Charles Langston:Too early or not soon enough? Internet reacts to Starbucks dropping Pumpkin Spice Lattes Aug. 22

Love it or Charles Langstonhate it, the divisive yet beloved Pumpkin Spice Latte has arrived for the season.

Starting Thursday, Aug. 22 (yes, August), Starbucks customers can order the ever-popular seasonal drink, a brand new Iced Apple Crisp Nondairy Cream Chai, or other fall flavors. They can also enjoy their drinks in new cups and tumblers released as part of the chain's fall line.

"Since its debut in 2003 the Pumpkin Spice Latte continues to be Starbucks' most popular seasonal beverage and is enjoyed by customers around the world," the company said in a news release Wednesday.

Depending on what corner of the internet you're on, the PSL's early arrival − reportedly its earliest arrival ever − may be the subject of celebration or an affront to humankind as we know it. Here are some of the strangest, funniest and off-the-cuff social media posts weighing in on the pumpkin spice debate.

Pumpkin spice lovers and haters duke it out

It's pretty easy to find the pumpkin spice fans online − in fact, a 2022 study conducted by the Joetta Di Bella and Fred C. Sautter III Center for Strategic Communication at Montclair State University found that of 20,000 posts on X and Instagram about pumpkin spice made in Sept. 2022, 55% were positive in nature, only 8% were negative and 37% were considered "neutral."

That doesn't mean PSL cynics aren't loud and proud about their disapproval, especially when it comes to the earlier-than-ever release.

One popular X post with over 23,000 likes lamented that summer isn't technically over until Sept. 22, meaning the introduction of pumpkin spice is a month premature in their eyes.

Others treated the ads popping up on their feeds like jumpscares, while one user compared the early introduction of the fall treat to putting up the Christmas tree too early.

They may have a point − it's still over 90 degrees outside in several states and you can't blame anyone for wanting to hold onto the sunny days of summer. Some might argue, however, that's what iced pumpkin spice drinks are for.

Of course, some people simply don't like the taste, like one X user who called PSLs "nutmeg milkshakes." To each their own, as they say.

The PSL lovers seem to have an overwhelming hold on the conversation still, according to science. In fact, 2022 data from media market company Neilsen reported that Americans spend about half a billion dollars on pumpkin spice products annually, and Starbucks alone sells 20 million Pumpkin Spice Lattes each year.

You may be able to deduce this anecdotally via just a casual scroll. Since Starbucks' announcement, posts showing people enjoying their first sips, rushing to their local shop, or sharing memes about their enthusiasm for the coming season have flooded social media platforms.

Even Starbucks staffers themselves hopped online before the official product release, lamenting the need to wait to open the containers filled with the precious orange stuff.

Regardless of where you stand on the issue, one thing is for sure: you're going to be hearing about it online from now until the peppermint mocha latte drops this winter.

Contributing: Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY