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Tis the Season of Pumpkin Spice – The Ultimate Taste Test
With Halloween approaching fast, it is now the official time of Pumpkin Spice. Since Starbucks created the Pumpkin Spice Latte back in the 2003, the flavor of Pumpkin Spice is the ultimate craze this time of year. It is a trend that seems to be getting more and more popular each year. Retailers keep creating seasonal additions of products in Pumpkin Spice. Here at The Creative Pack we wanted to be a part of the fun and try an assortment of Pumpkin flavored products. Also since we are a design studio, we couldn’t help but review the packaging design of the products as well. While Trader Joe’s provides you everything you can think of and more in a pumpkin flavor, we wanted to get a variety of different products from a variety of different grocery stores. We created the ultimate Pumpkin Review!
MEET OUR TASTING PANEL –
Danielle
Are you a fan of pumpkin spice?
Not really
Have you tried the original Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte? If so, do you like it?
No I haven’t
Heather
Are you a fan of pumpkin spice?
Yes
Have you tried the original Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte? If so, do you like it?
No I haven’t
Fern
Are you a fan of pumpkin spice?
I am not a fan
Have you tried the original Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte? If so, do you like it?
I have, and do not like it at all
Emma
Are you a fan of pumpkin spice?
No, not really. I can go the whole season without getting one Pumpkin Spice thing
Have you tried the original Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte? If so, do you like it?
No I haven’t!
Paola
Are you a fan of pumpkin spice?
I like the pumpkin spice flavor, but when it’s too “spicy” (cinnamony…) I’m not a big fan.
Have you tried the original Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte? If so, do you like it?
Not that I remember
Casey
Are you a fan of pumpkin spice?
Yes, but for certain foods and beverages
Have you tried the original Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte? If so, do you like it?
I used to love ordering it every fall and would look forward to it, but now not so much
THE JUDGING –
The products were judged 1-5 with 1 being bad and 5 being amazing for both taste and packaging design. We also judged the products based on their “pumpkin factor” or how much does the product have a pumpkin taste with 1 being mild and 5 being strong.
Below is the list of each of the products we tried, what grocery store they are from and the average rating of the 6 judges.
We also added some local favorites from Manhattan Bread and Bagel just for the fun of it!
Sprouts Pumpkin Kombucha (Sprouts)
Taste: 3
Packaging Design: 2.5
Pumpkin Flavor (Mild to Strong): 2.5 (Mild / Medium)
Califia Pumpkin Spice Latte Cold Brew (Whole Foods)
Taste: 2
Packaging Design: 3.5
Pumpkin Flavor (Mild to Strong): 3 (Medium)
Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte (Target)
Taste: 2
Packaging Design: 3.5
Pumpkin Flavor (Mild to Strong): 3.5 (Medium/ Strong)
Cheerios Pumpkin Spice (Target)
Taste: 4
Packaging Design: 3.5
Pumpkin Flavor (Mild to Strong): 2 (Mild)
Noosa Pumpkin Yogurt (Whole Foods)
Taste: 4.5
Packaging Design: 4
Pumpkin Flavor (Mild to Strong): 4 (Strong)
Simply Elizabeth Pumpkin Spice Granola (Whole Foods)
Taste: 3
Packaging Design: 3
Pumpkin Flavor (Mild to Strong): 3 (Medium)
Trader Joes Pumpkin Spice Cinnamon Rolls (Trader Joes)
Taste: 4.5
Packaging Design: 3
