Finally, folks, here we go. This may not be a good thing to admit, but it's been a while since I've spotted something new at Trader Joe's that I was even remotely excited about. Instead, most of our purchases recently have been the same old usual thing....the same dinner-time staple....the same frozen lunches...the same this and the same that. While all these are legitimately good products, once you've had them a few times, well, they're not that exciting any more. It even got to the point where, for a lunch mix-up, I went ahead and bought myself some Chef-in-a-can recently. Desperate times, desperate measures.
But then, there's these, Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Covered Coconut Mango Bites. More than cheap prices and a slew of healthy products, it's these kinda things that keep TJ's up and running. Take a combo that sounds just zany enough that it just might work, and put it in sight of someone like me who not only hasn't found a dark chocolate combo he hasn't liked, but has a healthy affinity for almost anything mango-related, and oh yeah, we're in business. Provided that they taste good, of course.
And yup, these choco-coconutted mango confections are pretty good. I'm sure, given the main ingredients, one can make the argument that they taste down right tropical. It's turning to fall in Pittsburgh and there's a legitimate chance we won't see the sun 'til late April, so I fully appreciate that. Really, I'd say these candy bites taste like a good Mounds bar, except a tinge or three sweeter in the filling. Inside each bite, if I had to guess, the orangey middle is probably composed of 70% coconut and 30% mango, and it's all kinda mixed up. If the mango elements were too strong or sweet, it'd throw everything off, but it's all kept in check by the dark chocolate coating. Each bite is about two nibbles big so there's plenty to chew on for some satisfaction, although I have a gut feeling these won't be lasting long around the house.
Sandy already had the bag ripped open when I came home from work. "These are gooood," she said. I could tell by her look and her tone there wasn't much more she'd need to say about them. After I had my first bite or two, yeah, that's a perfectly adequate way to describe 'em. Not perfect, but goooood indeed.
Bottom line: Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Covered Coconut Mango Bites: 8.5 out of 10 Golden Spoons
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SPOTTED (SEASONAL EDITION): 11/21/2024
1 hour ago
I have to say--I was super-excited to try these after reading your review, as I love coconut, mango, and chocolate. But I did get some the other night, and instead of mango, I just get a faint suggestion of fruit-flavor from the filling. For my money, I'd just as soon have a Mounds bar(well, actually an Almond Joy, since I usually feel like a nut), so I can concentrate on the yummy coconut flavor. Mounds and AJ seem to have creamier coconut, where the TJ's coconut filling seemed drier. I don't think I would get these again.
ReplyDeleteI bought these the other day, and after one bite I decided to throw out the whole bag. Hated them. Sounded good in theory, but just couldn't like anything about them. The pieces are too big for starters, the chocolate was bad, and the mango coconut filling tasted like a chemical :|
ReplyDeleteEwww - I think these are downright YUCKY. I took ours back to TJ's yesterday and the manager even giggled. I think I was one of many who had been duped by these little yuck-rectangles.
ReplyDeleteI say these are pretty darn good. I was expecting more mango chunks, not just the flavor, but then again I love love love coconut. The size is perfect, small enough for a little after dinner snack!
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