{"id":81158,"date":"2012-10-26T13:35:39","date_gmt":"2012-10-26T18:35:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dietsinreview.com\/diet_column\/?p=81158"},"modified":"2012-10-26T13:37:34","modified_gmt":"2012-10-26T18:37:34","slug":"we-pimped-a-homemade-vegan-pumpkin-spice-latte","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dietsinreview.com\/diet_column\/10\/we-pimped-a-homemade-vegan-pumpkin-spice-latte\/","title":{"rendered":"We Pimped a Homemade Vegan Pumpkin Spice Latte"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Abra Pappa for Nutritious America<\/em><\/p>\n

Tis\u2019 the season to consume many, many, many pumpkin spice lattes. A now ubiquitous beverage of fall, this Starbucks flavored java is loved the world over.<\/p>\n

Last month there was a reported pumpkin spice syrup shortage at hundreds of Starbucks around the country; lovers of this beverage were outraged! It was the Pumpkin Spice LattePOCALYPYSE! Happily for the PSL fans (that\u2019s what they affectionately call this fall beverage) the syrup was replenished and drinking resumed.<\/p>\n

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\nBut wait! I am so sorry to burst your pumpkin bubble, but do you know really know what you are drinking? Espresso, steamed milk, and pumpkin spice syrup, yes, but what is in that pumpkin spice syrup? I for one, wanted to know. Starbucks isn\u2019t terribly forthcoming about ingredients. Their website is extremely helpful with fat and calorie counts, but when it comes to actual ingredients one must dig deeper to come up with the truth.<\/p>\n

I emailed them (which quite honestly, is very simple to do on their website) and asked for the ingredient breakdown. I received this:<\/p>\n

Sugar, Condensed Nonfat Milk, Sweetened Condensed Nonfat Milk, Annatto (E160b, Colour), Natural and Artificial Flavours, Caramel Colour (E150D), Salt, Potassium Sorbate (E202, a preservative).<\/em><\/p>\n

This list did not make a holistic nutritionist very happy. The first ingredient is sugar, then more sugar in the form of sweetened condensed milk, and numerous coloring agents and preservatives. Then the big whammy, under the guise of \u201cnatural and artificial flavors\u201d are hidden health disastrous ingredients that legally do not have to be listed. Ingredients like Vanillin instead of Vanilla (synthetic vanillin primarily comes from wood pulp, a bi-product of the sulphite process. Yum!) are considered \u201cnatural ingredients.\u201d<\/p>\n

Well fear not pumpkin addicts, this is a truly simple and luscious drink to make at home. You will save calories, fat, and yucky franken-food ingredients, AND save yourself a pretty penny!<\/p>\n

Consider the Pumpkin Spice Latte Pimped!<\/p>\n

An aspect of \u201cpimping,\u201d or making over these beloved recipes, is deconstructing flavor and simplifying the process. That was the focus with this recipe.<\/p>\n

I opted to make it vegan<\/a><\/strong> for our dairy-free friends (I must point out, I was completely unaware that Starbucks Pumpkin syrup was made with milk, this now explains my belly ache after consuming one).<\/p>\n

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\nMaking a homemade pumpkin spice latte is as simple as:<\/p>\n