Trader Joe's Belgian Cookie Collection

First of all, THANK YOU to those who have followed, shared, commented on, and supported this blog for so many years. If you read this blog but haven't checked out our YouTube channel lately, I highly recommend doing so. From 2011 - 2022 we were doing just 4 or 5 video reviews a year for the heck of it. In July of last year, I decided to do a video for just about every single written post. I figured I already had a "script" from each of these blog posts and some visuals in the form of the product photos we were taking for each review anyway, so I began reading the review into a mic and then simply adding some background music and stock photos.

From there, we picked up the frequency of our "live action" video reviews where the beautiful wifey and I sample Trader Joe's food items on camera and have full discussions of those products. Although I still have far to go, I've gotten better at editing. I've worked in some very interesting AI generated songs into certain videos. Sometimes I write the lyrics and let the artificial intelligence do the instrumentation and other times I let the AI write the words, too. Some of the videos are quite watchable but it's difficult to stand out in the sea of quick cut TikTok'ers and young "Trader Joe's Haul" aficionados who've already amassed millions of loyal fans.

If we do the video review first, I generally want there to be a written companion, but doing a traditional blog post essentially doubles my workload—having to shoot and edit a video as well as a written review with still photos. So on one or two occasions, I simply copied the video transcript, cleaned it up a bit, and posted it as the written blog post here. For longer videos such as the one below, posting the transcript isn't really practical, so I'll simply post a few summarizing thoughts and let the video do most of the talking. All that to say that the meat of this review is in the YouTube video only and if you'd like to hear our thoughts, simply click "play." Many thanks to those of you who already watch, like, and subscribe.

TL;DR — Watch our YouTube videos.

Trader Joe's Belgian Cookie Collection in a nutshell: The presentation of this $11 import is stellar. Most of the 90+ cookies are fairly run-of-the-mill shortbread covered in various types of Belgian chocolate. Only 3 or 4 of the twelve varieties really stand out as unique. We'd buy again if we were headed to a big holiday shindig or buying a gift for someone who really loves Belgian sweets. For a cheaper and smaller option of comparable quality, see Trader Joe's Belgian Cookie Trio.

Bottom line: 7.25 out of 10.

Trader Joe's Stollen Crisps

Since I haven't spotted any other beloved German holiday treats such as Lebkuchen or Pfeffernüsse at my local Trader Joe's lately, today we're looking at the Stollen Crisps, which were available last year but eluded our sights in terms of a review.

Always busy this time of year trying to get around to all the seasonal products TJ's has to offer and we never manage to cover everything. But isn't that how life in general goes around the holidays? So much to do and a few things inevitably slip through the cracks. I don't know how you folks with big families do it. Anyhoo, let's get started with the review before we're staring down the barrel of 500 words for a simple looksee at what is essentially a box of fancy crackers.

My biggest problem with this line of "crisps" from TJ's is never the taste.

See: Trader Joe's Strawberry Jalapeño Crisps

Trader Joe's Pumpkin Cranberry Crisps

and Trader Joe's Fig & Olive Crisps.

They've always been unique and interesting flavors. My problem is the texture—they tend to be overly hard, to the point that they hurt my teeth after just a few bites. This problem can be mitigated by soft spreads, cheeses, and/or dips. Let's see if the stollen are any different.

Honestly, this product seems slightly less rigid than the previous selections mentioned above. Is it just my imagination? Have my teeth been strengthened by that enamel repair toothpaste I've been using? Your guess is as good as mine. They're still crunchy and crispy to a fault, but not quite as extreme by my reckoning.

There's a lovely grape and citrus smell that wafts from the bag after opening. They taste like fruitcake dusted with powdered sugar—like orange and lemon zest underneath raisins and sweet buttermilk bread. It's a very nice flavor indeed. There's a surprising amount of fruit in the crackers. Each piece contains at least four or five cross sections of raisin. That might be one of the reasons this offering seems a tad softer than its predecessors.

