I Tried Trader Joe’s New Controversial Earl Grey Blondies, Here’s My Review

Trader Joe’s is hit or miss when it comes to new products. Frozen Spicy Spuds? Major hit. French-style ham and cheese sandwich? Airport food-level fail. But that’s kind of the fun. They aren’t afraid to try something new—regardless of the reviews. Worst case scenario? They take it off the shelves never to return.

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But sometimes Trader Joe’s releases a new product that divides its fans. Such is the case with the new Earl Grey Blondies. The limited-time blondies are flavored with real black tea leaves and topped with crystal sugar. And they’re getting extremely mixed reviews.

Most of the dissenters complain that the Earl Grey flavor isn’t strong enough. Some take umbrage with the texture. And some (unfavorably) compare the flavor to weed brownies. But some people love them.

What’s the truth? Are they good or bad? Spoiler alert: They’re great! Let’s get into the full review.

New Trader Joe’s Treat!

Trader Joe’s Earl Grey Blondie Bars

Pros: I think the flavor is perfect. It tastes just enough like Earl Grey, with a pleasant black tea bitterness that’s balanced out by the crystal sugar on top. If the bergamot was any more prominent, it would be too much. And the texture is spectacular. It’s chewy with a bit of that under-cooked cookie thing going on. The squares are small—perfect for pairing with an afternoon tea—and in today’s age of Crumbl cookies that are big enough to serve four people, I think that’s refreshing.

Cons: If you don’t like Earl Grey tea, you’re probably not going to love these. Because they do, in fact, taste like Earl Grey tea. (I’m talking to you, Reddit.) And if you prefer a drier, more crumbly, “short” baked good, you also won’t enjoy them. Otherwise I have NO NOTES.

Verdict: I feel like I’m losing my mind because I think these are some of the best Trader Joe’s baked goods I’ve ever had. Perhaps we got a particularly good batch. I’ll find out soon enough, because I will be buying them again.

Credit: Liv Averett / Trader Joe’s

Rating:

9.5/10

Sporks

About the Author

Hi! I’m the editor-in-chief of Sporked. I will never turn down a fresh-shucked oyster but I’ll also leap at whatever new product Reese’s releases and I love a Tostitos Hint of Lime, even if there is no actual lime in the ingredients. Why you should trust me: I have been writing about food and beverages for well over a decade and am an avid at-home cook and snacker. I began my career writing about fine dining and recipes, moved into cocktails and spirits, and now I talk about groceries. If you can eat it or drink it, I’ve probably written about it. What I buy every week: Trader Joe’s dried okra. Appleton Farms prosciutto from Aldi. Some sort of Trader Joe’s cheese (I’m into the aged gouda at the moment). Frozen waffles (usually the Eggo Cinnamon Toast Minis). Spindrift water (loving the Cosmopolitan right now). Favorite ranking: Smoked salmon. Imagine me as Scrooge McDuck but instead of coins I’m diving into a vault of slippery smoked salmon slices. Pure joy. I also found some real steals in that taste test! Least favorite ranking: Canned oysters. I had such high hopes for this but it quickly became a chore. The kitchen smelled like an uncleaned aquarium.