Each holiday season is accompanied by its own flavors. After Thanksgiving, shops shift away from the classic pumpkin spice and apple cinnamon flavors towards those more associated with Christmas. Being a big fan of this season’s flavors, I decided to stop by PJ’s Coffee to check out their new options.

I ended up getting PJ’s seasonal Peppermint Bark Latte. It is flavored with white chocolate and peppermint syrup, topped with whipped cream, a drizzle of chocolate and small chunks of peppermint. I received my drink, piping hot, only minutes after ordering it. It was tasty and very sweet as expected, which made it a little hard to finish. While the peppermint was noticeable throughout the whole drink, the majority of the flavoring had sunk to the bottom of the latte. Overall, however, I enjoyed the drink. Christmastime has some of my favorite flavors of the year, so I was really excited that PJ’s had released some Christmas flavors to get people into the holiday spirit.

While the utilization of peppermint dates back to ancient times, it is uncertain when it became associated with the holidays. Some people, however, tie the red and white colors on candy canes to a deeper religious representation of Christmas. Regardless of the reason, many shops embrace the holiday season as a time to release new flavors associated with winter.

In addition to the Peppermint Bark Latte, PJ’s other seasonal flavors include their Peppermint Bark Velvet Ice, Butter Rum Latte and Cookie Butter Latte. These drinks incorporate holiday flavors such as peppermint, caramel, and cinnamon. For those who aren’t a fan of this season’s flavors, however, PJ’s Coffee also offers a variety of coffees, teas, blended drinks, beignets and several bakery items.

PJ’s coffee was relatively empty on a Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. with only several customers seated at the tables on the right side of the shop. The shop features a minimalistic design of white walls and counters with wooden cabinets and chairs. Signs near the entrance and on the ordering counter display options for their holiday flavors. Large windows at the front of the shop provide customers with lots of natural light. Overall, PJ’s has a clean interior and offers some unique flavors with quick service.

All in all, I enjoyed the Peppermint Bark Latte and would love to visit again to try the other Christmas flavors. I would definitely recommend PJ’s Coffee to anyone looking for a drink to get them into the holiday spirit. Their fast service and neat spaces, however, also make the shop a great place for a quick stop or long study session.