. Now you can be kind to a cow. To add to the confusion, you need to be careful how you order it; you may not get the spicy hot cup o’ joe: it now comes as Pumpkin Spice *Latte*, Pumpkin Spice *Frappuccino Blended Beverage*, and Pumpkin Cream *Cold Brew* – the cold brew outsold the latte in recent years!   ### Pumpkin Contenders But wait, in recent years,** Dunkin’ **donut shops announced that its fall menu would launch on August 19 with Pumpkin, with several stores changing their names from Dunkin’ to *Pumpkin’*. In 2023, they added *Dunkalatte*. Heck, **Emma “Baby Spice” Bunton** and **Geri “Ginger Spice” Halliwell-Horner** are appearing in a commercial to reveal they once had a little-known, fiercely devoted sixth bandmate: *Pumpkin Spice*, portrayed by comedian and actress **Rachel Dratch**. See it [*here.*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MukMhlAcs0g)      Also, they have a ready-to-drink spiked iced coffee and tea line, including the Dunkin’ Spiked Pumpkin Spice Iced Latte. Is a donut shop that also sells coffee marketing a 6% ABV drink? (Boston Beer Co. makes it under license.)   Dunkin’ Spiked Pumpkin Spice. Dunkin’   And that’s not all: their partnership with **Harpoon Brewery** includes additional *donut-themed* beers, such as Boston Kreme Stout, Jelly Donut IPA, and Coffee Porter. This serial success has led Dunkin’ to team up with **Post Cereals** to promote* Dunkin’ Caramel Macchiato* and *Mocha Latte*. Now, they’ve added Pumpkin Creme Cold Brew. Flipz is selling Pumpkin Spice Donut-Flavored Covered Pretzels as a co-branded item. Speaking of cereal, General Mills is selling Pumpkin Spice Cheerios. Limited edition, thank goodness.   Pumpkin Spice Cheerios. Image: [Cheerios.com](https://www.cheerios.com/products/pumpkin-spice-cheerios)   **Dutch Bros Coffee** sells Pumpkin Frost, Pumpkin Cold Brew, Pumpkin Chai, and Pumpkin Pie Breve, but they’re not fooling anyone. It’s PSL War!       ### Pumpkin Proliferation With over 600 million sold (shades of McDonald’s, which itself brought back its *McCafe Pumpkin Spice Latte*), an annual run rate of 20 million cups, and sales of an estimated $800M, PSL has become a cult, like buying Apple products. There is even an official Twitter account with 96 thousand followers: [@TheRealPSL](http://twitter.com/TheRealPSL). It has its own hashtag: [#PSL](https://twitter.com/search?q=%23PSL&src=typeahead_click). And let’s face it, when you’ve got your own hashtag, you’ve essentially made it.   But that’s not all. There are now pumpkin spice Listerine, ramen, liquor, M&M’s, Skittles, Peeps, Pringles, Crest, Oreos, Mini-Wheats, Cheerios, Philadelphia cream cheese, Twinkies, yogurt, ice cream, gelato, peanut butter, energy bars, cookie straws, candles, shampoo, butter, pretzels, deodorant, vitamins, dog food, and even spaghetti sauce.   The Pumpkin Spice Industrial Complex is now a $1.2 billion market. Who knows, with *Seasonal Beverage Fatigue*, next, they’ll be putting this flavoring in pies. *Is nothing sacred?*   Bill Petro, your friendly neighborhood historian [billpetro.com](https://billpetro.com) [*Subscribe*](http://g003.enterprise.ipost.com/billpetrofriend/prefs) to receive future articles by email.  comment. ### *Related* [](https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fbillpetro.com%2Fhistory-of-october%2F&linkname=History%20of%20October%3A%20The%20Pumpkin%20Spice%20Saga)[](https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/x?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fbillpetro.com%2Fhistory-of-october%2F&linkname=History%20of%20October%3A%20The%20Pumpkin%20Spice%20Saga)[](https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/pinterest?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fbillpetro.com%2Fhistory-of-october%2F&linkname=History%20of%20October%3A%20The%20Pumpkin%20Spice%20Saga)[](https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/linkedin?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fbillpetro.com%2Fhistory-of-october%2F&linkname=History%20of%20October%3A%20The%20Pumpkin%20Spice%20Saga)[](https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/mastodon?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fbillpetro.com%2Fhistory-of-october%2F&linkname=History%20of%20October%3A%20The%20Pumpkin%20Spice%20Saga)[](https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/threads?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fbillpetro.com%2Fhistory-of-october%2F&linkname=History%20of%20October%3A%20The%20Pumpkin%20Spice%20Saga)[](https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/bluesky?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fbillpetro.com%2Fhistory-of-october%2F&linkname=History%20of%20October%3A%20The%20Pumpkin%20Spice%20Saga)[](https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/reddit?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fbillpetro.com%2Fhistory-of-october%2F&linkname=History%20of%20October%3A%20The%20Pumpkin%20Spice%20Saga)[](https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/tumblr?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fbillpetro.com%2Fhistory-of-october%2F&linkname=History%20of%20October%3A%20The%20Pumpkin%20Spice%20Saga)[](https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/kindle_it?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fbillpetro.com%2Fhistory-of-october%2F&linkname=History%20of%20October%3A%20The%20Pumpkin%20Spice%20Saga)[](https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/snapchat?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fbillpetro.com%2Fhistory-of-october%2F&linkname=History%20of%20October%3A%20The%20Pumpkin%20Spice%20Saga)[](https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/email?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fbillpetro.com%2Fhistory-of-october%2F&linkname=History%20of%20October%3A%20The%20Pumpkin%20Spice%20Saga)[](https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/print?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fbillpetro.com%2Fhistory-of-october%2F&linkname=History%20of%20October%3A%20The%20Pumpkin%20Spice%20Saga)[](https://www.addtoany.com/share)