Like every other basic millennial white woman of a certain age, I, too, cannot resist the allure of fall. I can’t wait for shorter days, cooler temperatures, and yes, delicious fall beverages tinged with warming spices. But that enthusiasm for all things autumn doesn’t include the new pumpkin spice Slurpee from 7-Eleven, which officially arrives in certain “top Slurpee drink markets” — including stores in Texas, California, New York, and Ohio — on August 1. Yes, on the very same day that it will be 101 degrees Fahrenheit in Irving, Texas, where 7-Eleven is headquartered.
According to a press release, the new pumpkin spice Slurpee will, predictably, feature “the flavor of pumpkin and cinnamon spice swirled together in the form of a refreshing, ice-cold Slurpee drink.” And sure, perhaps this isn’t too different from an iced pumpkin spice latte, but there’s something that feels especially off-putting about consuming chilled pumpkin and cinnamon flavor when there’s no caffeine involved. Is this just pumpkin-spice-flavored water that’s frozen and pushed through 7-Eleven’s patented machines, which add the carbonation that gives the Slurpee its signature texture? Is there any actual pumpkin in the sickly yellow-colored drink?
Without the coffee, “pumpkin spice” is generally just a cloying mouthful of artificial cinnamon and nutmeg, which does not sound appealing in the traditionally refreshing context of a Slurpee. The chain does sell its own pumpkin spice latte, which will also return on August 1. Why not turn that into a Slurpee? Coffee granitas, iced lattes, and frozen frappes are already a thing, which means your mouth has some reference for consuming coffee that’s packed with ice crystals; adding pumpkin spice to the mix wouldn’t be too much of a stretch.
More to the point, though, why in the world would Slurpee finally launch a pumpkin spice offering in 2024? It might’ve been the hottest drink of 2012, but more than a decade removed from the peak of pumpkin spice mania, it feels dated. And there’s data to back that up. Outside of the pumpkin spice latte, which still sells very well for Starbucks, there’s been an overall decline in consumer interest in other pumpkin-spice-flavored products. That’s probably because we’ve been inundated with PSL everything, including ChapStick and cup noodles, over the last couple of years. 7-Eleven is, regrettably, at the tail end of a trend that most people find exhausting.
Considering that the pumpkin spice Slurpee is launching in just five of thousands of 7-Elevens across the United States, it seems that not even 7-Eleven is convinced that this new offering is a good bet. But perhaps the boot-wearing, “Christian girl autumn” hordes that went viral in 2019 are still lying in wait, just dying for a taste of icy cold pumpkin spice.
