We know fall is right around the corner when temperatures begin to cool, leaves start to turn, "Gilmore Girls" marathons initiate, and stores bring out autumn-themed decor and mugs that read "hello pumpkin."
One of the epitomes of fall is Starbucks' famed pumpkin spice latte, which releases on Aug. 30 this year. The coveted blend of pumpkin, nutmeg, cinnamon, and clove can send you into a feral fall frenzy, even as the heat of summer persists.
The PSL is not just a beverage but a pop-culture icon –– when Starbucks released the first PSL in 2003, it was a cultural reset, let's be honest.
Its popularity has exploded beyond Starbucks, with other coffee brands releasing their version and food products, like Oreo and KitKat producing PSL options.
Even as delicious as these drinks are, they can make a dent in your bank account at around $4.95 for a grande and $5.25 for a venti. And with a 5% price increase on Starbucks items from last year, this dent will be bigger than usual.
For the dedicated Starbucks aficionados, getting to-go coffee five days a week can run a tab up to $2,300 annually.
In this economy?! No.
This fall, the girlies are making our PSLs at home and saving our coin.
Making your own pumpkin spice syrup is super simple. It lasts for weeks, and tastes the same as store-bought syrups. Plus, when you make the recipe, you can customize it to your liking.
Here's an aesthetic video by The Thrift Witch (@thethriftwitch) demonstrating how you can make your own pumpkin spice latte syrup at home.
@thethriftwitch Reply to @xo_belinda FULL RECIPE✨☕️🎃🍂enjoy!! 🧡 #happy #pumpkinspiceseason#psl#homemadesyrup#coffeetok#pumpkinspicesyrup ♬ Strange - Celeste
The recipe calls for two cups of brown sugar, half a cup of pumpkin puree, one tablespoon of pumpkin spice, and one and a half cups of water.
Mix these ingredients into a pot and simmer on medium heat for five to seven minutes for a thin syrup, or 15 to 17 minutes for a thick syrup. For a smoother consistency, strain the syrup and save the pulp for pumpkin bread.
It can last from 2 weeks to a month in the fridge –– if you don't devour it by then.
Combine the syrup with your favorite milk and coffee, and voila you have your very own homemade PSL.
The pumpkin-spiced cherry on top of making your own syrup is that it can help the planet by cutting down on coffee cup pollution.
It is estimated that Starbucks serves over 4 billion drinks in its paper cups every year –– meaning 4 billion cups are added to our landfills each year.
When we hear about paper cups, we often think they're better for the planet than their plastic counterparts. But what most don't realize is that the inside of each paper cup is lined with a thin plastic film to keep your drink intact –– although useful, it means these cups will have a difficult time breaking down naturally, and that they cannot be recycled.
The plastic cups that hold cold drinks aren't much better. The plastic recycling receptacles at fast-food establishments often lead into a trash bin, fooling customers into thinking the company is recycling responsibly.
Using a reusable coffee cup can help reduce the number of coffee cups that pollute our planet, and if you want someone else to make your drink every once in a while, a reusable cup can take 10 cents off your order at Starbucks.
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