Pumpkin Flavored Foods 2023

Each year I look forward to the fall and businesses start rolling out the pumpkin flavored items as early as August. Here are the products that I tried this year.

Kettle Head Popcorn Pumpkin Spice

I really do not understand why people do not get that pumpkin spice is a complex flavor of different spices and that there should be some type of pumpkin taste. This popcorn just tasted like cinnamon and nothing else. I'm not a fan of cinnamon so I wouldn't buy this again. I found this product at Dry Dock's South Dock location. Tried October 2023.

Dry Dock Pumpkin Beers
On The Left: Pumpkin Pie a la mode. A dark beer whose bitterness overpowered any subtle flavor they were going for. The only thing that you could really taste was the cinnamon. This beer needs a lot of help and I would not recommend it. Tried October 2023.

On The Right: Half Moon Pumpkin. Still not really strong in any pumpkin or spice flavor, but at least this one was smooth. I could drink this one again, but I don't know if I would actively buy it. Tried October 2023.

Paris Baguette's Pumpkin King Cream Donut
I was disappointed in the flavor because I had to question if there was any pumpkin flavor in it. I only think they called it pumpkin because of how it looked and that they made the cream inside this weird orange/pink color. It was still yummy, but pumpkin flavored it was not. Tried October 2023.

Trader Joe's Honey Roasted Pumpkin Ravioli
These were really good. Real pumpkin/squash flavor. The only problem is the packet was so small. It may have been enough for 1 person if they weren't really hungry let alone trying to split it for 2 people. I would say you would need to have 1.5 packages per adult even if you have a side to go with it.

Krispy Kreme

Krispy Kreme Pumpkin Spice Frozen Latte. This in a way did taste like a blended up pumpkin pie. It was not just the spice mix flavor, but there was also so actual pumpkin flavor. At the same time the flavor was weak. I think they added in too much of the other blending ingredients and not enough of the flavoring. It was also super think with ice that then watered it down as it melted.

Top Left: Pumpkin Spice Cake Doughnut- Dry and dense. There was the spice flavor, but no pumpkin flavor. 

To Right: Pumpkin Spice Maple Pecan Doughnut- Dry and dense, but not as much as the cake doughnut. This one there was a sweet nut flavor that overpowered the pumpkin spice and the sweet was just sweet with no essence of maple.

Bottom Left: Pumpkin Spice Original Glazed Doughnut- Slightly dry and dense, but not as much as the cake doughnut. This was just weird to me. I'm used to their original glazed being super light and fluffy, but I have no idea what they did to this doughnut to kill it. You would think if they were just adding spice to their normal batter that the consistency would be about normal, but this was way different and not in a good way.

Bottom Right: Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake Swirl Doughnut- Dry and dense, but not as much as the cake doughnut. Adding the cheesecake swirl really didn't do anything for the doughnut besides to help cut some of the dryness.

All of these doughnuts did not match the quality of Krispy Kreme doughnuts that I am used to. I don't know if the ones I got were a few days old, but they did not seem fresh at all and this added to their dryness and density. It's sad because I normally compare all other doughnuts to Krispy Kreme and this time I was entirely let down.

Dunkin' Nutty Pumpkin Coffee

The nut flavor overpowered any pumpkin flavor it may have had in it. I didn't get any pumpkin flavor at all. There was also a lot of dairy in it that even helped to mute the nut flavor. If you tell people something is flavored a specific way, then you better bring the flavor and Dunkin' failed this year. Tried September 2023.

Ziggi's Ice Pumpkin Latte
This one the coffee flavor overpowered the pumpkin flavor and it also had a slightly burnt taste. Tried August 2023.

Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino
It was ok. They need to dial up the pumpkin flavor a little, but you can always ask for extra syrup. tried October 2023.

Wendy's Pumpkin Spice Frosty
This was actually good. Compared to the weak flavor that their other frosty drinks have, this one you actually got the taste. I was was kind of link a liquid pumpkin pie. I would also recommend only getting a small one because the flavor kind of builds the more you drink. Tried September 2023.

Starbucks Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread Frappuccino
This is a new Starbucks drink I came up with. Order the Java Chip Frappuccino, then add the pumpkin spice flavoring and it comes out tasting like chocolate chip pumpkin bread. I would recommend 8-10 pumps of the syrup for a large and no less then 5 for a small.

Pumpkin Spice Latte from Nordstrom eBar
Not as good as many of the other drinks that they normally have, but it was better then the pumpkin spice at Starbucks. Yes I said it and I will stand by it. Also so you know that pumpkin spice at 7/11 is also better the Starbucks. There you don't have to modify it at all. Tried November 2023.


An interesting article on the positive benefits of pumpkin spice is "The Surprising Health Benefits of Pumpkin Spice, According to an Expert" - https://www.eatingwell.com/article/8073708/health-benefits-of-pumpkin-spice/

Top Picture From: https://fabulousarizona.com/arizona-best/sustainable-lifestyle-fall-pumpkins-and-spices/

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