The leaves are changing their vivid greens to warm yellow tones, picturesque sunsets are lighting up the sky earlier than ever, and the air is filled with *checks notes* 80% humidity. Yes, these are the dog days for you. While the calendar may say it's still shorts season, fall fans are eagerly counting down the days until they can swap their swimsuits for thick sweaters. For this passionate group, the season officially begins on August 24, when the beloved Pumpkin Latte makes its triumphant return at Starbucks for its 20th anniversary. Now, they're letting everyone know how excited they are with some seriously hilarious memes and tweets.
Believe it or not, there was a time when late summer was still summer, not just before fall. But things have never been the same since Starbucks introduced PSL to its menu 20 years ago. According to Starbucks, the drink was initially tested in 100 stores in 2003 and quickly became available nationwide the following year. The fan-favorite drink's recipe has only changed once in its 20 years in business: In 2015, Starbucks added real pumpkin puree to its pumpkin puree to enhance its authentic taste. Despite being an instant hit among fans, the company all but dropped the pumpkin drink from its annual rotation in favor of new products, but after social media took hold of PSL around 2006, the drink's fame reached a whole new level level.
From romanticizing fall on Tumblr, to turning the aesthetic into memes of its own, the pumpkin spice latte has been influencing cool-weather culture for two decades, and a quick scroll through your timeline will prove that its influence has never been greater. Take a trip down memory lane with these lol-worthy memes and posts from X.
Christian Girls Fall starts now.
I can't explain it, but this picture looks exactly like what a pumpkin spice latte tastes like.
Duality of PSL Stan.
Honestly, this is a tough pill to swallow.
If loving PSL is cool, then I don't want to be cool.
Okay, but where's the petition to make September the official start of spooky season? Because I'm ready.
This person gets it.
There are 20 more.
It feels like fall starts earlier and earlier every year, but given the response to the return of the pumpkin spice latte, fall fanatics have no choice. Happy birthday, PSL, to the legend you are this fall.
