Trader Joe's blog and cooking.
The pros: Trader Joe’s Organic Peppermint Cinnamon Tea will seem like a slight odd if not unpleasant flavor combination, but some how these two play nicely together.
The cons: Some of my tea bags had some issues. I had a few stray tea leaves floating outside the bag.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Organic Fair Trade Cacao Powder is new to shelves as is Trader Joe’s Maca Powder. This is rich and has solid chocolate flavor.
The cons: Nothing really stands out.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Organic Frosted Strawberry Toaster Pastries are super fresh tasting and do taste like real fruit.
The cons: Some people prefer their toaster pastries without frosting (which is not available at Trader Joe’s) and some people will prefer the thick coating of a Pop Tart.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Organic Frosted Brown Sugar and Cinnamon Toaster Pastries are Trader Joe’s answer to Pop Tarts.
The cons: They don’t quite live up to the originals they are trying to replicate.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Lemon Ginger Flavored Water is organic, flavorful, and refreshing.
The cons: While the flavors in Trader Joe’s Lemon Ginger Flavored Water say natural, they are actually extracts.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Organic Sugar is kosher, organic, and tasty. There are some noticeable differences between regular sugar and organic. It comes in a bag that can be resealed.
The cons: Organic sugar comes at a premium price. The last time I was at Costco, sugar (in a much larger and non organic package was about $0.40 cents per pound). This is about triple the price per pound.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Organic Mango Lemonade is a delicate and successful balance of sweet, acidic, and tangy. As an added bonus it happens to be organic.
The cons: Nothing really jumps out.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Organic Silver Dollar Pancakes are very quick to make and you get to eat a bunch of these teeny tiny pancakes in one serving.
The cons: As always, it’s cheaper to make your own than to have them pre-made in a box.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Organic Jalapeno Limeade was the hottest beverage I’ve ever tasted. This doesn’t fail at bringing the spice.
The cons: This is a product that is not intended for everyone to enjoy. I have a feeling the reviews for this product will be all over the place. In fact, it was a split decision in my household. When I had my husband try it, he said it was the worst thing he’s ever tasted. I found this to be better mixed in an adult beverage.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Organic Sicilian Style Pizza is quick and ready in under 15 minutes from your oven. The organic olive oil was an added bonus that I was tempted not to use, but only added to the flavor here.
The cons: The pearl mozzarella cheese and the crust seemed under salted.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Organic Beet Strawberry Juice is organic and will be a beet lovers dream.
The cons: If you had any hopes of a strawberry flavor, you’ll be wrong because the beet took over.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Roasted Teriyaki Seaweed Snack is sweet, salty, and umami. Only 30 calories per package which makes it a sensible snack.
The cons: This flavor only comes in a 6 pack. Seaweed is not a flavor everyone will appreciate.
The verdict: …
Velveeta and Kraft have nothing to worry about with Trader Joe’s Microwavable Mac and Cheese. The taste of Trader Joe’s Microwavable Mac and Cheese was just ok. Most importantly, you’ll have to bring your own dish.
The pros: Trader Joe’s Microwavable Mac and Cheese is only 230 calories per serving.
The cons: You might need to add additional water beyond what the instructions call for as my pasta came out dry every single time.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Espresso Baton is coffee and chocolate without the flavors being out of balance. One does not overwhelm the other.
The cons: If you are expecting a smooth chocolate, you’ll have some added texture here from the coffee grounds.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s This Apple Walks Into a Bar is tasty, organic, low fat, affordable, portable and not a source of completely empty calories.
The cons: Easy to eat a few of these in a sitting. If you buy the strawberry flavor, the packaging of the individual bars looks almost identical to these….
The pros: Trader Joe’s This Strawberry Walks Into A Bar is low fat, organic, portable, tasty and contains whole grains.
The cons: Addicting. So easy to eat more than one of these in a sitting. Individually wrapped package looks a lot like the apple flavor. Other flavors the individually wrapped bars are different colors.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Organic Himalayan Honey is a tasty honey with a sugary top.
The cons: Trader Joe’s Organic Himalayan Honey is a thick honey that you’ll need a knife to spread, so if you are baking you still might need to reach for a more liquid honey.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s This Blueberry Walks Into a Bar is organic, flavorful, some nutritional value, tasty, inexpensive compared to other organic snack bars.
The cons: Addicting. Easy to eat more than one of these.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Organic Superfood Pilaf is a bag of colorful and healthy superfood. A whole lot of vitamin A in one serving. Lots of superfoods in one bag. Ready in about 10 minutes on the stove or even less in the microwave.
The cons: Came out as one giant block which made it difficult to prepare. Was very plain tasting.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Organic Creamy Tomato Low Sodium Soup is gluten free, organic, low sodium, and vegetarian if any of that is a concern for you. Otherwise, a very tasty cream of tomato soup. I did have to adjust the salt levels as this is low sodium and I thought a pinch of salt brought out it’s best flavor.
The cons: You’ll want to bring something salty to the table. I can imagine some people will say that this soup is flat. I’d say, you should bring your own salt shaker. Once adjusted to your liking it’s pretty darn good. If you are bringing this to work, bring your own microwavable container. Lack of directions other than don’t put the container in the microwave.
The verdict: …
The pros: If you weren’t looking at Trader Joe’s Organic Pastilles Peppermints, you would think they are Altoids. There is a noticeable visual difference in the color as they are not as white as Altoids and also seem to have bits of dried mint in each candy.
The cons: Like altoids, they might remind you of chewing on dry toothpaste.
The verdict: …
