Here is another what I might call “small lot” style coffee Trader Joe’s has introduced but this too, like the Mexico Chiapas, is not a Limited coffee but one they seem to intend to have on the shelves every day. As they say:
“If you’re a regular in our coffee & tea section, you’re likely familiar with our rotating roster of limited-edition Small Lot coffees—carefully sourced, single-origin offerings that tend to be available only in small quantities, and only for a short time. Trader Joe’s Costa Rica Medium Roast Whole Bean Coffee captures the spirit of our Small Lot releases—high quality, single-origin craftsmanship—and thanks to our longstanding relationships with some truly exceptional growers, we’ve been able to secure sufficient quantities to be able to offer it on our shelves every day.”
This one is from COSTA RICA, grown high up in the mountains there.
“Costa Rica’s temperate tropical climate and rich, volcanic soil promote slow and steady growth, allowing the coffee cherries time to develop rich, complex flavors.”
They again list this as “Medium” roast but to me, like the Chiapas coffee, I would say this is just a wee bit darker. The beans being just a tiny bit shiny with oil and once again, I think the roast is perfect for the beans. as long as you know to expect beans that are “dark medium” or whatever you might call this.
The beans looked good, smelled good, and had a wonderful aroma when ground. The brewed coffee was tasty and had a deep rich flavor with hints of chocolate. “Inherently sweet with nutty notes”.
This is a quite decent coffee. Still I think I liked the recent Organic Mexico coffee just a tad more. I liked this Costa Rican better than the organic one from Peru. This is not marked “organic”. In any case, if you are into trying out TJ’s coffee’s as I like to do, I say this is at least worth a try for $10 bucks.
If you just want a recommendation of which coffee(s) at Trader Joe’s are worth buying for a first timer, I’d recommend the Fair Trade Organic BOLIVIAN coffee if you like a lighter roasted coffee. If you enjoy a darker roasted coffee (“medium” they say) I’d say try the ORGANIC MEXICAN.
“Trader Joe’s Amaryllis Bulbs come to us conveniently pre-sprouted and carefully hand-dipped in a paraffin Wax. Fascinatingly enough, all of the nutrients and moisture that the Amaryllis will require for growth & bloom are already packed into that one big, round, colorful, Wax-covered Bulb. Which means that when you get your Bulb home, you can just place it on a counter (or in a window—anywhere that receives filtered light is fine) and periodically turn it to encourage tall, straight growth. That’s it. No water. No soil. No constant watching. No kidding! The Amaryllis Bulb in Wax is the must-have, must-gift plant of the season, no green thumb required.”
So I got one of these. Both my wife and I were a little bit skeptical that this would work as they said it would. Or that it would work so well. It was just a waxed bulb with a tiny green shoot at the time peeking out at the top of this round wax ball, containing the amaryllis bulb. But guess what? It absolutely did work, and then some. I mean, Wow!
I placed the bulb in a sunny place. And waited. Thats it. It took about a 6 weeks or so. One could see where the flowers would come. About a week or so later there were flowers emerging and after about another week the thing looked magnificent as you can seet bloomed with 4 huge Amaryllis flowers.
This could be a fabulous gift. Maybe next Easter time?
“Our supplier gives the beans a light roast, highlighting the inherent notes of molasses, dark chocolate, sweet plum, and apple. You get a crisp, clean cup with dense, satisfying flavors.”
I am pretty sure this is the first coffee from Peru I may have tasted.
I found this latest Organic Small Lot coffee from Peru at Trader Joe’s to be pretty interesting, if not astunning remarkable find a few of the Small Lot coffees they’ve had in the past that were amazing (For that read my post on the UGANDA RWENZORI coffee). This is in the middle. Brewed up this was pretty good, a bit fruity with notes of “chocolate, molasses and apple or plum”. I get a bit of a wine-y after taste note that I usually associate with some African coffees.
Try this is you like to try every Small Lot they come out with, as I do, hoping for the best. This is not that but good. Overall though as my standard every day drink these days I prefer the Bolivian coffee they have.
I really like this very versatile dressing. Sold in the refrigerated section near salad stuff. Sure this a “salad dressing” but it is also more than that.
Trader Joe’s has this to say about it: “When is a salad dressing more than a salad dressing? How about when it’s also a great dip, condiment, marinade, sauce…”
Salad dressing, a marinade, a glaze, a condiment, even a dipping sauce for your dumplings!
It can be used for all those and maybe more. This is really versatile and useful to have in your fridge. It is of course peanut-y and a typical Asian style mix of sweet and savory. We tried it as a salad dressing. Very yummy. After we poured some over mixed lettuce and arugula my wife said “I think this would also be great on noodles“… Yes! Toss some into your noodles. Or grilled chicken (use for a marinade and a glaze). Or Salmon. Or Shrimp. Or Baked Tofu. Or an omelet. A dipping sauce for dumplings. Cole slaw. Grilled vegetables…. you name it.
