Poll: Are seasonal coffees hokey hype or holiday cheer?

Forget the actual temperature. It's pumpkin time.

Starbucks.com

The Seattle monolith recently unveiled a new Pumpkin Spice flavor for its instant Via brand.

DALLAS — Whether the temperature outside is cooperative or not, Dallasites have firmly decided that traditional autumnal accouterments – from light jackets to Oktoberfest beers – are finally in order. Think of it as a modified rain-dance; instead of precipitation, we aim to usher in gorgeously crisp fall days with bright blue skies and just the mildest bite in the air.

And that means one thing: the return of the Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks -- though they're experiencing pumpkin spice shortages, reports the Wall Street Journal. The logic follows as such: If the PSL is back, it’s time to break out the favorite college hoodie post-haste.

But, the Seattle-based juggernaut isn’t the only coffeehouse to stoke our quixotic hope that fall really is right around the corner. Dallas’ own Pearl Cup Coffee has a line of holiday flavors that extend all the way through winter, including a Pumpkin Latte, Gingerbread Latte, Peppermint Mocha, Mexican Spiced Hot Chocolate, and Spiced Hot Cider.

The Dallas foodie of I Live in Dallas

The Pearl Cup has a host of seasonal flavors, including Mexican Spiced Hot Chocolate.

President Carlene Saelg added, “We love the fall weather and look forward to giving our customers all the flavors they enjoy including traditional drinks such as cappuccino and cortado, which should not be overlooked as decadent treats.”

Having just launched a series of specials through Foursquare, the Pearl Cup is eager to accommodate with experimental flavors. A first-time check-in awards customers 25 percent off their drinks, and after 10 check-ins, they will receive a free drip coffee.

On the other side of town, Oak Lawn Coffee also dabbles in holiday flavors with Pumpkin Spice Lattes and Gingerbread Lattes, but they have not yet made their 2012 debut and will be announced later in the season.

Oddfellows / Facebook

Oddfellows says forget the fancy flavors, the Dirty Chai Latte is everything you could want in an autumn sip.

But, some local establishments think that fall flavors are more hype than holiday cheer. Oddfellows’ Amy Wallace Cowan said that the one-stop eatery-bar-coffeehouse doesn’t jump on the “pumpkin bandwagon.” She added, “But we boost promotions of fun concoctions like the Dirty Chai latte, which is the perfect coffee beverage to get you in the mood for the holidays!”

An intriguing name, the “dirty” refers to masala chai augmented with espresso. According to Oddfellows, it is an appropriate way to admit with confidence that one “survived another Dallas summer.”

So, what do you think? Are fall and holiday flavors all they’re cracked up to be?