They recommend eating these with Brie or Gouda but I'm not really a highbrow cheese guy. If we had some kind of chevre on hand, I'd grab that, but unfortunately it's going to be Philadelphia to the rescue once again. But hey, it works. It's a delicious combination in my humble opinion.

The citrus element really makes this product memorable. Some might say it's too sweet with visible amounts of sugar on the crisps, but hey, it's the holiday season and it's time to celebrate.

$4.29 for the box. Product of Canada. There's something delightfully festive and Christmassy about this item, and I'd definitely buy it again. Sonia and I will go with 8 out of 10 stars for Trader Joe's Stollen Crisps.

Bottom line: 8 out of 10.

Trader Joe's Chocolate Almond Protein Smoothie

Just a quickie for today. Sonia drank most of this beverage. I just tasted it and noped out pretty quickly.

It's chalky as I suspected it would be. I can also taste the pea protein underneath the chocolate and almond flavors. There's really not a ton of chocolate flavor, to be honest.

It was $3.49 for the 16 oz bottle. Sonia liked that it was filling and full of protein. She'd buy again in a pinch but wouldn't necessarily seek it out. I wouldn't drink it again.

Sonia's score: 6.5 out of 10.

Nathan's score: 4.5 out of 10.

Trader Joe's Crunchy Pops

Today, I'm gonna check out Trader Joe's Crunchy Pops. I really like snacks made with alternative grains and flours and ingredients. The only thing that makes me a little nervous is "pea." Yeah. I like peas okay but not necessarily in my crunchy snacks. I'm a little leery of pea protein in anything, be it any kind of smoothie or shake or protein bar so I'm not sure how it's going to work out here. I think the potato and corn will hopefully offset any weird pea flavor that I might not like.

Upon opening the bag, it smells faintly of peas and corn. They're bigger than I thought they'd be. They're very salty. Very crunchy. Hollow. 

They're like Chex but bigger and more rigid, more robust. You can taste the grainy flavors of potato, peas, and corn. The pea flavor doesn't turn me off at all. It's a pleasant flavor but I don't know if it would be the number one thing I'd reach for over potato chips or tortilla chips.

I wish they were dusted with some kind of flavor like barbecue sauce or something spicy. Even a cheddar cheese flavor would be interesting. A viewer on YouTube suggested sour cream and onion would work, and I totally agree.

$2.49 for the bag. Kosher. I don't know why they wouldn't be gluten free, but they're not listed as such. Maybe they were processed on the same equipment as wheat products or something like that. 

Would I buy them again? I don't think I would in this current format. If you like the taste of potatoes, corn, and peas and don't mind very salty snacks, you'd probably like these. The texture is excellent if you like firm, crunchy, crispy snacks. I like salty snacks a lot, but I feel like the saltiness overshadows everything else in this case.

I give Trader Joe's Crunchy Pops 7 out of 10 stars. Sonia will go with 7.5 out of 10.

Bottom line: 7.25 out of 10.

Trader Joe's Belgian Cookie Trio

Shoot, is it already time for Christmas cookies again? I guess you could have these at Thanksgiving, too. You're gonna need some dessert after that Turkey Day dinner.

This product was around last year, and it's back again for 2024. This rectangular box will run you about six bucks and it has two individually wrapped cookie trays. 

You get three types of authentic Belgian cookies: almond butter thins in milk chocolate, waffle cookies dipped in dark chocolate, and butter biscuits in dark chocolate.

They're crispy. Crunchy. Sweet. But not too sweet. 

I like the milk chocolate kind better than the dark chocolate ones. The almonds are a nice touch. Those cookies are nice and buttery. I like the texture of the waffle cookies a lot.

I wish the package were resealable somehow. Still pretty tasty, festive, and fun. Might buy again. Product of Belgium. I give Trader Joe's Belgian Cookie Trio seven out of ten stars. Sonia gives them seven and a half out of ten.

