Pumpkin, cinnamon, apple, and candy corn are flavors many people think of when talking about the fall season. With the high availability of pumpkins especially in the New England area, people enjoy using this time of the year to incorporate pumpkin in many of their favorite foods and drinks.
Likewise, many associate peppermint, gingerbread, eggnog, sugarplum, and caramel with Christmas.
One of the most popular brands known for their holiday-inspired food and drinks is Starbucks. Despite the rage over Starbucks’ pumpkin spice latte and a variety of the other fall flavored beverages the brand offers, their exclusive flavor was only available until Nov. 1 before they switched their menus to include Christmas-themed drinks.
Many believe the fall drinks should remain on the menu for longer, while others think the Christmas drinks should come earlier.
“The drinks they have really set the mood for each holiday, but I would have to say I think I prefer Christmas flavors over fall flavors,” Starbucks customer Kylieann Craine, a Nonnewaug senior, said. “But there’s fall drink flavors I want them to keep during Christmas.”
“I really love their pumpkin spice latte, [but] they usually stop doing it during the early to mid winter,” customer Maddie Fitzmorris, a Nonnewaug senior, added.
With the chilly conditions and upcoming holidays, Starbucks’ sales tend to rise during the wintertime as their menu consists of a variety of coffees, lattes, frappuccinos, teas, refreshers, and assortments of snacks from sandwiches to cake pops. Most of these items come and go off of the menu depending on the season.
Every year around mid-November, Starbucks holds Red Cup Day at every location in the United States. They offer a free signature red Starbucks cup featuring a holiday design for every holiday drink order. This year’s Red Cup Day’ was held Nov. 16.
“I think Red Cup Day is a great opportunity for attracting customers to buy their Christmas-themed drinks,” Fitzmorris said.
Starbucks’ Red Cup Day encourages customers to order their holiday drinks, in addition to their fall and Christmas sweet treats like cake pops, cookies, danishes and more.
