Seasonal food trends expand with pumpkin spice and candy-inspired flavors

As autumn approaches, food and beverage companies are launching seasonal products to capitalize on fall trends. The pumpkin spice phenomenon, which traces its culinary roots back to 18th-century recipes and gained mainstream popularity via Starbucks in 2003, continues to drive significant economic activity. Recent explorations, such as the Hark Audio playlist ‘The Pumpkin Spice Industrial Complex’, examine the origins and economics of this polarizing seasonal flavor.

In addition to traditional spice profiles, companies are experimenting with unconventional flavor combinations. Wingstop has introduced a limited-time ‘Sour Patch Wicked Punch’ wing, featuring a sweet and tart red glaze inspired by Sour Patch Kids candy, complete with pulverized candy bits. Local establishments are also participating in the seasonal shift, offering specialized items such as nutmeg-dusted espresso martinis and butternut squash-based lattes.