Trader Joe’s New Cheese Could Do With A Bit More Punch

I speak often of Trader Joe’s various wins. I was doing so yesterday, in fact, when I was talking about its Rhubarb & Strawberry soda. Even if this store isn’t for you, you can’t ignore its high hit rate when it comes to product releases, and how much its customers appreciate its combination of familiarity and a left-field nature that keeps things both fresh and recognizable. But that’s not to say it gets everything right. It’s only a humble supermarket, after all. It misses the mark sometimes. Trader Joe’s isn’t human, but the people who run it are. 

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One place it’s slightly missed the mark recently is in its dairy section, with a new cheese that customers are saying needs a bit more…well, a bit more flavor. Let’s discuss.

Trader Joe’s Tres Leches Cheese

TJ’s has just dropped its new Tres Leches Cheese, a limited-time option that – and it’s important to get this out of the way up top – isn’t named after the dessert. Instead, Tres Leches Cheese gets its name from, quite literally, the three milks used to make it. This product is a combination of cow, sheep, and goat milk, making a Spanish cheese that Trader Joe’s says is “approachable enough for everyday snacking—yet distinct enough to earn a place on your holiday cheeseboard.”

The use of sheep and goat milk here immediately suggests a stronger, more forthright flavor. Unfortunately, though, customers have been left a little cold on Tres Leches Cheese, if early responses on Reddit are anything to go by. “The cheese is pretty mild and kinda simple. I was hoping for something more interesting,” said one person, while another called it “kinda mid” when eaten cold –although they did state that in a grilled cheese sandwich, it came into its own. It just doesn’t seem to have the wow factor its shoppers were hoping for. 

So…Is It Worth It?

Well, if you’re on a mission to try every cheese Trader Joe’s has to offer, then you might want to give it a trial run. I should mention, though, that this one costs $4.99 for a 150-gram pack, a lot more than many of its other cheeses. By that token, it’s not exactly a budget option. If you’re looking for something sharper and with more of a savory punch, you might want to skip it. If creamy, mild flavors are your thing, though – especially in a sandwich – it could be for you.