These Are 5 Standout Items From Our Trader Joe’s Haul This Week

Trader Joe’s really just never does stop with rolling out new products day after day. Even if you go to the store every single day of the week, it really feels like there’s still something to discover. So, naturally, as a very curious eater with a constant desire to shake things up in my diet, it’s an exciting place to shop.

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Some people think that the lack of consistency at Trader Joe’s is frustrating, but I think that’s a very narrow-minded view. In fact, if you keep your mind and palate open, then you can really lean into the seasonality of the store’s goods. And, on that note, here are five things we bought this week from Trader Joe’s and what we thought about them.

Sparkling Orange Flavored Espresso Tonic Beverage

This could have so easily been a very disappointing drink. Honestly, I expected it to be very bitter with the black espresso and I didn’t expect the orange to be as natural of a flavor as it was. Well, it was to my delight when I tasted it and reread the label to see that it really was just flavored with actual orange juice. And, between the orange juice and the added sweetener, it balanced off the bitterness of the espresso in really lovely way. Its sparkling nature gives it an extra hit of refreshment, too. Pour it over ice and this is that perfect porch drink for afternoons in the summertime.

Rating:

8.5/10

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Ridge Cut Carolina Gold Style BBQ Potato Chips

I was born and raised for part of my life in southern Virginia, just above the border with North Carolina. So, mustard-based barbecue sauces are very dear to my heart and I breathed a sigh of relief when I tasted these chips and they didn’t disappoint. They taste deeply of mustard in it’s truest form, where it even has a note of that horseradish-y spiciness on the back end of the palate. It’s also the perfect amount of sweetness where it’s not the first thing you taste. The cut and crispiness are perfect, too, since it’s actually a nice and sturdy ruffle cut chip, which has been rare to find in my experience. My only notes for this chip are that it could maybe be a touch saltier, but that’s not gonna stop me from getting them again.

Rating:

9/10

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Orange & Cream Flavored Cookies

Imagine a sugar cookie with the texture of a shortbread cookie and the flavor of an orange Creamsicle. Because that’s exactly what these are. They are delicious and crunchy, and they are not overpowering in any singular flavor. You can taste every element it markets, even the creamy yogurt chips mixed throughout. They are pretty sweet, so I couldn’t imagine eating very many of these at once. But the flavor is bright and perfect for all of the summertime nostalgia. Plus, they come in a very large pack, so I’d recommend these to take along to your next summer gathering.

Rating:

9/10

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Roasted & Salted Rosemary Marcona Almonds

I’m a huge fan of the Roasted & Salted Truffle Marcona Almonds that Trader Joe’s sells. So, when I saw these in the store, I knew I had to try out the other flavor. And I love rosemary, so it was a no-brainer. Unfortunately, I think these just have way too much rosemary on them. I can’t say I could actually taste the almond in any of the bites I ate. Instead, it was so fragrant and aromatic it almost read as soapy. They’re not the worst, but I think I’ll stick to the truffle flavor instead. 

Rating:

5/10

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Peaches & Cream Flavored Cream Cheese Spread

For the most part, I was really satisfied with this cream cheese. There were actually pieces of peaches mixed in which was very satisfying and they gave it an almost jammy effect. The cream cheese was pretty standard, except for the mild graininess that threw me off with the texture. I do think that the peach flavor could’ve been a little stronger―cream cheese is such a distinct flavor that especially on a bagel and not eaten alone, sometimes you couldn’t really tell that the peach flavor was there. But paired with a blueberry bagel and served open faced with a good thick layer of schmear, I can really see the appeal of having such a fun summer flavor to play with at breakfast.

Rating:

8/10

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