Each year around the end of August, pumpkin spice latte returns. It’s everywhere, and not just in lattes. And you gotta admit, it’s pretty tasty. Who came up with the idea? There is credible evidence that the pumpkin spice latte was invented by singer Tori Amos.
Back in 1995, Tori played a show in Seattle, the home of Starbucks. She reportedly told the crowd, “You have all your Starbucks things. Well, I have one that tastes like pumpkin pie. It’s my own invention; it’s my contribution to Halloween. A little witch-warmer!” While it’s true that pumpkin-flavoured coffees existed before 1995, it wasn’t until 2003 that Starbucks officially unveiled their pumpkin spice latte.
Did someone from Starbucks pick up on Tori’s recipe and turn it into a cultural phenomenon? Hard to say, but it’s sure a good story.
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