Fall is upon us, and winter is coming, which means it’s time to break out those seasonal treats many of us have grown to love.

There’s gingerbread and peppermint, but perhpas the most popular holiday flavor is pumpkin.

The pumpkin spice epidemic is sweeping through coffee shops and restaurants all over the country.

Many restaurants from fast food to finer dining are now featuring a limited time pumpkin product. Even Einstein Bros now has pumpkin bagels and muffins, pumpkin cream cheese poppers and pumpkin coffees.

McDonald’s offers a baked pumpkin pie and a pumpkin shake while Olive Garden offers a pumpkin cheesecake.

But is all this pumpkin going a bit overboard? Kaitlyn Huff, a freshman history major, doesn’t think so.

“I get excited every fall because to me that means pumpkin season,” Huff said. “I usually never go to Starbucks but when that Pumpkin Spice Latte comes out I practically live there. That drink is a gift from God.”

To some people the pumpkin flavor is more than just a part of a tasty treat. It’s a part of happier and simpler times.

“My love for all things pumpkin probably comes from my love for pumpkin pie. I have always loved pumpkin pie ever since I was little,” said Julie Landry, a graduate student in English. “When the pumpkin products start resurfacing it reminds me of winter and that puts me in a happier mood because that means the dreadful hot months are over.”

So what about the people out there who don’t like pumpkin?

“I don’t associate with those types of people,” says freshman pre-nursing major Reva Carpenter. “Pumpkin is simply amazing.“

Carpenter said her most recent feat in the world of the pumpkin flavor was Eggo’s Pumpkin Spice waffles.

“The hint of cinnamon in most pumpkin flavoring really triggers my taste buds,” Carpenter said.

One trip to Wal-Mart can overwhelm the unsuspecting pumpkin lover with all of the pumpkin eggnogs, ice cream, chai tea, pop tarts, loafs and cookies.

“I wonder if we will start seeing pumpkin flavored shampoos and lotions,” Huff said.