Einstein Bros. Pumpkin Bagel and Pumpkin Smear

Last week when Google-ing various pumpkin foods to try, I came across an image of pumpkin [spice] cream cheese. My mind was blown. Cream cheese is one of my favorite things in food, sweet or savory, and I am a pumpkin crazy; how I had never heard of pumpkin [spice] cream cheese before this point was beyond me. But now that I know it exists, I am determined to purchase all the different brands I find (and review all of them, of course). Which brings me to this review.

One of the types of pumpkin [spice] cream cheese I found online was Einstein Bros. “pumpkin smear,” which I was happy to see because I have an Einstein’s within walking distance. So, naturally, the next morning I got up early to go  get some pumpkin smear

While I was in line, I also saw on the poster advertising pumpkin smear that Einstein’s also had pumpkin bagels. Could this week get any better? I was practically drooling in anticipation while my pumpkin bagel was in the toaster.

The bagel, unfortunately, was not up to par. It was by no means a bad bagel, but I tasted no pumpkin! The pumpkin spice made its presence known in the way cinnamon does in a cinnamon raisin bagel, and I enjoyed that flavoring, but when you advertise your bagel as a “pumpkin bagel,” I need to taste some pumpkin. Very disappointed from a place known primarily for it’s bagels.

Einstein Bros Pumpkin Bagel: 2/5

Now on to the superior pumpkin smear. This was just plain heavenly. The spice tones were subtle, but that is how I prefer pumpkin spice in pumpkin foods generally. It is a very sweet cream cheese, which suited me and my sweet tooth well, and there was no denying the presence of pumpkin. The texture is the only aspect preventing this delicious cream cheese from receiving the highest rating it could achieve; it was too soft, almost like butter, not like the more firm and dense cream cheese to which I am accustomed. But that will not keep me from giving it a positive score, nor will it prevent me from ordering this again. This time, though, with my usual honey wheat bagel.

Einstein Bros Pumpkin Smear 4.5/5 

 

 

Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte and Pumpkin Spice Creme

 
Pumpkin Spice Latte
So this is one of the most popularized beverages of the holiday season, at least for 
coffee lovers, since it gracing our Starbucks' in 2004. I cannot say it has ever been 
my favorite drink. I get one every year in honor of the fall. The first few years I 
have had them I thought they were bitter, but that was probably because I liked coffee 
with my milk in its initial years. However when I really started to appreciate coffee, 
I was always upset over how spicy it was and not pumpkin-y.

Until this year.

This year was the first time I had a pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks every day for 
a week. I could not get enough. I could clearly taste the pumpkin AND the spices. It's 
still not my favorite rendition of pumpkin and espresso, I am glad to have a pumpkin 
spice latte from Starbucks with an equal emphasis on pumpkin AND spice.

Rating: 4/5

Pumpkin Spice Creme
A drink I was not aware of for the longest time was the Starbucks Pumpkin Pie Creme. 
When I went to Starbucks this past weekend, I went with my friend who is not a coffee 
drinker but is a fellow pumpkin obsessive, so we asked the barrista if there was a 
pumpkin spice latte without the coffee. Thus, she got a Pumpkin Spice Creme.

While it's not a drink I would drink too regularly now, it was better than I expected. 
It was essentially the pumpkin spice version of hot chocolate. It was extremely sweet, 
which is why I would have to be in the mood if I wanted one, but is definitely 
delicious. This is a also great option for kids of Starbucks or coffee addict parents 
who also want to participate in the pumpkin fun.

Rating: 3.5/5