If you’ve always wondered what the USA is raving about, now’s your chance. Starbucks’s iconic seasonal beverage, the Pumpkin Spice Latte (or PSL to enthusiasts), is coming to SA. It’s going on sale at the Rosebank and Mall of Africa stores from today, 1 September.

I mean, it does look kind of good, doesn’t it? Photo supplied.

So, what exactly is a pumpkin spice latte?

It does contain a small amount of pumpkin juice, but mostly it’s about the spices: a mix of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and clove. It’s espresso based and infused with these spices and a dash of vanilla syrup, before being topped with whipped cream and more pumpkin spice.

It is also a little pricey. A tall PSL is yours for R37, a grande R40 and a vente, R44.

What it is, mostly, is a magnificent feat of marketing. If social media is to be believed, the annual launch date (at what is the beginning of autumn in the USA) is a lovingly anticipated occasion.

It has inspired cookies

A photo posted by Allan Hursig (@thebeardedbakertx) on Aug 31, 2016 at 9:13am PDT

A range of knitwear

A photo posted by Amanda Abdala (@mandag433sknittingshop) on Aug 30, 2016 at 9:31am PDT

 

An Oreo flavour

A photo posted by Snack Cellar (@snackcellar) on Aug 29, 2016 at 6:49pm PDT

A doughnut recipe 

A photo posted by Davidson’s Safest Choice (@safeeggs) on Aug 30, 2016 at 4:02pm PDT

 

And, of course, a macaron flavour

A photo posted by BlanchTurnip (@blanchturnip) on Aug 29, 2016 at 5:36pm PDT