Passion fruit and raspberry? That sounds interesting. Add to it some rolled oats, rice syrup, and sugar, and we probably have another tasty Trader Joe's granola on our hands. There have been so many throughout the years, it's hard to keep track of what we've reviewed and what we haven't, what's still available and what's been discontinued...
"Passion fruit puree" is the third ingredient here. It gives the big crunchy oat clusters a faint citrusy sweetness and a bit of a tang. Passion fruit and raspberry are both sweet and tart, so this cereal is quite tangy. It's almost bordering on too tangy for my taste, honestly.
Like most cereals of this kind, the dried raspberries are far and few between. That first bowl I poured in the pic only had two actual raspberries in it. I grabbed a third out of the bag just for the sake of the photo.
This just isn't my thing, personally. Sour cereal is just not something I'm craving, like, ever. For that reason, I think it works a little better as a yogurt topping than a traditional bowl of cereal with milk, but that's just me. There's quite a bit of sugar in this product, too, so I'd probably reach for something like cake or ice cream before I'd reach for this product again.
I know this granola has its following. Plenty of positive reviews out there in cyberspace if that's what you're looking for. Plus, unfortunately, negative reviews never go viral or do very well on social media, which sucks for the traffic on this blog.
I gotta be honest, though. This granola is okay, but I wouldn't buy it again. By all means, if you disagree, let us know in the comments. Tell us why you like it. Six and a half out of ten stars from me for Trader Joe's Passion Fruit Granola with Dried Raspberries. Sonia will go with an even six.
Do they call it "labneh" because it's grown in a lab? There's quite a list of live active cultures there on the ingredients. My favorite is "streptococcus." But no worries. It's streptococcus thermophilus, which is a probiotic that's "generally recognized as safe," according to Gemini. Phew. I thought I was going to get a sore throat from eating this...
Despite our fondness for Mediterranean cuisine, neither Sonia nor I had ever tried labneh before, so we can't really speak to the authenticity of this particular offering. It's a thick dairy product popular in the food cultures of North Africa and the Middle East. It's not a far cry from Greek yogurt or sour cream in terms of taste and texture, and it's often mixed with olive oil and spices.
This particular specimen has sunflower and canola oils (boo) mixed in, along with a delightful blend of seasonings. In terms of overall flavor, Sonia and I taste the yogurt flavor the most, followed by roasted tomato, then dill and garlic. There are faint whispers of vinegar and mint, as well. It's tangy, creamy, and herbaceous—and it mixes well with pretty much any Middle Eastern dish. Falafel, chicken shawarma, kebabs, fish, or pita and hummus would all work remarkably well with Trader Joe's Labneh.
I was perfectly fine snacking on this labneh with little pita bites or crackers, although it shines even more when served as a topping for one of the entrees named above. It's surprisingly thick. Both dippable and spreadable, it's a versatile condiment that we're eager to experiment with. I'm anxious to try other versions from local Mediterranean restaurants.
$3.49 for the 8.5 oz tub, found in the refrigerated section. Would possibly buy again. Eight out of ten stars from me for Trader Joe's Roasted Tomato Labneh Dip. Seven out of ten stars from Sonia.
