No added sugar or other ingredients. Not from concentrate. Just 100% juice.
It’s yummy. I think this is just like POM. Pretty sure it’s cheaper though. Trader Joe’s has a bigger 1 qt. bottle of pomegranate juice however that one is from concentrate and this one isn’t. They came out with this pure 100% pomegranate juice in a small, single serving size bottle. Easy to carry. This tasted just like I was eating a pomegranate. Naturally sweet-sour.
I found it delicious and very refreshing ice cold. Small bottle (250 ml, 8.45 oz) bottle was $1.69.
Trader Joe’s MANDU, Korean Kimchi PotstickerDumplings (frozen)
VEGAN
NEW ITEM – AUGUST 2026
Made In Korea
“Korean dumplings (mandu) come in an array of shapes and fillings. These particular pot-stickers are made with Kimchi, Glass Noodles and Vegetables with traditional spicy and tangy flavors from the kimchi which comes though in savory, piquant notes. They are best prepared “gun mandu” style, crisped in a pan on both sides to create a textural variety” -from the package
Trader Joe’s just introduced these new Mandu Korean Kimchi Potsicker frozen dumplings. They are plant based/vegan as they are made with just vegetables. These have an interesting shape, kind of a flat rectangular beggars’ purse. They are made for them in by a Korean supplier. Price-wise they are great. $3.49 for a large one pound bag.
You can serve these mandu with your favorite dipping sauce (Tip: there is no sauce included) However you even can eat them without any sauce too as the kimchi filling is very savory and a bit juicy.
These Kimchi Mandu could be served as an appetizer, lunch, or as part of a dinner, which is how we ate them, for dinner pairing the dumplings with some rice, some kimchi, and braised Korean style tofu dish (dubu jorim). The combo made a great dinner which we really enjoyed.
So how are Trader Joe’s latest frozen dumplings ?
I found them quite good. In fact, I think these new frozen dumplings now may be among the best dumplings Trader Joe’s sells. Along with the very popular pork and ginger Soup Dumplings.
I cooked the mandu up as they suggest which is to pan fry them. This gives them a nice chewy crispy texture which contrasts nicely with the soft kimchi and glass noodle filling.
How To Cook Trader Joe’s Kimchi Mandu Dumplings: Heat a non stick or cast iron pan with a tablespoon of oil (Added Korean points if you use a little sesame oil). Use medium heat, then add the frozen dumplings (carefully) to the pan. Let them cook, for 2 minutes. Flipping every two minutes, until they turn all golden brown and delicious. This may take about 8 – 10 minutes total. Be sure to turn them over every 2-3 minutes and move them around the pan to get an even cook. Cook them until they look nice and golden brown. When done, the dumpling wrapper will have a nice slightly chewy, slightly crispy texture. If you like them softer, add a tablespoon of water at the start, cover, cook for a minute, then remove the cover, and cook as described above.
(Note: I took the picture about 1/2 way done.)
Here’s my honest review of these new KOREAN KIMCHI MANDU.
I really like Trader Joe’s mandu. They are quite tasty. Their Korean supplier did a good job with these. Nice rectangular shape, good wrapper thickness, and nice texture pan-fried. In fact my Korean-Japanese wife approved of them as “tasting Korean” with the kimchi filling. which is savory from kimchi, has a slightly chewy texture from “glass noodles” which are made from potato starch and other vegetables and flavorings. These dumplings are tasty and filling. They have a little bit of heat from the kimchi – but its not crazy spicy, I would say the heat level is low, unless you are extremely sensitive. Each dumpling is about 3 bites each.
You don’t have to have sauce with these but I think are good with a sauce. I made a nice dipping sauce for them with soy sauce, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, sesame oil and scallions. Make your own sauce with your favorite ingredients. The easiest could be just soy sauce and some rice vinegar. Or just use your favorite bottle of Trader Joe’s sauce you like for dumplings.
Nutrition label says 1 serving is 3 dumplings (Ha!) which is 100 calories.
Tip: The instructions on the bag don’t mention using an air fryer, however some people online say they can be made in the air fryer. If you do it that way, I suggest spraying them with some oil to get the best crispy texture.
With the addition of this chocolate bark, ( New Item, Aug 2026) I think Trader Joe’s carries three different chocolate “barks” . There is the original regular bark, the dried raspberry one and now this one with pistachios and jalapenos. Yes, you read that correctly. This chocolate bark contains (dried) jalapeños. So this new one is a bit of an unusual chocolate But I have liked all the chocolate barks they have.