Pumpkin Flavor (Mild to Strong): 4 (Medium / Strong)
Nature Path Pumpkin Spice Waffles (Whole Foods)
Taste: 3
Packaging Design: 3
Pumpkin Flavor (Mild to Strong): 3 (Medium)
Little Secrets Spiced Pumpkin Pie Chocolate Pieces (Whole Foods)
Taste: 2
Packaging Design: 3
Pumpkin Flavor (Mild to Strong): 3 (Medium)
Pumpkin Spice Oreos (Target)
Taste: 4
Packaging Design: 2
Pumpkin Flavor (Mild to Strong): 3 (Medium)
Trader Joes Pumpkin Spice Caramel Corn (Trader Joes)
Taste: 4.5
Packaging Design: 3
Pumpkin Flavor (Mild to Strong): 2.5 (Mild / Medium)
Trader Joes Pumpkin Butter (Trader Joes)
Taste: 3
Packaging Design: 4
Pumpkin Flavor (Mild to Strong): 4 (Strong)
William Sonoma Chocolate Pumpkin Butter (William Sonoma)
Taste: 3
Packaging Design: 4.5
Pumpkin Flavor (Mild to Strong): 4 (Strong)
Purveyors Kitchen Pumpkin Pesto Tapenade (Cost Plus)
Taste: 3
Packaging Design: 4
Pumpkin Flavor (Mild to Strong): 2 (Mild)
Trader Joes Pumpkin Butternut Squash Bisque Soup (Trader Joes)
Taste: 4
Packaging Design: 3.5
Pumpkin Flavor (Mild to Strong): 4 (Strong)
Trader Joes Pumpkin Butter Nut Squash Tomato Pasta Sauce (Trader Joes)
Taste: 5
Packaging Design: 3
Pumpkin Flavor (Mild to Strong): 3.5 (Medium / Strong)
Trader Joes Pumpkin Ravioli (Trader Joes)
Taste: 5
Packaging Design: 3.5
Pumpkin Flavor (Mild to Strong): 4 (Strong)
Terra Pumpkin Spice Chips (Whole Foods)
Taste: 3
Packaging Design: 2
Pumpkin Flavor (Mild to Strong): 2 (Mild)
Hammonds Pumpkin Spice Nuts (Cost Plus)
Taste: 3.5
Packaging Design: 2.5
Pumpkin Flavor (Mild to Strong): 2 (Mild)
Sabine’s Collections Pumpkin Spice Baguette Crisps (Cost Plus)
Taste: 4
Packaging Design: 2.5
Pumpkin Flavor (Mild to Strong): 3 (Medium)
William Sonoma Pumpkin Seed Brittle Bite (William Sonoma)
Taste: 5
Packaging Design: 4.5
Pumpkin Flavor (Mild to Strong): 3.5 (Medium / Strong
William Sonoma Pumpkin Caramel (Willam Sonoma)
Taste: 4
Packaging Design: 4
Pumpkin Flavor (Mild to Strong): 5 (Strong)
Pumpkin Bark (Cost Plus)
Taste: 3.5
Packaging Design: 4
Pumpkin Flavor (Mild to Strong): 4 (Strong)
Talenti Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream (Whole Foods)
Taste: 3
Packaging Design: 3
Pumpkin Flavor (Mild to Strong): 4 (Strong)
Whole Foods Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream Sandwiches (Whole Foods)
Taste: 4
Packaging Design: 3
Pumpkin Flavor (Mild to Strong): 4 (Strong)
Graeter’s Pumpkin Ice Cream (Whole Foods)
Taste: 3
Packaging Design: 2
Pumpkin Flavor (Mild to Strong): 4 (Strong)
Manhattan Bread and Bagel Pumpkin Spice Scone
Taste: 4
Packaging Design: N/A
Pumpkin Flavor (Mild to Strong): 3 (Medium)
Manhattan Bread & Bagel Pumpkin Bagel
Taste: 4.5
Packaging Design: N/A
Pumpkin Flavor (Mild to Strong): 2 (Mild)
Manhattan Bread & Bagel Pumpkin Cream Cheese
Taste: 4
Packaging Design: N/A
Pumpkin Flavor (Mild to Strong): 2.5 (Mild/Medium)
Wow! That was a lot. Now we are full of pumpkin!
AND THE WINNERS ARE…
TASTE : Trader Joes Pumpkin Ravioli and Pumpkin Medley Pasta Sauce (Whats even better? Combine the two!)
PACKAGING : William Sonoma’s Chocolate Pumpkin Butter and Brittle Bites for the sophistcated, yet seasonal design.
THE DISCOVERIES
All of us questioned what exactly is the pumpkin flavor everyone associates with this season? Is it actually pumpkin or is it a combination of pumpkin with a lot of sugar and cream? We gravitated towards the less pumpkin tasting products. Our main discovery was that none of us are huge fans of the pumpkin spice trend and can do without it.
What are your favorite pumpkin spice products? Did we miss any?