8-14-2025 7:21am

McCormick's Invention

It wasn't until the 1930s that pumpkin spice was introduced as a blend. McCormick & Company introduced its pumpkin pie spice in 1934, just a few years after canned pumpkin first appeared on shelves. The company viewed the spice blend as a more convenient way for consumers to make a perfectly seasoned pie.

"It was also more economically friendly than buying individual jars of each spice needed to capture that perfect seasonal essence," a spokesperson for McCormick said.

The company does not have data on the original cost of the spice mix. The flavor of the 1934 pumpkin pie spice is believed to be similar to today's flavor and there has been no change to the company's formula since June 2002.

Today, 80% of the company's pumpkin pie spice sales are from the holiday season, according to McCormick. Interest increases in August and peaks in November.

Where pumpkin spice lattes are already brewing

The leaves may still be green and the temperatures blazing, but America's favorite fall flavor is already brewing.

Why it matters: The great pumpkin spice arms race is real.

What's happening: For people who just can't wait until fall, we are in "Augtober" and Summerween — when Halloween meets the summer heat and autumnal flavors creep into menus across the country.

Flashback: The pumpkin spice craze was born 23 years ago, when Starbucks debuted its Pumpkin Spice Latte — PSL, for short — in 2003.

Between the lines: Pumpkin spice isn't just a flavor — it's big business.

Starbucks' PSL alone pulls in around $500 million every season, according to MarketWatch.

By the numbers: Last fall, PSL demand spiked on Aug. 19, nearly two weeks earlier than it did in 2021, per DoorDash data.

And searches for "pumpkin spice" in July increased by 49% this year, according to Yelp data.

When is pumpkin spice season 2025

Weeks ago, the unofficial season began in grocery aisles.

Now, it's debuting at restaurants with brands slowly launching products.
Trader Joe's traditionally has launched pumpkin spice products by mid-September.

When is pumpkin spice available at places like Starbucks

This week, Krispy Kreme kicked off the spice parade when it brought back its Pumpkin Spice Original Glazed Doughnuts on Aug. 11, just through Aug. 17.