So maybe they brought back Trader Joe's Ube ice cream this season to get us ready for a new application of ube. Besides, this is gluten-free and has a super kid-friendly color. But the flavor of the ice cream was subtle. And if you enjoy subtly flavored, then you'll probably enjoy this too.
Taste
Ube, for the most part, lends a subtle nuttiness with a hint of vanilla. But that isn't all that is going on here.
Nope, this is mochi. And I'm still very surprised that they haven't brought back the Mochi Cake Mix from last year. But in the meanwhile, this will have to suffice (if it is still even on the shelves of your local store). Heck, even the savory Mochi Kung Pao Balls were pretty good.
Mochi has a texture all on its own. It's springy and chewy. It is absolutely an experience. And it tends to be a love/hate type of thing. Some people adore it, while others abhor it. Me? It is all about where it is used.
I hated it paired with ice cream. But the cake mix last year was pretty good.
So knowing full well this is a full textural experience, I opted to make pancakes with this.
The mix doesn't let you know right away about the ube. The deeply purple hue comes out after you've added some liquids. So if you are staring at the bag, fear not, that color will appear.
The other beauty of gluten-free mixes is that you don't need to worry about over-stirring the mix. There are no glutens to build here so it becomes, even more, kid-friendly for those with little ones who like to help around the kitchen.
I went with the smallest amount of mix here. And if you are making pancakes, I actually got closer to 5-6 out of a single batch. If you've tried making these with a waffle maker, I'd love to hear your thoughts on how it turned out.
But in the end, the purple does get muted with the browning on a skillet. However, cut into these and you'll be hit with the hue.
In terms of pancakes, these came out pretty good. I didn't feel like I was missing the gluten. And the taste and texture were on point. Mochi isn't a bad texture for pancakes.
Add some butter and syrup and this mix is solid regardless of whether you are gluten-free or not. The subtle taste of the ube is pretty nice here too and plays well with pancake toppings.
Frequently asked questions
The following are common reader questions about this product
This is a popular yet seasonal product. Ube tends to hit shelves late spring or early summer.
No, but they do sell ube flavored ice cream, pancake, and waffle mix, as well as tea cookies
While this product is not labeled as vegan, the ingredient list does not mention any animal products in this.
Overall
For $3.99 this isn't a bad mix but seems to be in short supply at some stores. This is one of those items that I hope Trader Joe's adds to the regular rotation of items on shelves.
Would I buy this again? For me, Trader Joe's Ube Mochi Pancake and Waffle Mix are a yes. I really like these. Hopefully, we will see them on shelves regularly but it seems like ube has been a summer seasonal flavor.
Did you try it? Let me know what you think in the comments section!
A visual rundown
The box of Trader Joe's Ube Mochi Pancake and Waffle Mix:
The nutritional information and ingredients
Instructions
The description on the box:
After being cooked you get:
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Trader Joe's Ube Mochi Pancake Mix
Product Name: Trader Joe's Ube Mochi Pancake Mix
Product Description: Trader Joe's Ube Mochi Pancake Mix is a new and limited-run mix.
Price: $3.99
Summary
Trader Joe's Ube Mochi Pancake and Waffle Mix are new and a gluten-free.
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Taste
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Value
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Worthy of Repurchasing
Pros
- A fun mix
- Kid-friendly color and no worries about over-mixing
- A solid flavor and texture that did not have you missing the gluten.
Cons
- It seems to be a limited run item.
- For those watching their sugar, this has a pretty decent amount in the mix.
Alek says
I tried it recently and I liked it! Unique change for sure. I hope they do a mochi waffle mix without the ube and experiment different flavors. Peppermint mochi pancakes would be nice.
Maggie says
I loved it! Took home an already opened box from a cousin to try b/c I didn't want to take a whole brand new one in case I didn't like it. Regretting I didn't just take the new box! LOL I went today to buy some. None. Was told it's a seasonal item. What season is that?!? For Ube ?!?! I'm hoping lots of people request it to be an all year item so they can bring it back to the shelves!!
becomebetty says
Hey Maggie! I loved this too. Ube seems to be a summer thing. And if you want to share your feedback with the company then here is the link to reach out to them: https://www.traderjoes.com/contact-us/product-feedback