While I was going to the checkout line, I saw this bag in the NEW ITEMS stand next to it. A new “bark” ? Yes please. I grabbed a bag. But listen to this. Somehow my brain saw and registered”pistachio” but somehow I actually missed “dried jalapeños”! Ha ha, I only noticed it when I got home. Fortunately I like spicy chocolate and I was intrigued. Just so you know. It’s not that unusual. In Mexico, the combination is very common. There, chocolate with chili is seen all the time. So they do go together, and go together well.
Here’s my honest review: After I took one, bite I found I could not stop eating this new chocolate bark.
I found this chocolate addictive. Take a bite and you first taste the delicious sweet dark chocolate, then a few seconds later your tongue will register the dried jalapeño and some heat. Again not crazy heat, just enough to let you know yes it has dried jalapeno.
HOW SPICY IS THIS? “Medium” spicy? Not Crazy Spicy. You will taste the heat but it’s not blow the roof of your mouth off spicy. I don’t appreciate insane Hot Ones levels. This is not that, though of course heat level is quite personal.
While this is spicy its more than tolerable as the sweetness of the dark chocolate matches perfectly to the amount of heat. They got this right. It is well balanced. Sweet and savory and spicy.
I love it. But this will not be for everyone. My wife didn’t like it, even though she likes a bit of spiciness in food. The pistachio element is overshadowed but it’s there somewhere in the background, and blends well with the chocolate. There’s just a hint of sea salt.
Trader Joe’s has this to say about their new product:
“Now, separately, the four elements of Dark Chocolate, Pistachios, Jalapeños, and Sea Salt may make utterly intuitive pairings with one another. But it’s only within the context of this Bark that this curious combination gets to shine together. And so, every bite becomes a symphony of rich, buttery, nutty, grassy, spicy, savory, and sweet, all at once.” https://www.traderjoes.com/home/products/pdp/dark-chocolate-bark-with-pistachios-dried-jalapenos-sea-salt-083323
I really liked this new chocolate bark myself. If you like spicy chocolate, you will too. If you are very sensitive to spicy heat, maybe its not for you but I say, try it. Worst case, you bring it back and tell them you didn’t like it. That’s the great thing about Trader Joe’s, isn’t it? If you are not happy, just bring it back for a refund.
A Spanish cheese made from sheep’s milk and flavored with basil pesto. It’s crafted for Trader Joe’s by a Spanish cheese maker using a sheep milk cheese which is brined and then aged for at least six months. Then they inject the cheese with an herby pesto, thoughout the cheese which you see as streaks of green all over.
“Available in our stores only for the month of August, The Sheepish Pesto makes an eye-catching and appetizing addition to any cheese board, charcuterie platter, or hors d’oeuvres table. It can be enjoyed cubed and skewered with tooth picks, sliced into triangles and savored with wine, or shaved thin and sprinkled over a leafy green salad. And for an easy entrée, try shredding it fine, melting it with butter, diced onions, and garlic, and serving over your favorite pasta with cracked pepper for a one-of-a-kind “Cacio e Pesto.”
It’s pretty bold. At first I thought the pesto had a slight tendency to overpower the cheese itself but this is an interesting cheese and quite tasty, and grew on me as I kept eating it. I can easily see this as something cheeseboard aficionados would like to add to a nice #cheeseboard as this is a bit unusual, and very tasty with lots of herby umami notes. Matches well with grapes and other fruits. Good melted too. They suggest using it for a Cacio and Pepe pasta.
LIMITED TIME (AUGUST) If it sounds like something you want to try, better hurry which it lasts
“New & improved” – Trader Joe’s had this Body Wash previously but they’ve had it *reformulated and are re-introducing this Refreshing Citrus Body Wash.
It’s made for them “by a trusted beauty supplier”. Yesterday I was on the checkout line there, I saw this in the NEW ITEMS shelf right next to the line. My eyes were drawn to the bottle with it’s bright yellow orange color and friendly round shape. It went into my basket! They really know how to tempt us on that checkout line, don’t they?
I tried it the next morning for my wake up shower. First thing I noticed is that this body was smells very nice! For this guy frankly that’s what I care about most. It has a nice and yes very refreshing citrus-y aroma from ingredients that include oils of “orange, grapefruit, tangerine, and lemon and also includes vitamin C, chamomile, ginseng, ginger, and vitamin B5″. The scent is a light and natural citrus, and is not overly perfume-y. Lather was fine, neither too much nor too little.
Here’s what they say about the * NEW FORMULA: “In this new formula, you’ll find a trio of highly sought after skincare ingredients—niacinamide, sodium hyaluronate, and squalane—that help support the skin’s moisture barrier, leaving it feeling soft, smooth, and hydrated long after you’ve showered.”
