As we enter fall and winter, there are many new seasonal foods and drinks to try, from lattes to pumpkin bread. Now is the time to try all of the exciting fall treats.

Starbucks is always a reliable option when it comes to coffee, and they also have a festive drink and food menu. As autumn arrived, Starbucks brought back some delicious fall favorites.

The seasonal fall drink menu included the Pumpkin Spice Latte, Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, Salted Caramel Mocha and the Salted Caramel Mocha Frappuccino blended beverage. They also offered a few specialty food options, such as the Pumpkin Scone and Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin. 

I decided to try the Pumpkin Spice Latte, with the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew and the Chai Latte. The Pumpkin Spice Latte and Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew are limited edition fall items, whereas the Chai Latte is on the menu year round.

While the Chai Latte is not a specialty drink, it had a strong spice element that to me, was reminiscent of fall. It was especially festive when ordered hot. It has just the right amount of sweetness and spice, and has a light foam with cinnamon to top it off. The combination of the warm flavors and chilly temperature  created a very cozy, holiday feel.

The Pumpkin Spice Latte was sweet and flavorful. It was very creamy, and the spice element was subtle but added to the flavor. It comes with whipped cream and pumpkin spice mix on top. It tasted almost just like pumpkin pie.

The Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew had a much stronger coffee flavor, so it might not be for everyone. It comes with an iced cold brew on the bottom, topped off with pumpkin cream and some spices. It comes in a “sippy” lid, allowing you to drink the cream and coffee together, which I think complemented each other well. 

Another popular coffee spot, Dunkin Donuts, also has some fall specialty items on its menu. I tried the Pumpkin Munchkins, Apple Cider Donut, and Pumpkin Spice Latte. 

The Munchkins were a glazed pumpkin cake donut and the Apple Cider Donut was a cake donut with an apple cider flavor. The Pumpkin Spice Latte did not come with any toppings, unlike the Starbucks version. 

While the Pumpkin Spice Latte was also very flavorful, it was a little over the top with sweetness. It was not quite as creamy, but it had a little bit more of a spice element than Starbucks’ rendition. 

The Pumpkin Donuts were my favorite thing that I tried. The center was light, cakey, had a fall spice flavor and the glaze added the perfect amount of sweetness and texture. The Apple Cider Donut was a little drier, and didn’t have quite as much flavor, but reminded me of apple pie.  

While all the fall items I tried were delicious, my favorite food was the Pumpkin Munchkins and my favorite drink was the Hot Chai Latte. The warmth of the Chai Latte and the flavor of the Munchkins had a nostalgically warm, fall feel, perfect for the holiday season.