Photo courtesy of Ready Coffee
Yes, pumpkin spice season is here in the Hudson Valley, with coffees, teas, and treats to celebrate everyone’s favorite autumnal flavor.
By Raphael Beretta, Julia Colombo, and Sabrina Sucato
Few things signal fall quite like the aromatic mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, and ginger. Sure, there are leaf-peeping drives and corn maze meanders to celebrate the season. But when it comes down to it, pumpkin spice is the true herald of autumn’s much-anticipated arrival.
While some may say that nothing compares to a certain big-name latte, the Hudson Valley holds its own on the pumpkin spice front. Here are a few local products to satiate your #PumpkinSpice cravings.
Boba Tea, Tea Talk
Poughkeepsie
View this post on Instagram
Bubble tea is a year-round treat, but Tea Talk brings delicious options for fall flavors. The Poughkeepsie spot emulates the delicious qualities of pumpkin pie in a house special. For the base, Tea Talk uses green chai tea to bring subtle spice. Then a combination of taro milk, Thai milk, and a dash of nutmeg creates a real winner. Drink this hot for maximum coziness, or add classic tapioca boba pearls to the iced version.
Candies, Samuel’s Sweet Shop
Rhinebeck
View this post on Instagram
This sweet shop is famous for Paul Rudd and its samplers, so naturally we had to include the Autumn Candycopia Sampler. Pumpkin spice malted milk balls and red apple caramels are among the six expertly paired sweets that combine to be a perfect distillation of fall in candy form.
Coffee, Donuts, and Ice Cream, Stewart’s Shops
Locations throughout the Hudson Valley
View this post on Instagram
The Hudson Valley’s favorite convenience store doesn’t disappoint when it comes to fall flavors. The family-owned chain delights with pumpkin spice coffee, pumpkin donuts, and two pumpkin ice cream flavors: pumpkin pie and “Pumpkin to Talk About,” a pumpkin-cheesecake swirl with churro pieces. While you’re there, try out the apple cider donuts, apple fritters, and apple spice muffins, too.
Pumpkin Spiced Latte Cupcakes, The Cakery
Fishkill
View this post on Instagram
When it comes to cupcakes, The Cakery has the perfect formula for pretty much every flavor you could crave. This fall, the Fishkill sweet shop brings it with pumpkin spiced latte, Nutella cream cheese pumpkin, pumpkin, white chocolate pumpkin, and pumpkin chocolate chip cupcakes. Not enough pumpkin for you? The Cakery also does the flavor in cake pop and regular cake form.
Pumpkin Spice Martini, Zulu Time Rooftop Bar & Lounge
West Point
The warm, comforting pumpkin spice beverages are very familiar to us, but Zulu Time has taken the epochal flavor and made it into a martini. The West Point spot’s drink combines vanilla vodka, Bailey’s, pumpkin spice liqueur, and a sprinkling of ground nutmeg to bring fall to the bar.Â
Tea, Harney & Sons
Millerton
View this post on Instagram
Not a coffee drinker? Never fear! Harney & Sons is here to save the day with its signature pumpkin spice tea. The herbal red bush tea is heavy on the spice, so be prepared for flavorful sips of cinnamon and clove. The tea experts also offer a CBD pumpkin spice tea. The loose-leaf pumpkin essence blended with Harney & Sons homegrown CBD hemp extract pairs excellently with oat milk and a dash of honey. Both teas pour out as a bright red, making a tasty companion on crisp fall days.
Pumpkin Spice Latte, Iron Gate Café
Albany
View this post on Instagram
What is fall without a classic PSL? Iron Gate Café’s menu is studded with traditional autumn gems, from soups to entrees. The extensive drink menu includes a pumpkin spice latte, served hot or iced with your choice of milk, which is the perfect accompaniment to a fall meal.
Pumpkin Spice Latte, Ready Coffee Co.
LaGrange, Newburgh, Wappingers Falls
View this post on Instagram
In addition to its stellar lineup of craft coffees and smoothies, Ready Coffee brings all the fall feels with its seasonal drink menu. While the pumpkin spice latte is a must for PSL lovers, the brown sugar cinnamon latte and salted caramel mocha are worthy sips when you’ve finally imbibed all the pumpkin you can handle. For the most hardcore fall flavor fans, the pumpkin chai latte features a whole host of autumnal spices. Make it a dirty chai with a shot of fresh-brewed espresso for added zip.
Pumpkin PB Dream Cookie, Halfsies Cookie Company
Marlboro
View this post on Instagram
Known for its over-the-top cookies, Halfsies hits a home run with its seasonal pumpkin flavors. Your best bet for scoring a cookie pack is to follow the brand on Instagram, where it announces its limited-edition cookie drops. As for the flavors, keep an eye out for the company’s 14 pumpkin flavors, featuring “Pumpkin Peanut Butter Dream”—that’s a peanut butter cookie with Reese’s peanut butter chips and pumpkin pie spice—and a pumpkin caramel latte flavor, which features a sugar cookie with pumpkin pie spice, Café Bustelo, caramel chips, and vanilla chips.
Related: Bake These Chocolate Stout Oatmeal Cookies for Beer Lovers
