Gouda News! A Popular, Spicy Cheese Has Returned to Trader Joe’s

You know what chickens don’t do? Hatch Pepper Gouda. But Trader Joe’s sure does. That’s right, our old buddy Trader H. Joe (the H stands for Happiness) just brought back their spicy Beemster Hatch Pepper Gouda Cheese, and the internet is finally happy (I mean, some of the internet—it is the internet, after all).

The hatch pepper-flavored phenomenon made by Beemster (a municipality and a cheese company in Holland) apparently arrived on Trader Joe’s shelves for the first time in 2019 for about a month, only to promptly disappear into the not-officially-discontinued but also not-on-the-shelves ether that is so unique to Trader Joe’s. And now, for whatever mysterious reason, the iconic cheese is back. What can I say, my man T.J. is an enigma. 

But you know what is not an enigma? The many uses of this spicy, creamy cheese creation. Trader Joe’s suggested it be eaten with a Riesling, and people on Instagram have suggested it can be: melted in a sandwich, featured on a cheeseboard, melted into a creamy homemade mac ‘n cheese, stirred into scrambled eggs, paired with TJ’s own Strawberry Jalapeño crackers, and the list goes on. The possibilities for this Premium Dutch Gouda with Real Hatch Chiles really are endless.

It makes sense why people are so enthusiastic about the return of this product. I mean, it’s made in Holland. HOLLAND! The literal birthplace of Gouda! And maybe I’m getting too excited over a cheese, but if that’s wrong then I don’t want to be right. I love TJ’s. I love cheese (I think it’s grate hahaha). And I love spice. Seems like this Gouda and I need to talk, because it just may be my spicy, stanky, Dutch soulmate. 


About the Author

Jessica Block

Jessica Block is a freelance contributor to Sporked, a comedian, a baker, a food writer, and a firm believer that Trader Joe's may just be the happiest place on earth. She loves spicy snacks, Oreos, baking bread, teeny tiny avocados, and trying new foods whenever she can. Also, if you give her a bag of Takis she will be your best friend.

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