I love sweater weather. I love watching the leaves change color and feeling them crunch under my feet when I go for a walk. I love dressing up for Halloween. I love candles and tea and hot cocoa and cozy nights in. 

More than anything, though, I love pumpkin.

I know a lot of people think pumpkin is overhyped, and maybe it is, but that will never hold me back from being an active participant in pumpkin spice culture.

In high school after dancing at football halftime, my mom would drive my best friend and me to Starbucks for pumpkin spice steamers.

After fall dance practices, I could usually convince my dad to take me to Culver’s for a butterburger kid’s meal and a pumpkin shake.

If you think you saw me at a fall drink BOGO Thursday at Starbucks inhaling a pumpkin iced chai with almond milk, you absolutely did.

Even Olson’s gets it right with their pumpkin pie ice cream, which I usually order with a scoop of the apple pie flavor for the full fall special experience.

So when I was doom scrolling on Instagram and came across an ad for a Wendy’s Pumpkin Spice Frosty, of course I immediately sent a screenshot to my roommate and let her know what we’d be doing with our night.

I’ve only had two Frosties in my entire life, and they were mediocre at best. For those who’ve never had a Frosty before, it’s like a slushy that really wants to be a scoop of ice cream, but can’t quite pull it off. 

In other words, you’re not missing out.

This one sparked my interest though, so at 11 p.m. on Sunday night, my roommate and I made our way to Wendy’s.

We finally pulled into the drive-thru after I managed to take three wrong turns during our 10-minute drive, and I ordered two small Pumpkin Spice Frosties with a large fry (for dipping, obviously).

I pulled into a spot in the parking lot, and my roommate and I readied ourselves for the moment of truth. We decided to start with spoons to get the full effect of the Frosty. We clinked spoons and took our first bite.

As the taste spread across our tongues, she and I looked at each other with confusion.

“It tastes like a candle,” I said.

She looked at me and said, “Oh my gosh, that’s what it is.”

The texture was pleasant — smooth and creamy, not thick but not thin.

But the flavor? Odd. Confusing. Disconcerting. Unsettling. Good? Debatable.

The original taste was that of a cheap pumpkin candle. Then the palate shifted to something pleasant — sweet but not too sweet, and mild in a good way. 

Then the flavor shifted again to something bordering on what I imagine a Bath & Body Works pumpkin-scented wallflower would taste like.

We decided it was time for the Frosty to face the real test: the French fry. 

My roommate and I picked up our fries of choice and dug in. This sensation was even odder. It took us a minute to figure out what was going on until we came to the realization that the fries were godawful.

They were dry, burnt, way too salty and most of them were shorter than the length of a third of my pinky finger. That’s what we get for visiting a fast food place an hour before close, I guess.

All of this being said, we finished over half of the Frosties and most of the fries before remembering we shared a bathroom, and if we didn’t quit soon we’d reap the consequences.

I can’t in good conscience recommend the Wendy’s Pumpkin Spice Frosty, but I can say it was an interesting experience. I don’t encourage you to try it, but if you do, I suggest you keep a couple of Tums on hand.

Price can be reached at [email protected].