Pumpkin Spice

Pumpkin spice is a running gag in The Petri Dish, about Thaddeus and Bob getting showered with it and usually offered lattes, during autumn or just before autumn comes. Usually, Thaddeus can sense when it is about to happen, while Bob remains clueless.

Appearances
Its first appearance starts with Thaddeus asking Bob if he can feel "it happening" in the air. Bob is confused, so Thaddeus explains that the season is changing. Bob asks if he's referring to autumn, and then the two are showered with pumpkin spice while lattes spontaneously appear in their hands. Thaddeus explains that the spice is what he was referring to, while Bob wonders where the lattes came from. The bonus panel shows a man offering Thaddeus a pumpkin spice muffin, while Thaddeus tries to dissuade him since it's still August.

In another strip, Thaddeus notes that "it seems to be starting late this year". Bob asks if he's referring to autumn, while Thaddeus says that the later it is, the harder it hits. Bob points out that autumn equinox is tomorrow, then a man fires pumpkin spice at the two. Thaddeus explains that he was referring to pumpkin spice, and the man offers him a pumpkin spice latte coupon.

Trivia

 * According to Sutton, Thaddeus actually enjoys pumpkin spice despite his complaints about it.