Move Over, Pumpkin Spice. Fall Has A New Flavor.

All due respect to the pumpkin spice latte, but we can do better. This fall, we’re seeing green with the flavor challenging the reigning champ in beverages, desserts, snacks, and fragrance. Pumpkin spice walked so pistachio could fly.  

We’ve been enjoying pumpkin spice in lattes since Starbucks made the combo our nationwide tradition in 2004. But a Dubai chocolate bar-eating post by influencer Maria Vehera that went viral in 2023 led to a surprise pistachio shakedown of autumn’s traditional taste. And unlike its predecessor — which some may say has no business calling itself “pumpkin” since it originally featured zero percent of the orange squash — authentic pistachio flavor sometimes comes from the actual nut. 

Susan Kelegian, co-owner of Randy’s Donuts, says pistachio is catching everyone’s attention this season. “I’m just in love with the pistachio,” she tells The Daily Wire. “It’s so delicious.”

The family-owned and -operated California-based chain — the one with the iconic doughnut sculpture you might recognize from movies and TV — added a Pistachio Crumb doughnut to its seasonal fall lineup this year. “We also have the new pistachio latte that is creamy and delicious,” she says, highlighting “the nutty notes and the earthy notes that come through with a little hint of vanilla sweetness.” 

That roasted, slightly sweet, earthy appeal is exactly why pistachio is coming in hot this fall, bringing luxe dessert energy to a nostalgic cozy season aesthetic. Whether it’s paired with flavors found in globally inspired patisserie — like cardamom, rose, and saffron — or it’s out there shining all on its own, we can’t get enough of the humble nut’s toasted warmth and natural umami in every possible form.

Rising flavor trends like brown butter, speculoos, pecan, chai, and sticky toffee also reveal how pumpkin spice is no longer carrying the full weight of sweater weather duty. Of course, they tag in alongside seasonal flavors we’ll never give up. “We have all those classic doughnuts that you grow up with like the apple fritter, the Long Johns, the old fashioneds, and the buttermilk bars,” Kelegian explains. Randy’s Donuts doesn’t sleep on pumpkin, maple, cinnamon, and s’mores treats either. “We do the classics so well, and then we’re always looking to innovate and bring in new things so the next generation gets to … enjoy those classic doughnuts that their parents grew up on.”

The inspiration behind new seasonal and limited-edition flavors comes down to expert trend prediction and a whole lot of tasty research and development. “When we think of fall, we think about people coming together,” Kelegian explains. “You think of all those flavors, whether it’s pumpkin or cinnamon or nutmeg and vanilla, or those really beautiful buttery, nutty flavors — really warm, delicious fall flavors that we all know and love.” 

The Randy’s team threads the needle between treats that taste like home and those that excite taste buds in a whole new way. “We’re very much rooted in nostalgia and those classic flavors,” Kelegian says. “But we’re always looking at ways we can incorporate things that are on-trend. We go through a number of rounds of R&D for all of the seasonal promotions. It’s a collaborative effort with everybody here at Randy’s, and a lot of tasting. It’s so fun.”

If you haven’t yet sampled pistachio’s trendiest form as Dubai chocolate, the original bar called “Can’t Get Knafeh Of It” was invented by Dubai-based FIX Dessert Chocolatier in 2022. A chocolate coating cracked open to reveal crunchy knafeh pastry filling with creamy pistachio paste and tahini, which subsequently rocked the dessert world. The original ASMR-style TikTok about it garnered 125 million views with its up-close, crunchy soundscape. This wasn’t your great-grandma’s fluffy neon green Watergate salad with the pistachio instant pudding, canned pineapple, and mini ’mallows; it was pistachio as an extravagant lifestyle.

In the blink of an eye, everything went “Dubai” no matter its origin, triggering a pistachio explosion onto the food scene. But this season, pistachio breaks out of the chocolate bar mold to take over your coffee shop, grocery store, and beauty aisle. A nut once restricted to niche baking now dominates almost every retail category available.

The trend ushered in a full year of pistachio-forward releases such as U.K.-based Magnum’s La Pistache pistachio ice cream bar and Chobani’s Pistachio Chocolate Creamer. And with startups like Pistakio and Peppertux suddenly expanding into multimillion-dollar brands with buzzy pistachio cream and pistachio drizzle to upgrade ice cream and yogurt, even Starbucks was clamoring to establish its limited pistachio line as a permanent Frappuccino, cortado, mocha, and matcha menu.

The Nooly brand restocked its pistachio syrup just in time for DIY coffee drinks and cocktails, while plenty of other retailers are jumping into the mix this fall. Wonderful Pistachios offered a nut-forward spin on the Dubai chocolate trend, Death Wish Coffee Co. went all in on a limited-edition White Chocolate Pistachio medium-roast blend, wellness brand Aloha launched a chocolate pistachio protein bar, and Ghirardelli answered demand with Dubai-style squares.

An unlikely entrant into the fray, Red Bull launched a limited-edition Pistachio & Berries energy drink as part of its winter lineup. But if you prefer the invigorating effects of a seasonal beer, please enjoy the “pillowy mouthfeel” of Living The Dream brewery’s Powder Run Pistachio cream ale. 

But why stop at things you can eat and drink when you can wear the flavor of the moment as your signature scent? The gourmand fragrance category — long fronted by vanilla, cocoa, and honey — gets a nutty glow-up with searches for pistachio scents climbing more than 800%. Leveraging a trend that caught fire over the summer months thanks to D.S. & Durga Pistachio and Kayali Yum Pistachio Gelato 33 eau de parfum, scents from Valentino, Mugler, DKNY, and Le Monde Gourmand offer a pistachio bouquet for every preference. 

Not a food or fragrance person? You can enjoy the trend-adjacent pistachio life without a mention of Dubai. As U.S. pistachio production hits more than 1.5 billion pounds to lead the global market in exports, roasted pistachios straight out of the shell offer more nutrients than a dessert ever could. New research shows that pistachios may even help you sleep better with vitamin B6, tryptophan, and magnesium, which boost your melatonin. You’re probably feeling more relaxed already just thinking about your next bedtime snack.

Whether it’s their one-of-a-kind flavor, captivating aroma, or healthy perks, these little green gems give us plenty of reasons to put a pause on the pumpkin spice this fall and go totally nuts for pistachio.

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This article is part of Upstream, The Daily Wire’s new home for culture and lifestyle. Real human insight and human stories — from our featured writers to you.

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