Summer is still trying to keep its grip on us with these sweltering days, but autumn is just on the horizon. No matter what the weather says, the seasons are changing! Craft stores have autumn and Halloween decorations out, Spirit Halloweens are popping up in local abandoned stores, and coffee shops are breaking out the Pumpkin Spice.
Pumpkin Spice, where it may be the most popular, isn't the only new flavor we can get our hands on for the next few months. Here are six autumn flavors definitively ranked, based on my knowledge of being obsessed with autumn.
1. Apple
You thought I was going to put pumpkin first, didn't you? Nope! The turn of the leaves immediately makes me think of apple picking and apple cider. Apple flavors are easy to enjoy in the transition month of September; fruity enough to stay summery and warm enough to make you want to throw on a flannel.
2. Pumpkin Spice
Pumpkin Spice is the heart of autumn. It's the over-sweetened Starbucks Lattes and spending over 30 minutes searching for the perfect squash to carve. Pumpkin Spice is saved for chilly, wet autumn days where you find yourself wearing layers and clutching your coffee cup for the warmth.
3. Pecan
Pecan is my surprise new favorite this season. Pecans remind me of Thanksgiving and finally saying goodbye to autumn and Halloween as the stores turn to the winter holidays. This year, I've decided to enjoy pecans in their glory and enjoy them for as long as I can.
4. Cranberry
Cranberries are another winter-associated flavor that I've started to see earlier and earlier. The more I think about it, the more I find that I love the cranberry's appearance this autumn. Sweet enough to combine with pecans, and I might just make the next best combination.
5. Cinnamon
Cinnamon is appropriate for any and all times of the year, but there's something about autumn that enhances it. I get more excited about cinnamon and even find myself craving it some days.
6. Maple
Maple simply reminds me of watching the leaves change color. Lots of the time, if I'm not using maple syrup on my pancakes, maple flavoring is just too sweet for me. Definitely a slow intake sort of flavoring.