Pumpkin Season Has Arrived

Fall may have its colorful leaves, crisp mornings and cozy sweaters, but there is no escaping the season's true celebrity: pumpkin. As soon as September arrives, pumpkin seems to take over grocery stores, coffee shops, bakeries and even our social media feeds. Suddenly, everything is orange, sprinkled with cinnamon and advertised as the perfect taste of autumn.

From Pie to Practically Everything

Pumpkin pie started this tradition, but today's pumpkin invasion goes far beyond dessert. Grocery store shelves can be overflowing with pumpkin-flavored products, including pumpkin spice coffee, pumpkin spice latte mix, pumpkin-flavored ground coffee, pumpkin tea, pumpkin creamer, pumpkin hot chocolate, pumpkin beer, pumpkin cider and pumpkin-flavored protein drinks.

The bakery aisle gets even more enthusiastic with pumpkin bread, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin donuts, pumpkin bagels, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin cupcakes, pumpkin cake, pumpkin rolls, pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin pie and pumpkin-flavored pastries. There are also pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin waffles and pumpkin French toast products waiting to make breakfast taste like fall.

Pumpkin Takes Over the Snack Aisle

Want something crunchy? Try pumpkin spice granola, pumpkin cereal, pumpkin granola bars, pumpkin crackers, pumpkin popcorn and pumpkin-flavored pretzels. For a sweeter snack, there are pumpkin spice marshmallows, pumpkin-flavored chocolate, pumpkin spice candy, pumpkin yogurt, pumpkin ice cream and pumpkin pudding.

Even foods that don't seem remotely pumpkin-related have joined the party. You can find pumpkin spice oatmeal, pumpkin spice pancake syrup, pumpkin hummus, pumpkin pasta, pumpkin ravioli, pumpkin soup, pumpkin salsa and pumpkin-flavored nut butters. Some products contain actual pumpkin, while others simply use the familiar combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves known as pumpkin spice.

Why Do We Love It So Much?

Part of pumpkin's appeal is nostalgia. Pumpkin pie, warm spices and freshly baked pumpkin bread are strongly associated with Thanksgiving and fall gatherings. The spices themselves also create a warm, comforting aroma that makes people think of fireplaces, sweaters and crisp autumn days.

There is another reason for pumpkin's annual takeover: limited availability creates excitement. Pumpkin products appear for only a few months, encouraging shoppers to grab their favorites before they disappear.

For a few glorious weeks each year, pumpkin isn't merely an ingredient. It's a season, a scent, a flavor—and apparently, an acceptable addition to just about everything.