For the cost, I would say its a good product. I’m sure at say Sephora it would be $3-4x what Trader Joe’s sells it for? They sell this for four bucks for a big bottle.
$3.99 (16 ounce bottle)
I am expecting this CITRUS BODY WASH to be very nice in the shower for the dog days of summer. Or frankly any season.
I also like of course the TEA TREE TINGLE body wash, especially during hot summer days but the TEA TREE TINGLE is way way more aggressive as it is really tingly, which some people may not like, as per my wife. This is just refreshing without the tingles. I enjoy both.
(just for laughs, I googled one of those ingredients/words which I’ve never heard of in the list above — “Squalane is a lightweight, non-comedogenic oil that mimics your skin’s natural sebum. Derived from stable plant sources like sugarcane or olives, it deeply hydrates, restores the moisture barrier, and suits all skin types, including acne-prone skin”
“Trader Joe’s Just Salmon Skin Baked Dog Treat are made from salmon raised without antibiotics in the cold waters of Northern Scotland. The skin is simply baked with nothing else added” (from the package)
INGREDIENTS: Salmon skin
These are pieces of Salmon skin and nothing else, baked into little pieces, ending up as crispy crunchy bite size snacks. They are not stinky, just the tiniest bit fishy smelling.
I think your dog will love these.
Me, I have cats. Sure these are labeled “for dogs” but is there any law that says cat owners, like yours truly, can’t give them to our feline friends too? I mean there’s nothing that is bad for cats in these. Its just salmon skin. Fish. Period. No additives, no nothin’. So I tested these to see if my two cats would like them for treats.
Result: One of my cats loves these treats and crunches a piece into smithereens in seconds. The other, a pickier eater, will on occasion eat one but sometimes will ignore the treat, while kind of looking at me like I’m cheating him with just skin and not the FREEZE DRIED SALMON pet treats which are pieces of salmon with flesh. Which by the way is labeled “For Pets” not just “For Dogs” like this one.
Paneer is a fresh, non-melting Indian cheese that you can cube, slice, or crumble. It absorbs flavors and holds its shape when heated. Use it in curries, stir-fries, salads, or as a substitute for tofu or halloumi
Apparently twice before, Trader Joe’s used to sell a paneer cheese, first way back in the 90’s and again around 2000. But they say it just didn’t catch on back then so they dropped it.
Now with a few very popular items like PALAAK PANEER and PANEER TIKKA MASALA – which they sell a lot of – people are more familiar with paneer. So once again, TJ’s just came out with this, Indian Style Paneer Cheese. This is made for Trader Joe’s by a cheese producer in Wisconsin.
What makes paneer cheese useful to cook with is that it doesn’t melt. Paneer stays pretty solid when cooked. So good for adding to dishes as well as for grilling. Trader Joe’s says marinate it in your favorite spices before grilling. Or simply add it for extra cheese into one of entrées like PALAAK PANEER. I love Palaak Paneer but I think theyve gotten chincier with how much paneer is in it (Which I think it used to have more, and maybe they cut back for cost reasons?)
“Made for us in Wisconsin, this pasteurized cow’s milk cheese is produced by curdling the milk with acetic and lactic acids, resulting in a firm and crumbly fresh cheese with a subtle tang.”
This cheese is just milk and acid to coagulate it. It has zero salt and no flavor really. Think of it as a blank canvas like tofu.
Here’s my honest review of this new PANEER cheese. I was expecting this to be like the paneer in their entrees (made in India) like Palaak Paneer or Tikka Masala Paneer. This seemed firmer (before I learned the hot water soaking trick) and needing to let it cook at least 10 minutes or more.
(hot water trick!) *What I have learned since I started is that some people recommend putting paneer in very hot water for about 5 minutes before using it.
I tried to “crumble” it as they describe it as being “firm and crumbly”. I couldn’t really crumble the cheese with my fingers (tip: this worked better after the hot water trick*).
I cut the paneer into cubes and sauteed/grilled it in butter, sprinkling on some Indian masala spices and curry powder. Not bad that way grilled up. Grill it low and slow.
I tried the hot water soak, the second time I cooked with it and it did seem to help with the texture being too firm. Worth trying this hot bath trick before you use it. Also I learned to cook it for longer periods. If putting in a stew or curry let it cook at least 10 minutes to soften and absorb flavors. If grilling this, try low and slow till nice and golden brown. Flavoring: you need to add a ton of things to give it flavor. Garlic is wonderful and lemon juice at the end will perk it up nicely. Don’t forget a pinch of salt! It has zero.
You will find these pickles in the Refrigerated case at Trader Joe’s, near the sauerkraut and kimchi and all that good pickled stuff. Wait? Trader Joe’s sells pickles in the fridge as well as the jarred kinds on the shelves?! Yup, you should check these out.
