Trader Joe’s Finally Brought Out An Item Customers Have Been Begging For

Last month, we dove into the foods Trader Joe’s fans want versions of at the store – and it was pretty interesting to see what everyone was looking for. What stood out was the simplicity of a lot of the things customers wished Trader Joe’s stocked: The supermarket’s known for pushing the envelope with its flavors, but in reality, people just want it to offer things like rotisserie chicken and pudding pops, which are hardly revolutionary. 

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Well, either someone at Trader Joe’s has been keeping an eye on its customers’ biggest requests, or it’s able to read their minds – because last week, it finally dropped an item that’s long been on customers’ wish lists. We think we’ve heard this song before. 

It’s Here: Trader Joe’s Paneer!

A few days ago, Trader Joe’s released its Paneer Indian Style Cheese, and in doing so, came full circle. As TJ’s notes on its website, this oft-requested item has been available at its stores in its basic form twice before, in the early 1990s and mid-2000s – but it wasn’t popular enough either time to become a long-term staple. The supermarket has used it as an ingredient in its frozen meals since, but those who wanted the base cheese had to go elsewhere. 

Until now. Trader Joe’s Paneer Indian Style Cheese is made with Wisconsin pasteurized cow’s milk, and it has all the firmness and mild, subtly tangy flavor you’d expect from paneer. It also costs $4.99 for a 10-ounce block, which is already acting as music to its customers’ ears, considering that it can run to almost double that in other places. It also doesn’t have that dreaded “limited-time” label that a lot of new Trader Joe’s products have when they drop. Oh, no. It looks like it’s here to stay, baby.

Music, You Say? Customers, You Say?

Yep. Trader Joe’s release of its Paneer Indian Style Cheese was greeted with much rejoicing over on Reddit, with its customers universally delighted that it’s finally back in stock. “This is a dream come true,” said one person. It’s a rare Trader Joe’s comeback that everyone seems happy about (unlike, ay, its handheld pot pies, which continue to divide opinion).

Others were already planning what they’d be making with the cheese. Saag paneer was an early frontrunner, but I’d also like to suggest paneer butter masala, matar paneer, and paneer tikka skewers for your consideration. One person in the Reddit thread also stated that they’d already made themselves a paneer toasted grilled cheese sandwich with it, which sounds frankly excellent – aaaand now I’m hungry again. Get yourself a block in your weekly Trader Joe’s haul, and make that kitchen sing.