Spring is just around the corner: can you feel it? The birds are chirping, the ice is melting and Trader Joe’s is bringing out loads of new products to celebrate. On the latest episode of Inside Trader Joe’s podcast (one of our favorite forms of news consumption these days), Tara Miller and Matt Sloan teased the 12 latest products to get on the shelves at your favorite grocery store. While any new product release is good, this one might just take the cake – or, should we say, cinnamon muffin.
1. Chocolate and Peanut Butter Joe-Joe Cookie
This version of the popular cookie is more about peanut butter than chocolate. As Matt notes, the development team originally created a biscuit with a dark chocolate coating and then a milk chocolate coating before finally settling on the peanut butter. If you’re a sandwich biscuit fan and love peanut butter, this is one you should try.
Why eat almonds when you can eat almonds coated with almond butter? Trader Joe’s, you are just the right amount of flamboyant and we are here for that. Matt and Tara note on the podcast that these are definitely tastier than sweet – which makes them ideal for that 3pm snack attack with no sugar accident. The almonds are roasted, not raw, for a more intense flavor.
3. Grapefruit body butter
The aloe and coconut oil based body butter is decidedly inedible and the newest fragrance in Trader Joe’s already popular line of body butter. The bright and invigorating scent in combination with the ultra-rich texture brings your winter hands back into shape. It’s slated to hit shelves in the next few weeks, if it’s not already on your local TJs!
4. Ruby red grapefruit segments
Pre-peeled, prepackaged citrus slices are great for on the go or only have a minute or two between zoom calls.
5. Ginger-Lemon and Lemon-Strawberry Organic Foam Apple Cider Vinegar Drinks
If you’re looking to forego soda or sugary drinks, these kombucha-style drinks will satisfy your fizzy drink cravings. They’re bubbly and satisfying. Whether you use them as a mixer for cocktails is entirely up to you.
6. Pieces of cheese baked in the oven with tomatoes and chilli
If you’re already a fan of the gluten-free Oven Baked Cheese Bites line at TJ’s, you’ll definitely want to buy this one. Like a pizza with a quick shake of paprika flakes, they’re a nice gluten-free option for croutons or crackers. They are reminiscent of homemade frico. We think your next bowl of tomato soup will need a handful or two.
7. Gluten free cinnamon coffee cake muffins
8. Cold Brew Coffee and Boba Coconut Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert
“Although no dairy was used here, it is ice cream,” says Matt. The dairy-free, vegan creaminess comes from coconut, though Tara notes that it doesn’t really taste like coconut (she has a Kahlua vibe). As a fun bonus, it contains boba, or tapioca pearls, which you may know better as the main ingredient in bubble tea.
9. Creamy Cauliflower Jalapeño Dip
Cream cheese and ricotta make this dip indulgent, but it’s relatively low in calories and fat since the main ingredient is cauliflower. (Is there something little Brassica can’t do?) You can find this dip in the packaged, chilled section, but don’t let that stop you from getting creative and using it as a sandwich spread or base for focaccia.
10. Vegetable Samosa Burrito
The filling in this new product features potatoes, peas, cauliflower and carrots with a sauce inspired by tomato chutney. Instead of being fried like a traditional samosa, everything is wrapped in a flour tortilla. This (vegan!) Burrito is freshly made and delivered daily to Trader Joe’s locations.
11. Organic banana fruit spread
Does your peanut butter sandwich need banana fruit spread? Apparently yes? This is a time limited offer. So if you’re going to have bananas for, well, you know, grab it while it’s around.
12. Rutland Red Leicester Cheese
Cheese nerds will definitely appreciate this rare find. Rutland Red comes from a city north of London where these cheeses are wrapped in a butter-coated cloth to control the 10-month aging process. Matt estimates that each business gets “maybe £ 75 to £ 80”. So don’t sleep on it if a small, cooperative-made cheddar cheese is your jam.
Which seasonal foods from Trader Joe are you most looking forward to?