Pumpkin spice and other fall flavors are back in town: Who's serving them up in Brevard?

A seasonal trend took hold of taste buds decades ago — and hasn’t let up since. It’s pumpkin spice, and when the slightest glimmers of fall start to drop along with the temps, it's go-time again for local purveyors of all that’s pumpkin.

While Starbucks is often credited with kickstarting the pumpkin spice phenomenon in 2003 with their pumpkin spice latte (which returned to stores for its 2024 run on Aug. 22), here are some ideas that might prompt you to carve out time for some local delights.

Find beer and baked delights across Brevard

Local breweries are featuring ciders and beers with hints of nutmeg and cinnamon are back in swing. Krispy Kreme has their pumpkin spice donuts, all rolled up and ready to devour. Even Dunkin' Donuts is getting excited with a coming-soon spicy coffee option, along with donuts and muffins. Publix will have loads of pumpkin pies and breads on their shelves — stock up soon or you'll wish you had.

Harvest Thyme Kitchen , located at 601 E New Haven Ave. in Melbourne, will be serving pumpkin spice scones, pumpkin spice tea and apple cheddar soup.

Juice and Java , at 75 North Orlando Ave. in Cocoa Beach: You must take home some of their famous Fall Harvest coffee — ground or whole bean, with caramel, pecan and rum flavor. Or they will gladly whip you up an uber-pumpkin macchiato, an autumn spiced shaken espresso, or a pumpkin chai latte.

Black Cat Coffee , at 3355 Foley Road in Titusville, is serving Butterbeer in September, but if you can't wait, try the espresso with caramel, brown butter flavors — add steamed milk and make it a latte.

Cuban Island , at 2910 N. Highway A1A in Indialantic, serves caramel apple empanadas year-round. That treat will scratch the itch for a fall treat.

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Besides coffee, what else has gone pumpkin over the years?

Everything from coffee to bread to candles and beer goes gourd-scent crazy.

Playalinda Brewing Company , 305 S. Washington Ave., Titusville, just released their favorite fall beer a pumpkin pie slice in a can, called Titus-villain.

Pumpkin Ain’t Easy Ale was also newly released at Intracoastal Brewing Company ; get it at 652 W. Eau Gallie Blvd., Melbourne, while it lasts.

What’s the history behind pumpkin spice?

Pumpkin pie and the spices associated with the beloved pastry have long been a part of the American baking tradition. The history of the combined spice dates back more than 200 years, with even the colonials making pumpkin pies and spicing them up with ginger, mace, nutmeg and allspice. Credit McCormick & Company for popularizing the blend of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and allspice and marketing the mix, introducing pumpkin pie spice in 1934.

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What other flavors besides pumpkin spice are tops?

Believe it or not, some of us don't go nuts for the spice flavor. Starbucks is introducing the Iced Caramel Apple Cream Latte and non-dairy Iced Honey Apple Almond Milk Flat White this year. Other popular fall flavors to cozy up to include chai, maple, and browned butter. Make some caramel apples for the kids, or some salted caramel brownies for your favorite neighbor.

Mmm, now that's cozy.

Amber Olesen is FLORIDA TODAY's food and dining reporter. Reach her at aolesen@floridatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Pumpkin spice and other fall flavors are back in town: Who's serving them up in Brevard?