Check out our short video to see these cookies in action. There's no talking in this one. It's just beautiful chocolate-covered Belgian desserts and smooth jazz.

Have a great weekend. 

Bottom line: 7.25 out of 10.

Trader Joe's Green Apple Sparkling Water

Who the heck does seasonal flavors of water? Trader Joe's, that's who. Apparently this is one of them. I mean, we've talked about apple being a fall flavor and all, but you'd think they could offer this stuff year round for folks that really like it.

It's good. There's a whisper and a half of tart Granny Smith apple flavor. It's not soda. It's not sweet or heavy handed at all. It's a nice subtle sour apple essence in clean, refreshing, fizzy water. I like this one about as much as any of the other flavored sparkling waters at TJ's. Some people say that they mix it with other stuff to make exotic apple cocktails and stuff. I think those people are nuts.

$3.49 for eight 12 oz cans. That's pretty much exactly what you pay for any of the major brand name sparkling water packs like Bubly or Polar. I think this one is available in big plastic bottles, too. Sonia and I give Trader Joe's Green Apple Sparkling Water 8 out of 10 stars. This isn't the first time we've purchased it, and we definitely would buy it again. In the fall. Next year. Sheesh.

Bottom line: 8 out of 10.

Trader Joe's Strawberry Yogurt Flavored Almonds

It would probably be more honest and accurate to call these "almonds coated with strawberry flavored sugar" because, let's face it: that stuff ain't yogurt. If you read carefully, you'll note that it's a "yogurt flavored coating" made of palm kernel oil and miscellaneous powders—one of which is, admittedly, "yogurt powder."

Meh. It works. The almonds taste enough like strawberry. Sonia thinks the balance of flavors is just about perfect. There's enough sweet strawberry taste to make these feel like a dessert but not so much that it overshadows the natural nuttiness of the almonds. There is a bit of that almond butter and jelly effect, which I expected of course, but I'm still not sure how I feel about it.

The beautiful wifey raved about these things from first bite. She says she could eat the whole bag by herself in a single day. In reality, I know she won't because she's disciplined like that. Fortunately, the bag is resealable.

$3.99 for the eight serving bag. Kosher. Eight and a half out of ten stars from Sonia for Trader Joe's Strawberry Yogurt Flavored Almonds, who would definitely repurchase. I'll go with eight out of ten. They're definitely satisfying and snackable, but I don't necessarily think they're a cut above all the other myriad nuts coated with sweet stuff out there from Trader Joe's or anywhere else.

Bottom line: 8.25 out of 10.

Trader Joe's Ginger Shrimp Lo Mein

Today's product review: Trader Joe's Ginger Shrimp Lo Mein. I'm a huge fan of shrimp, and I like ginger a lot, too, so I'm really excited to try this. After cutting open the bag and all of the secondary packaging, the beautiful wifey will be preparing it on the stove top.

They want you to thaw the noodles with some oil in a pan. Meanwhile, you thaw the ginger sauce and shrimp in water. Then you throw all of it together in the pan and heat until the shrimp is fully cooked to an internal temp of 145° or more. I can smell the ginger already.

Well, looks like it's time to plate it up and chow down.

We tried the lo mein with no condiments first but quickly decided it needed some help. Sonia reached for gochujang and I went with sriracha. Both sauces greatly improved the taste by giving the dish a little kick, which was offset and dampened by the mellow ginger flavor.

Sonia thought there were plenty of shrimp, but I wouldn't have minded more. We both thought a few more veggies would have been welcome. The noodles were fine and the whole dish had a decent flavor, particularly after adding some heat.

If you want to watch our chopsticks skills in action, just click play on the vid below. Have a meal with us, friends. $5.99 for the three serving bag. Product of Thailand. Found in the frozen section. Probably would buy again. We give Trader Joe's Ginger Shrimp Lo Mein seven and a half out of ten stars.

