Local fall flavors that rival Starbucks, Wendy's pumpkin spice latte and Frosty

Tiana Kennell, Asheville Citizen Times
·3 min read
Robin Fredrickson, a manager at Odd’s Café in West Asheville, holds a Salted Maple Latte, September 7, 2023.
Robin Fredrickson, a manager at Odd’s Café in West Asheville, holds a Salted Maple Latte, September 7, 2023.

ASHEVILLE - Starbucks may have the pumpkin spice latte fame but it’s not the only place to get a serving of the autumnal spirit.

For 20 years, the mega coffee chain has led the season and inspired other brands to add similar flavored treats on its menus.

Wendy’s announced the Sept. 12 release of a Pumpkin Spice Frosty and Pumpkin Spice Frosty Cream Cold Brew.

Yet, there’s more to explore for imbibers with a passion for pumpkin and for those seeking seasonal assortment beyond the basics.

Coffee houses, restaurants and craft food and beverage companies are whipping up caffeinated beverages, baked goods, breakfast classics, desserts and more incorporating seasonal flavors from apple butter to caramel to maple syrup.

Robin Fredrickson, a manager at Odd’s Café, pours milk to steam for a Salted Maple Latte, September 7, 2023.
Robin Fredrickson, a manager at Odd’s Café, pours milk to steam for a Salted Maple Latte, September 7, 2023.

Here are some of the fall flavors to savor across Asheville this year.:

Odd’s Café

A Salted Maple Latte and a Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffin from Odd’s Café in West Asheville.
A Salted Maple Latte and a Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffin from Odd’s Café in West Asheville.

Get a pumpkin spice latte fix at Odd’s Café. The West Asheville coffee shop offers a Pumpkin Pie Latte, plus other fall drinks and treats. The new seasonal menu features Maple Cinnamon Cold Brew, Salted Maple Latte, Pumpkin Doodle Sugar Cookies and Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins. View the menu and order online at oddscafe.com.

Asheville Tea Company

Asheville Tea Company's fall 2023 releases are Pumpkin Pie Chai, Ginger Tumeric and Spiced Apple Butter teas.
Asheville Tea Company's fall 2023 releases are Pumpkin Pie Chai, Ginger Tumeric and Spiced Apple Butter teas.

Asheville Tea Company has three autumnal flavors to keep imbibers warm and cozy. Pumpkin Pie Chai Tea, a black tea blended with cardamom, ginger, allspice, cinnamon, pumpkin, nutmeg and spicebush features the flavors of pumpkin pie, warming spices and roasted cinnamon. Ginger Turmeric Tea offers an earthy, rich and zesty taste, made with ginger root, ginger leaf, turmeric root and black peppercorn. Spiced Apple Butter Tea has notes of warm cider, apple pie and brown butter created by the blend of rooibos tea, apples, cinnamon, cloves, orange and lemon peel. Release mid-September, preorder at  ashevilleteacompany.com.

Poppy Popcorn

Poppy Handcrafted Popcorn and Mast General Store's new Apple Butter Popcorn is available for fall 2023 season at Mast General Store and online.
Poppy Handcrafted Popcorn and Mast General Store's new Apple Butter Popcorn is available for fall 2023 season at Mast General Store and online.

Poppy Handcrafted Popcorn and Mast General Store have collaborated to release a new fall flavor, Apple Butter Popcorn, made with Mast Store Provisioners Apple Butter. Available exclusively at the downtown Asheville store or online at mastgeneralstore.com. Poppy's fall favorites are back ― Caramel Apple, Pumpkin Spice and Southern Pecan Pie ― and available at poppyhandcraftedpopcorn.com.

The Hop Ice Cream

The Hop Ice Cream has several fall flavors rolling out at their shops this season including Apples and Honey ice cream made with Holt Orchards apples and Haw Creek Honey (Sept. 15), and the Apple Butter ice cream made with Sweetie and Granny Smith apples from Holt Orchards (Oct. 13) which will be available as dairy and vegan. Pumpkin Ice Cream made with Japanese pumpkins from Lee’s One Fortune Farm (Sept. 29). Also, visit The Hop’s sister business, Pop Bubble Tea for Pumpkin Spice Bubble Tea (Sept. 29). For more, visit hopicecreamnc.com and popbubbleteanc.com.

Another Broken Egg Café

Another Broken Egg is offering a Pumpkin Spice Cold Brew topped with a spice cream and served with a caramel pecan rim this fall.
Another Broken Egg is offering a Pumpkin Spice Cold Brew topped with a spice cream and served with a caramel pecan rim this fall.

Another Broken Egg Café in Biltmore Park Town Square has launched a new seasonal menu featuring pumpkin-laden recipes. The Pumpkin Spice Cold Brew is topped with spiced cream and served with a caramel pecan rim – take it to the next level by spiking it with Captain Morgan Spiced Rum. The Apple Cider Sangria handcrafted cocktail, made with Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Grand Marnier, California champagne and apple juice with diced apples and cinnamon sugar, is available by the glass or pitcher. The breakfast menu also features pumpkin-spiced waffles and pancakes. For more, visit anotherbrokenegg.com.

Culver’s

Salted Caramel Pumpkin Concrete Mixers and Pumpkin Spice Shakes have returned to Culver's for the fall 2023 season.
Salted Caramel Pumpkin Concrete Mixers and Pumpkin Spice Shakes have returned to Culver's for the fall 2023 season.

Culver’s in Arden has spiced up its menu with a few seasonal treats. The Pumpkin Pecan Fresh Frozen Custard is a pumpkin pie frozen custard mixed with roasted pecan pieces. The Salted Caramel Pumpkin Concrete Mixer has a creamy Vanilla Fresh Frozen Custard base and blended with real pureed pumpkin and old-fashioned salted caramel. And the Pumpkin Spice Shake is made with Vanilla Fresh Frozen Custard and pureed pumpkin that’s topped with cinnamon. For more, visit culvers.com.

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Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at tkennell@citizentimes.com or follow her on Instagram @PrincessOfPage. Please support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Wendy's pumpkin spice Frosty, more fall flavors to try in Asheville