Spring has sprung, and with it, a whole new assortment of options has arrived at Trader Joe’s. I tried and reviewed some of the best, along with some new “crew favorites.”
Chocolate Strawberry Popcorn: 8/10
First off, I tried the chocolate drizzle-covered strawberry kettle corn. Nothing screams spring more than strawberries, and this popcorn did not disappoint. Chocolate-covered popcorn mixed with freeze-dried strawberries creates a delectable combination of both texture and flavor. The only downside is that some unpopped kernels got stuck together because of the chocolate.
Brown Butter Salted Biscotti 6.5/10
Speaking of baked goods, I couldn’t leave without trying Trader Joe’s new flavor of biscotti (especially since it’s mini––I mean, how cute is that?). Being half-Italian means I have pretty high standards for biscotti, and while this one had strong hints of salted caramel, I missed the brown butter. If you love salted caramel, you’ll love these––they were a bit too strong and salty for me, though.
Sea Salt Butterscotch Caramels: 11/10
These caramels are the reincarnation of joy. With the perfect balance of sweet and salty, these butterscotch caramels melt right into your mouth and are small enough to justify eating two handfuls (or ten). Adjacent to a fancier Milk-Dud, the candies combine dark chocolate and rich caramel to create small bites of heaven. Be warned though: you may end up eating the whole bag in one sitting.
Mini Mochi Rice Nuggets: 10/10
Fans of TJ’s mochi rice nuggets will adore the mini version. Lighter and crispier than their predecessors, they are perfect for snacking. I also tried them on top of salads, and they add the right amount of crunchy texture to any bowl of fresh veggies. If you’re looking for an alternative to popcorn (and something that doesn’t get stuck in your teeth), these are the way to go!
Cinnamon Sugar Almonds: 7/10
Having been a big fan of TJ’s various flavored almonds (the Thai chili lime ones are hard to beat!), I was excited to try these. Unfortunately, after eating a few of them, the aftertaste became too sweet. Despite the almonds having plenty of cinnamon, the confectionery coating was too overpowering. I didn’t want to disregard them completely however and mixed a couple into some bags of trail mix, which helped balance the sweetness.
Sardinian Pizza Crisps: 5/10
Last on my list was the pizza pillow crisps. While they did remind me distinctly of marinara sauce, the texture of the crisps didn’t live up to their name. For those looking for a pizza-flavored snack, you’re much better off with TJ’s pizza party potato chips, which have similar flavors and much more of the crunch that you’d expect.
Overall, I’d say these Trader Joe’s snacks are great for celebrating the return of warm weather and days spent lounging in the sun. While there are some misses, the majority of these hit the mark for spring!
