Thank You Coffee’s Kabocha Spice Latte Returns for Fall Season

Thank You Coffee, with locations in Chinatown and Anaheim, California, began offering its signature Kabocha Spice Latte (KSL) today, marking the return of the popular seasonal drink that substitutes pumpkin with Japanese kabocha squash.

The coffee shop first introduced its unique take on pumpkin spice in 2020, but is known for incorporating Asian ingredients and flavor profiles into its year-round menu, including a five-spice latte. The KSL features a blend of toasted cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom, and ginger, combined with white and dark brown sugars and ginger bitters, and is enhanced with fresh kabocha squash purée. A touch of condensed milk and a dusting of kinako, a roasted soybean flour, complete the beverage.

“We don’t really eat pumpkin, but we eat a lot of kabocha,” said co-owner Jonathan Yang. “My wife, Julia, and I love kabocha but not all people know it, and we realized this is a neat way to highlight that kabocha is pretty much like a Japanese pumpkin.” This innovative approach to a fall favorite reflects a growing trend of businesses embracing cultural ingredients and flavors. For more information on Japanese cuisine, visit the official Japan National Tourism Organization website.

This year, Thank You Coffee is also adding a new persimmon-and-apple latte to its fall menu, aiming to provide customers with additional cozy and comforting options throughout the season. You can find more about their menu on their website.

The owners stated they anticipate strong demand for both seasonal drinks and will continue to monitor customer feedback throughout the fall.