Autumn used to be marked by the falling leaves and the days growing colder, but not anymore. The cosy season now officially begins with the arrival of pumpkin spice, which seems to happen earlier every year. The trend has become so huge that Merriam-Webster has finally added it to the dictionary, defining it as "a mixture of usually cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and often allspice that is commonly used in pumpkin pie".

Once available only in the United States, pumpkin spice has taken the world by storm. But beware: not all pumpkin-spiced products are created equal. To help separate the tricks from the treats, we tested as many of the latest limited-edition foods and drinks as possible. Our Features Writer, resident chef and self-declared pumpkin spice expert Maria has the verdict.