If I can buy refrigerated pickles, that’s what I will usually go for, over the shelf stable non-refrigerated ones on the shelves.
Why? Jarred shelf-stable pickles have been pasteurized so they can sit safely at room temperature for a long time. Refrigerated pickles have not been Pasteurized (with heat). I find the cold, fresh pickles in the fridge generally have better, firmer texture. Crunchier.
Pasteurizing kills bacteria, even the healthy kind we like! Pickles in the refrigerated section are unpasteurized, kept cold to slow down natural fermentation processes.
My review: Trader Joe’s refrigerated Kosher Dill pickles were very tasty, nice and fresh tasting with garlic and dill flavors with nice crunch. The ingredients include coriander garlic, mustard seed, coriander, bay leaf, dill…. all the classic kosher pickle flavors. What I would call a “full sour Kosher pickle”, dark green.
These Trader Joe’s fresh refrigerator pickles come in two shapes, Spears or Slices, as you prefer.
A sandwich with a pickle is heaven. Either are perfect for a GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH. Maybe with IVY’S RESERVE RED….
These Sausages are made with organic ground chicken, organic sweet Italian seasoning, organic basil, organic garlic, organic paprika and celery powder. The seasoning is good. These are a good thing to have on hand in the fridge to come up with an easy protein and meals.
I found these sausages quite tasty. Grilled up for example simply as I made them here with just some green peppers in olive oil with garlic. You could add lots of other things, like onions and tomatoes. Serve that with rice, or buttered pasta or what have you. Or just grill them and put them on a some toasted bread or a brioche bun.
TJ’s says “the mixture is stuffed by hand into natural casing and hung on racks, where it cooks at a low temperature for a long period of time. After cooking to perfection, the casing is removed and the sweet-smoky sausages are ready to enjoy”
Are these sweet? No, the word refers to “sweet or hot” Italian sausages. If you want spicy/hot using these, of course all you have to do is just add your favorite spicy thing. For me, these are great with TJs terrific Italian BOMBA.
FRIED / BOILED – I think they taste best using the STOVE TOP or GRILLED methods, even if just in a pan with a little oil or butter, either sliced on a diagonal or whole. Just simmering / boiling may be a little too plain, i think some browning up does add quite a bit of flavor but that’s your call.
If not using the whole package, just wrap tightly and freeze the rest for later use. They will defrost fast.
Trader Joe’s SWEET ORGANIC ITALIAN CHICKEN SAUSAGE is $5.99 (the package contains five sausages) They used to be 4 bucks (sigh)
They have no added nitrites or nitrates, One sausage is 110 calories
I would buy these again.
PS – I think these would match up great with the popular SWEET POTATO GNOCCHI dish…..
I adore key lime pie, so I was happy to see that Trader Joe’s had one. Here’s my honest review of Trader Joe’s KEY LIME PIE, sold in the frozen section.
While I thought this pie was kind of tasty and did have some of that great key lime flavor, unfortunately the level of sugar in this is through the roof! Seriously, this pie is just way, way too sweet – too much sugar. My wife tasted it and immediately made a face and complained about how overly sweet it is. She could barely eat hers. Drinking some Strong black tea with it helped to get a small piece down.
I wondered if I could try to fix the sweetness level a bit by adding a dollop of plain GREEK YOGURT on top to cut down the level of sweetness. That did actually help somewhat, with the sourness of the yogurt countering the sweet, and with this it was more edible. If you do buy this pie, be sure to get / have some plain Greek yogurt, or unsweetened whipped cream on hand. It will still be sweet of course but more tolerable.
IF they could cut down the sugar (which is a whopping 39 gram per serving) I would like this. As it is, I can just give this a MEH. B- for effort.
Key Lime Pie is not an easy pie to make and to get it right. You need lots of REAL key lime (which are costly, and should be from Florida (aka the real deal) not Mexico in the perfect ratio to sweetened condensed milk to balance out the sweetness. Real Key Lime’s are very sour. So the combo works.
Steve’s Key Lime pie is amazing, balanced perfectly and nowhere near as sweet as Trader Joe’s version. It has the citrus to sweet level correct. I’m sure it’s probably because they add more way more and real FL key limes, which are an expensive ingredient. Of course it costs a LOT more than TJ’s pie, which is only six bucks. So while this is a good price, and kind of tasty, its again simply too sweet. You can try to fix it up a bit with some yogurt, which does help make it more palatable. Maybe even a squirt of lime or lemon?
Trader Joe’s Rants & Raves (mostly raves, a few rants) 
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