It is a bit sweet (from agave syrup) and of course very peanut-y. Has the tiniest amount of spice listed as the last ingredient but I can’t really detect any level of “spicy” here. If you want that, just add your favorite spicy stuff. You can even top with some crushed peanuts (this is smooth) for added texture. I really like this!
You will find it good on or with so many things. The cousin of this, also very good is TJ’s TOASTED SESAME DRESSING.
It lists 120 Cal per 2 tbls
$3.99 bottle (12 oz)
Great with chicken. Marinate some boneless breast or thighs in a bit of this sauce for 1/2 hour. Grill or broil them. Brush on some sauce in the last minute cooking to get a wonderful glaze. Serve with more sauce.
Here’s what Traders has to say: “After the runaway success of our Chili & Lime Flavored Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips, including their record-breakingly early entry into the Trader Joe’s Product Hall of Fame, we knew that they needed a companion within the snacks section. Where their Chile Lime cousins are tangy and hot, these Ranch Rolled Tortilla Chips are creamy, herby, and well-rounded. They get their bold, yet markedly mellow flavor via a suite of savory seasonings and spices, including buttermilk, garlic powder, onion powder, and parsley.”
The wonderful Chili Lime Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips are among Trader Joe’s most popular snack items they have come out with. Me, I am crazy for them. I adore them. I love spicy. The Chili Lime chips have crazy strong flavors and are quite spicy.
But they are not for everyone. Especially those sensitive to spice or strong flavors. My wife does like some level of spicy but she really doesn’t like the Chili Lime rolled chips at all. She says they are just too strongly flavored and way too spicy ( I”m not complaining as I don’t have to share mine 😉
So as popular as the spicy ones are I imagine Trader Joe’s figured there are people like her who find them too strongly flavorerd. Which must be why they figured lets come out with another version of the Rolled Tortilla Chips. Which is this one. Not spicy. Mild. Ranch Flavor flavor.
My wife likes these more mellow Ranch ones! I will have to share…..
TJ’s gave this variation a buttermilk ranch flavor that includes dried onion, parsley and other seasoning.
On the internet you get that this one is another hit. Some people really like this version. and say things like “the bag didn’t even make it all the way home. i ate the whole thing”!
Not as bold as the original OG Chili Lime these have a mild flavor of course so may appeal to more people, my wife being one. The are great on their own or equally great with a dip or guacamole. I liked them dipped into some DILL CREAM CHEESE SPREAD. They are good with cheese too.
I love the original spicy one a bit more as it’s so zingy spicy and unique but I do like this new RANCH one too, and you may end up buying both kinds!
I would buy it again.
$2.99/9 Oz
On a side note though it doesn’t say Gluten Free, I kind of think they may be? Just corn, no wheat that I can see in the ingredients
Trader Joe’s Kettle Cooked Olive Oil Potato Chips are a popular, crunchy potato chip snack.
INGREDIENTS : Potatoes. Olive Oil. Sea Salt
These are made from only three ingredients: Potatoes, Olive Oil, and Sea Salt. Even though we are not big eaters of potato chips, we found these to be incredibly tasty. Even addictive!
I would call these “gourmet” potato chips. The olive oil imparts great flavor.
The flavor profile of these is very simple and pure, as there is no other flavor added, just potatoes with a touch of salt, with the fruity flavor of the olive oil coming through. All of which makes these taste better than most standard chips.
These have amazing crunch. Like most chips described as “kettle cooked” these chips are cut thicker than regular potato chips such as “Lays” and the like. These have a great texture. Crunchy and delicious. These could probably hold up to most dips.
Now we did find these to be just the tiniest bit on the greasy side, so be aware of that. However since this is olive oil I imagine this is part of the appeal. Another plus is that some people want things made with “non-seed” oils. So this fits that bill, though the words “healthy potato chips” are an oxymoron!
As far as calories goes, the bag says 16 chips have about 140 calories.
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.
Whipped Feta Spread is made with 51% feta cheese mixed with cream cheese, Greek yogurt and olive oil.
“Tangy feta cheese whipped with cream cheese and smooth Greek yogurt. Mega-dippable”
“To create this Spread, our supplier whips fresh Feta with cream cheese, Greek yogurt, and a bit of olive oil to create a creamy, ultra-spreadable, mega-dippable concoction”
The people at Trader Joe’s seem to love to come out with all kinds of spreads and dips. Some have been better than others. This one? It is very good. I am loving it.
They say this: “Feta fans also know that feta cheese’s crumbly texture can be somewhat limiting in certain culinary contexts. Now, thanks to Trader Joe’s Whipped Feta Spread, feta fans will also soon know the delight of enjoying it with unbelievable ease—on a bagel, on a chip, at the end of carrot stick, and beyond!
Yes, yes, yes. This makes the feta smooth and creamy into a fabulous tangy spread/dip. Not too salty either. Just right.
It is great used as a dip for some sliced vegetables. I cut up cucumbers and carrots and tried that as a dip for them and loved it. It’s equally great spread on a bagel or crackers, what have you. I can see this added to sauces, dolloped out on top of a pasta dish or a pizza. Top it with a pinch of honey (or hot honey). Very versatile stuff.
