Trader Joe's blog and cooking.
Trader Joe’s Bunny Gummy Tummies are back. But this year they are different The last time I reviewed these it was 2017. There has been a subtle change to the bag. And while I wasn’t actually going to revisit this review, a quick glance at this bag made me realize that I probably should because this is a different product on a quite a few levels.
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Oh Trader Joe’s, you know most people won’t keep the New Year’s Resolution. So they are giving us another popular product double. And yes, this adds to a long list of product doubles that I’ve tried, especially in the snack food section. Behold, Trader Joe’s answer to the popular snack: Takis.
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If this packaging seems familiar, then you aren’t wrong. This is the same packaging that comes on Trader Joe’s birthday cake candy bar. That bar comes and goes at random points in the year. This is five ounces of popcorn with a candy coating on it, while the candy bar is 2 ounces. If you’ve never tried that candy bar, then let me get you up to speed.
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Trader Joe’s has expanded my horizons with their gummy line. It seems like now they have a gummy for every season. I’ve tried all of them over the last two years. For the most part, they’ve been pretty good.
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Behold, aside from the sliced veggies I picked up, this is one of the least sugar filled items. And quite possibly the strangest. Notice I said least. I didn’t say it was without sugar.
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The pros: Trader Joe’s Spicy Cheese Crunchies are meant to be a healthier alternative to the similar to Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. These are also listed as gluten-free.
The cons: This is not quite an exact copy to the original.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Soft Baked Snickerdoodles are delicious on their own, but it’s very clear there is also a targeted audience: people with allergies.
The cons: If you like crisp cookies, then you won’t want to pick this up. Box only contains 12 cookies.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Organic Air Popped Popcorn is new and is a healthy popcorn.
The cons: My husbands reaction was “this tastes like diet popcorn.” You can take that on face value. The bag makes it obvious to anyone within 100 feet that you are consuming this product.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Restaurant Style White Corn Tortilla Chips are sturdy and flavorful chips that are well priced.
The cons: While they may say restaurant style, they will still never match the just out of the deep fryer variety that is served in most restaurants.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Churro Bites are perfect for those who like things sweet, but not too sweet. These are baked so they will save on calories.
The cons: These won’t win any beauty pageants.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Creamy Roasted Cauliflower and Onion Dip is a new and delicious dip found in the freezer section of Trader Joe’s.
The cons: This item is labeled HOL on my receipt which usually indicates it is a seasonal item. Unfortunately, I strongly disagree with this being seasonal. This would make an awesome addition to Trader Joe’s Spinach and Artichoke Dip that is available year round. I also disagree with there being 8 servings. I believe this to be closer to 2-3 servings at most.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Bamba Peanut Snacks is a popular snack in Israel that Trader Joe’s has brought to you. This is very full of peanut butter flavor and you can have quite a few in one serving.
The cons: It’s a completely different type of snack so it might take some adjustment.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Spud Crunchies are a new and fun product that seems to be a hybrid of a french fry and a potato chip.
The cons: This bag cannot be resealed, therefore it almost begs you to eat all four servings.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Parmesan and Garlic Pita Chips are tasty chips perfect for snacking on their own or enjoying with dip. They are also priced well.
The cons: Nothing really comes to mind.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Crunchy Nutty Rice Bites might remind you of a more adult flavored Rice Krispies treat, just better. Gluten free and kosher if that is a priority for you. Bag can be resealed so you don’t feel obligated to eat the whole thing.
The cons: Nothing really jumps out.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s California Extra Virgin Olive Oil is one of an extensive collection of Trader Joe’s Olive Oils available that has some subtle nuances in flavor.
The cons: This olive oil is priced at somewhat of a premium compared to the prices of other olive oils.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Mocha Joe Joe’s were part of the recent coffee theme at Trader Joe’s. They have since made a return a may have taken a more permanent part of the rotation.
The cons: These were temporarily off the shelves so I’m not sure if they are now a permanent part of the line up.
The verdict: …
Prior to starting this blog, I was and still am an avid couponer. I looked forward to opening my email and reading the latest coupon and sale matchups from The Krazy Coupon Lady. Sadly, Trader Joe’s has never offered coupons as everything is (relatively) reasonably priced. However, in the spirit of providing consumer information, I’ll post the matchups to the Fearless Flyer with my reviews.
Now, I’m not copying the entire list as I’m only including the items I’ve reviewed so far. In fact, the newest Fearless Flyer was posted on Trader Joe’s website on May 1st which you can see here. While I can’t say I have reviewed everything listed in the flyer, here are the products that I do have a review for. I’ll add more to the list and start a match up the next time the flyer comes out.
Happy shopping! There are some real gems in this month, especially in the frozen food section, see the bottom for my top 5. So here are my Trader Joe’s May 2017 Fearless Flyer Matchups:…
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: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Powerberries are a pretty tasty snack and are similar, but not identical to Brookside’s Dark Chocolate Fruit Flavored Centers.
The cons: If you are used to Brookside’s Dark Chocolate Fruit Flavored Centers, then you might find the center of these dry and somewhat grainy or more crystallized.
The verdict: …
There are currently two varieties of Kale Chips available: Trader Joe’s Seasoned Kale Chips and Trader Joe’s Nacho Kale Chips. Which should you buy? I preferred the Nacho, but these weren’t bad as an alternative. They were salty, crisp and nutritionally a bit better than potato chips.
The pros: Trader Joe’s Seasoned Kale Chips are tasty and come in a resealable bag. You’ll want some portion control with this product.
The cons: These cost almost $32 per pound which makes them expensive. They have about as many calories as a bag of potato chips.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Peanut Butter and Oat Bars are tasty. The frosting adds a nice peanut butter sweetness to it.
The cons: If you are looking for a bar with a smooth texture, Trader Joe’s Peanut Butter and Oat Bars isn’t it.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Joe’s Dark Coffee Squares are for you if you enjoy your coffee black and have a sweet tooth. Trader Joe’s Dark Coffee Squares might satisfy both.
The cons: If you don’t care for the taste of black coffee, this isn’t for you.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Mint Creams taste like a cross between a Junior Mints and a Peppermint Patty. These are smaller than the seasonal holiday ones.
The cons: If you are a mint chocolate fan these are addicting and in fact I had to purchase this several times in order to write this review. I hope my sacrifice was worth it.
The verdict: …
