Photo: @Starbucks

For some people, chilly weather and cable knit sweaters are total autumnal vibes. But for others three letters and the scent of fall spices ring in the season. Yes it’s the Pumpkin Spice Latte and this year the hype is just around the corner (literally). Starbucks already launched the infamous fall favorite on August 27, it’s earliest drop date yet. Whether it’s served hot, as a frappe, or sold on supermarket shelves, all forms of the cult classic are taking over social media –– it comes as no surprise that the drink’s got a dedicated Twitter and Instagram

Its huge following shows that pumpkin spice has transcended into a lifestyle – say the three magic words at the Starbucks counter and people might already have an idea of you. But does the hype match up with its ingredients and whether or not it’s actually good for you? 

So here’s the breakdown of the PSL. According to Starbucks’s website, there are only six ingredients: milk, pumpkin spice sauce, brewed espresso, whipped cream, vanilla syrup, and pumpkin spice topping. But taking a deeper look, sugar, cream, and condensed milk are found in most of them. The only components that are reasonably healthy are the cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves found in the spice mix. Based on the nutrition round up, a grande PSL with 2% milk and whipped cream totals up to 14 grams of fat (8 grams of them from saturated fats) and a whopping 50 grams of sugar.

There are ways to avoid this by ordering a smaller size, skipping the whip, less syrup, or using an alternative milk like almond or oat. But that still doesn’t fully eliminate how unhealthy the drink is.

Don’t fret, here at BUBBLE there’s a cleaner way to get that pumpkin spice fix.

Lone Star Botanical’s Loose Leaf Pumpkin Tea has a rooibos tea base and is rich in vitamin C so you can get in the fall mood in a healthier way.