I love the ideas you can get from how they used it here on this shot from Trader Joe’s site. Spread out like hummus as a dip on a plate and gussied up with olives, olive oil and lemons. Served with pita bread of similar breads.
Trader Joe’s Pizza Bianca (Made with Parmesan cheese sauce, Mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, Onion and Rosemary)
Trader Joe’s added this slightly “controversial” pizza to their line of frozen pizzas, many of which are pretty good.
Why controversial? “PIZZA BIANCA” is of course a white pizza, meaning it doesn’t have tomato sauce or tomato. To some, that means, its “not a pizza”.
This pizza is made with three different cheeses which make a rich, creamy and delicious sauce which also includes some onion and rosemary. The description on the box sounded intriguing to me, even though I admit I am a bit of a traditionalist and generally think of pizza having tomato of some kind on it.
However the word from the internet was that Trader Joe’s new PIZZA BIANCA was good. Really good. So I thought I should try it. My honest review?
This white pizza is really tasty. If you served this to friends and hid the box you could probably fool them that you ordered it in!
I must say I was impressed at just how tasty this actually is. I found it pretty delicious and my wife loved it as well. So this new pizza is yet another very good frozen pizza you can get from Trader Joe’s, which has a ton of good ones to choose from. And, another great buy for a pizza at just $4.99. Which can feed two.
(right out of the package)
The crust has been partially pre-baked, as you can tell from a few dark spots on it already.
When I was preparing I did have an idea to Hack this Pizza Bianca.
Who says it has to be completely white? I love me some tomatoes, so think “why don’t I cut up a tomato and put some on!?” It’s not a bad idea at all. As a test, on half the pizza I put some sliced Roma tomato.
Guess what? It’s fabulous also that way. We both loved the result. Adding tomato is not a sin. I would say its a terrific hack for you to try as well. Though try it on half to start with, so you can taste it as intended too. It is very tasty “au natural”, but I loved it with some fresh tomatoes (use Roma or cherry tomatoes sliced). Trader’s suggests topping it with some arugula for nice veggie flavor to mix in with the cheesy sauces.
I might recommend trying either after you try it the first time, just “bianca”. Just so you can see this is versatile. You could even add Prosciutto after baking though that would be even richer.
The crust is thick and chewy with a nice flavor. The mix of Parmesan cheese sauce and all the other cheeses are delicious, with the back notes of onion and that rosemary.
(before baking – yes i put some tomato on half!)(after)
HOW TO COOK PIZZA BIANCA – As per the package: Pre-heat oven to 400 (Give your oven a good 1/2 hr to get to steady temp). Place the pizza on a baking sheet, sheetpan or foil in the center of the oven. Bake at 400 for 14-16 minutes until the crust is golden brown and the pizza is heated thru (bubbly). I turn at the halfway mark as many oven heat unevenly.
“Enjoy pizza as is or top with arugula for a zesty contrast to the rich melty cheese”
“To create the vacation-in-a-jar that is Trader Joe’s Organic Guava Spread, our supplier starts with organically grown Guavas from Brazil picked at the peak of ripeness. The luscious pink fruit is simmered with organic cane sugar, fruit pectin, and a bit of water (plus ascorbic and citric acids) to create a thick, brick red, tart & tangy spread, teeming with tropical flavor. Simple? Somewhat. Tasty? You bet.”
That bit about vacation in a jar? I have to say, it’s not far off. The moment I simply opened up this jar, something wonderful hit my brain which just registered as a “tropical” smell, before I even put any in my mouth.
Then I put some on a spoon and tasted it. Tropical? Absolutely. This just has the most amazing flavor. I put it on everything to see what it works with.
It works with almost anything. Cottage cheese, toast with butter, or even better, cream cheese. In fact it pairs up so wonderfully with all kinds of cheese. Monterey Jack. Pepper Jack. Cheddar cheese. UNEXPECTED CHEDDAR (on a cracker spread with this guava jam.
You name it. Put some on pancakes. Try with vanilla ice cream or chocolate ice cream, in fact it pairs great with chocolate. Peanut butter and J. Crackers. Cheese boards!
“And who wouldn’t want to level up their summer cheese board with a swoosh of this Spread on a cracker, topped with a cube of TJ’s Unexpected Cheddar Cheese? (Fun fact: this is exactly how the Spread was served and ultimately approved at the TJ’s tasting panel—the combo is absolutely worth tasting for yourself!)” – TJ
All over the internet, everyone seems to agree that it is incredibly tasty
I just loved this Guava Fruit Spread. I bet you will too.
Product of Canada. The guava is from Brazil. Certified Organic
I would buy this again. It’s considered a very good price too as guava is not cheap.
Trader Joe’s ORGANIC GUAVA SPREAD $2.99 (10.5 oz jar)
Trader Joe’s Rants & Raves (mostly raves, a few rants) 
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