Eating Berkeley’s guide to pumpkin-flavored everything in Berkeley

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Though the weather isn’t exactly indicative of it yet, the fall season has begun. Evidence for this fact has been provided by stores all over the country that have begun temporarily increasing the amount of pumpkin-flavored food items. From the OG Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte to the progressive Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Spice Salted Caramels, the fall pumpkin-food trend has grown into an all-out movement. Some argue that deep love and appreciation for this food fad is reserved exclusively for the #basics, but in all honesty, who doesn’t love that delicious pumpkin taste? With a post that could be classified as the most basic of basic posts, the Clog has taken on the urgent responsibility of compiling a list of the most noteworthy seasonal pumpkin foods available in the Berkeley area.

Peet’s Coffee and Tea

Eric Zhou/Staff

Eric Zhou/Staff

The number of Peet’s on and around our campus is probably higher than the number of units you’re taking, so the fact that Peet’s offers numerous pumpkin-flavored beverages is extremely convenient. These include the Pumpkin Latte, Pumpkin Chai Latte and Pumpkin Freddo: a delicious frozen blended pumpkin coffee drink.

Trader Joe’s

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Joe has certainly gone out of his way to supply his local trading stations with a huge variety of different pumpkin-flavored items. These include the $3.99 pumpkin biscotti, $2.99 22-ounce bottles of Ace Pumpkin Hard Cider (gluten-free, too!), $4.99 Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Spice salted Caramels, $3.49 Pumpkin Seed Brittle, $3.99 Pumpkin Cranberry Crisps and more. The most significant of these pumpkin treats, however, is a twist on Trader Joe’s undeniably addicting cookie butter: the $2.29 Pumpkin Butter.

Any place you can find booze

Sean Goebel/File

Sean Goebel/File

The pumpkin trend has become so widespread that even massive alcohol-producing companies are partaking. Highlights include Blue Moon Pumpkin Ale, available at Safeway for $12.99 for a 12 pack, and the aforementioned Ace Pumpkin Hard Cider, available at Trader Joe’s for $2.99 for a 22-ounce bottle.

Elmwood Cafe

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It would be an understatement to describe Elmwood Cafe as higher quality than Peet’s or Starbucks. This cafe serves delicious, fresh and original dishes and beverages that are well worth the trek down College Ave. Their menu changes daily based on what fresh ingredients are available, but some pumpkin-flavored items include their delicious pumpkin muffins, pumpkin waffles and pumpkin butter.

Cinnaholic

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Cinnaholic/Courtesy

Cinnaholic is actually in the process of completely exploding in popularity — they were recently featured twice on ABC’s show “Shark Tank” and are one of the most unique, delicious shops in our country. We’re lucky enough to have it right by campus! They serve dairy-free, lactose-free, egg-free and cholesterol-free cinnamon buns that taste better than any traditionally made cinnamon bun. Ordering at Cinnaholic is also totally customizable and involves selecting a frosting flavor and toppings, which is where the pumpkin comes in: One of their many delicious frosting flavors is a warm, delightful and Thanksgiving-esque pumpkin spice.

Noah’s Bagels

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Even everyone’s favorite generic Berkeley bagel place is getting in on the pumpkin fun! For preposterous portions of pumpkin, try out their Pumpkin Bagel with Pumpkin Shmear, along with the pumpkin muffin and Pumpkin Clusters.

Northside Cafe

2. Northside Cafe

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Another coffee shop alternative is Northside Cafe. Northside has a delicious pumpkin spice latte this time of year for $3.45 along with another seasonal special: the peppermint latte. So if you’re sad about having to trek over to Soda Hall all the way from Southside, use Northside’s seasonal options as an incentive.

Yogurtland, Yogurt Park and Menchies

As the staple fro-yo providers of Berkeley, Yogurtland, Yogurt Park and Menchies would be foolish to not offer a pumpkin-flavored, creamy, chilled and delicious product. At Yogurtland, they offer a pumpkin pie flavor, while Menchies gives the classic Harvest Pumpkin — in all honesty these probably taste the same though their names are certainly trying to spice things up. At Yogurt Park, pumpkin flavors aren’t a constant because they rotate around, but you can follow their daily flavors here.

Image Sources: Featured imageMayhem ChaosKirsten LozadcJohnmswine under Creative Commons

Contact Claralyse Palmer at cpalmer@dailycal.org.

Read more here: http://www.dailycal.org/2014/10/22/clogs-guide-pumpkin-flavored-everything-berkeley/
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