Pumpkin spice season kicks off earlier each year. Here's a look at the history of America's enduring love for the pie-inspired flavor

Fall may be weeks away, but pumpkin spice season has begun, with fans of the pumpkin spice latte looking forward to ordering the drink earlier and earlier each year. 

Pumpkin pie has a lengthy history in the U.S. and the spice mix associated with the dessert treat has become inextricably linked with fall. While the flavor and scent have become American obsessions in the years since Starbucks first debuted the pumpkin spice latte, pumpkins and pumpkin pie go back much farther in American history.