Trader Joe’s Rants & Raves (mostly raves, a few rants)

(Seasonal item available around Jan-Apr)

I’ve never written a “review” of fruit before so this is a first for me. Why now?

I was at Trader Joe’s, looking for the new Ranch flavor rolled tortilla chips and could not find any on the shelves. So I asked one of the employees if they had any in back. He went and found what he said were the “last two bags”.

I was thankful, of course, and we started talking a little bit and he asked if I had every tried “Dekopan”. He said you have to try it. I drew a blank. I had no idea what that was. He walked me over to where oranges were. He pointed out a large weird looking bumpy skin, giant mandarin orange with a bumpy top knot. He said they’re expensive but actually worth it. It’s a “premium” fruit. Very seasonal, only available for around 3 months. A TJ employee cult favorite which they wait for all year.

So I had to get one to try. How is it? Well it perhaps actually is The best orange/mandarin I ever ate.

It is Huge. A pound each? So juicy and sweet. So easy to peel, it just slipped out of its skin. Smells fantastic. No seeds! I can see what a Trader Joe’s Cult Favorite.

Also probably at $2.49 each, the most expensive orange I ever bought. Yikes. Still, at other stores they might be even more expensive than that.

But its huge and really really good and a rare treat.

So even if just once, I would also say, “you’ve got to try this” while you can as it’s seasonal (around Jan-April) only available for about 3 months.

When my wife and I tried it after dinner we were both so impressed with the taste and while expensive, very special indeed. Just so delicious and a treat for a dessert. A way healthier dessert than the cake we had. By the way, its so huge it was shared by us both.

I got one for $2.49 weeks ago. Just saw them now weeks later I saw them bagged (about 5?) for maybe $6, way less per orange. Probably end of season and they need to get rid of them.

GOOGLE: Trader Joe’s Sumo Citrus (Dekopon) is a highly anticipated seasonal fruit available roughly January through April. Known for being very large, seedless, incredibly sweet, and easy to peel, these premium mandarins feature a distinct top-knot bump.

Key Details About Trader Joe’s Sumo Citrus:

• Seasonality: Typically available in the winter and early spring, specifically January to April.
• Taste & Texture: Extremely sweet (high Brix count) and juicy, with a texture closer to a tangerine than a standard orange.
• Appearance: Distinctive, bumpy, thick rind with a “top knot” bump, making them easy to peel.
• Price: Known to be expensive, with individual fruit priced around $2.49 and bags sold for roughly $5.49–$5.99, but still cheaper than at many other retailers.
• Origins: Originally developed in Japan in the 1970s, now grown in California’s Central Valley.

https://sumocitrus.com

https://www.allrecipes.com/trader-joes-sumo-citrus-returns-11879939