Bottom line: 7.5 out of 10.

Trader Joe's Jumeokbap

Neither Sonia nor I had ever heard of jumeokbap before. It's a Korean dish that usually involves a "rice ball." In this case, they're more like rice pyramids. But anyway, there's usually some veggies and beef mixed in with the rice. In this case, we've got vegan beefless bulgogi—a product we reviewed not that long ago—along with carrots, green onions, and cabbage.

This product comes with three individually sealed pouches, one pouch per serving. You simply snip the corner of the pouch and microwave for 1.5 to 4 minutes, depending on the number of pouches you're heating. Take the product out of the pouch and you're done. Quick and easy.

There are tiny pieces of bulgogi throughout the product. They're much easier to chew that way, but by the end of our meal, we both agreed that more of the delicious fake meat would have improved the dish. The overall flavor was excellent.

$4.99 for the three servings. Vegan. Product of South Korea. Found in the frozen section. Would buy again. Eight and a half stars from me for Trader Joe's Jumeokbap. Nine and a half stars from the beautiful wifey. 

Have I mentioned we're doing videos now? Sonia looks darn good for 45, doesn't she?

Bottom line: 9 out of 10.

Trader Joe's Kimbap

Good morning, folks! It's time to look at Trader Joe's Kimbap. Neither Sonia nor I had ever tried this dish before, but we both like sushi so we decided to give it a whirl. This one's primarily a video review in stunning 4K resolution but for those of you who just want to relax and read, here's a few paragraphs on our findings...

This Asian dish comes frozen and it thaws in 2-3 minutes in the microwave. The packaging recommends serving it hot or cold while Koreans who know the dish say it should be served at room temperature. I found hot or room temperature worked great while chilling the kimbap in the fridge made the mouthfeel a little funky.

Still, the taste and texture are remarkable considering it comes frozen solid. There's an unexpected sweetness to the dish—akin to sesame sauce—plus all the rich veggie flavors you get from tofu, burdock root, carrot, radish, spinach, and seaweed. It's filling, satisfying, convenient, and reasonably priced at $3.99 for nine big sushi roll discs.

Product of Korea. The packaging and traderjoes.com only specify that it's vegetarian, but there's nothing in the ingredients that wouldn't be vegan, and other actual vegans out in cyberspace have declared that it is, in fact, vegan. I give Trader Joe's Kimbap eight out of ten stars while the beautiful wifey will go with nine out of ten.

Bottom line: 8.5 out of 10.

Trader Joe's Milk Chocolate Bar with Corn Flakes

So apparently this is Trader Joe's store brand take on Ritter Sport Knusperflakes. The original is milk chocolate with corn cereal inside just like this candy bar, except Ritter Sport is a German chocolatier while this product hails from Belgium.

Long ago, seemingly in another lifetime, it was posited that the authors of this blog were merely Belgian world domination puppets. That legacy lives on with this chunk of chocolate. Not only is it fairly tasty and unique and will get our seal of approval and recommendation, but it's also packaged attractively and priced fairly at $2.99.

Isn't three bucks a little steep for a chocolate bar, you ask? Not really. Especially when you consider this is over six ounces of chocolate that came from half way around the world. Have you purchased any individual candy bars lately? I know I haven't outside of Trader Joe's. Those things are like a buck fifty and you get a third the amount of chocolate that's in this Belgian bad boy.

Still, candy isn't really my thing anymore and I'm far from a chocoholic so I can't see myself buying this regularly. But as chocolate goes, it gets a solid thumbs up from the beautiful wifey and me. Seven and a half stars out of ten on Trader Joe's Milk Chocolate Bar with Corn Flakes.

We did yet another video. This one features me rambling on for a whopping 58 seconds. Subscribe for a chance to win even more microdoses of my majestic mug and charming charisma. It's free!

Bottom line: 7.5 out of 10.