Trader Joe's Sparkling Cranberry Ginger Brew Beverage

Here's a fun-looking little holiday-ish beverage, seasonally appropriate from now until New Year's or so. It's somewhat similar to Trader Joe's Sparkling Cranberry & Ginger Beverage from a few years back, but there are a few noticeable differences.

I think there's less ginger flavor in this one. The last cran-ginger drink had a little more of that throat tickling property that ginger lovers crave. This one's got like a hint of ginger but not much more than that. The cranberry is slightly tart but I wanted quite a bit more sweetness. There are only 9g of added sugar in each serving, so you wouldn't expect it to be soda sweet or anything like that but it almost tastes sugar free. It's not a terrible beverage, but it's also not particularly memorable or festive by my estimation. Sonia likes the lack of sweetness just fine and enjoys the beverage okay, but even she admits it needs more punch from the ginger.

Trader Joe's Sparkling Cranberry Ginger Brew Beverage comes in a four pack for five bucks. We purchased just two individual cans for a buck and a quarter each. Each can is 8.45 fl oz. It makes a decent mixer with vodka and lime juice for a festive holiday mule type libation.

While it’s convenient to grab a couple of individual cans if your local store sells them loose, we’d suggest trying just one before committing to a full four-pack—especially if you're expecting that classic fiery ginger kick or a sweeter, dessert-like holiday sip. But if you do want to track down a pack for your next festive cocktail mix, here’s a tip from Google Gemini for finding it on the shelves:

Because seasonal holiday beverages are limited-run, stock can fluctuate locally by region. If you don't see it in the beverage or end cap displays right away, check with a Crew Member using item SKU #181782 to see when their next truck shipment is scheduled.

$1.25 per can or $4.99 for the four pack. Kosher. Probably wouldn't buy again. We gave the old cranberry ginger beverage seven and a half stars. We'll go a bit lower on this one. Sonia gives Trader Joe's Sparkling Cranberry Ginger Brew Beverage seven out of ten stars. I'll go with five and a half out of ten.

Sonia's score: 7 out of 10.

Nathan's score: 5.5 out of 10.

Trader Joe's Cranberry & Jalapeño Chicken Meatballs

Following in the footsteps of other tasty products like Trader Joe's Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken Meatballs and Trader Joe's Buffalo Style Chicken Meatballs, here we have Trader Joe's Cranberry & Jalapeño Chicken Meatballs. They're fully cooked and gluten free like their predecessors. They heat up the same way, and they're the same shape, size, and price: $4.29.

Texture-wise, they come out of the air fryer nice and juicy, soft, and meaty. It's an extremely similar mouthfeel to the other flavors if you're familiar with those. Flavor-wise, there's only a subtle sweet-tart tang from the cranberry and an even subtler spicy flavor from the jalapeño pepper pieces. Both the fruit and pepper bits are very small and unintrusive.

I wish they were a good bit more prevalent in the flavor profile. I don't necessarily want beaten over the head with super sour cranberry and flaming hot jalapeño, but as it is, these are pretty much on par with a typical chicken sausage—good quality chicken meat with just a hint of tang and spice.

There's a pleasant sweetness to the meatballs, too, as the dried cranberries used in the ingredients are made with cane sugar. There's also some maple sugar in the less than 2% section. Still, I think I prefer the other two flavors of chicken meatballs just slightly more than this variety.

I looked up ways to serve these and found a bunch of ideas. I opted for a makeshift Thanksgiving theme. I read they went well with any kind of cranberry glaze or cranberry sauce, so that's what I paired them with. I went out on a limb and guessed they'd do fine with good old mashed potatoes, as well. All three mixed together made a very tasty forkful. I suppose I could have gone the whole nine yards and added stuffing and gravy to the mix for a full on Thanksgiving style chicken meatball dinner, but I was pretty pleased with the simpler three item spread.

For an easy party appetizer, toss them in a slow cooker with a splash of cranberry juice or apple cider and a extra dollop of hot honey to keep them glazed and warm. If you’re pulling together a quick weeknight dinner, they’re fantastic served over a bed of buttery, fluffy rice or rich polenta, letting the sweet and spicy pan juices double as a sauce. You can also skewer them with charred bell peppers and red onion for fun festive kebabs, or slice them up to toss into a cozy autumn salad with roasted sweet potatoes, kale, and goat cheese.

$4.29 for about 24 meatballs. Gluten free. Antibiotic free. Precooked. Would buy again. Like I said, I like these just a shade less than the other two flavors. If they amped up the jalapeño a lot and the cranberry just a bit, these might have been my favorite. Eight out of ten stars from Sonia for Trader Joe's Cranberry & Jalapeño Chicken Meatballs. Seven and a half stars from me.

Bottom line: 7.75 out of 10.

Trader Joe's Apple Crisp Milk Chocolate Caramels

Looks like Trader Joe's Apple Cider Caramels have disappeared, never to return. Too bad because we liked those quite a bit. Then they offered Trader Joe's Apple Caramels, which also contained apple cider. They've gone the way of the dodo. Aaaand now we have Trader Joe's Apple Crisp Caramels. Let's not get too attached to them considering TJ's track record with discontinued products—applicious caramel candies in particular.

Again, it's a shame, because these are unique and tasty. They come to us all the way from Ireland. That's unexpected. They make some killer potato chips over there, but who knew they did apple caramels, too?

There's a crispy, crunchy layer to these bite-sized candies. Looks like the crunchy part might be...<gasp> chickpea flour? Looking through the ingredients, I can't imagine what else it might be. No crisp rice. No toffee. I suppose you could prepare cornstarch in such a way as to make it crunchy. I mean as much as I love the delicious and versatile garbanzo bean, I don't necessarily want any in my apple flavored chocolate caramel candy.

But you know what? It works. There's just enough crunch to let you know they were going for apple crisp. And it actually tastes like apples and cinnamon and maybe even a hint of something grainy. I like 'em.

The milk chocolate is the right choice here. It's nice and sweet and it balances out the spicier elements. Traderjoes.com says there are little pieces of apple throughout the candy. Umm. I'm not saying it's a lie, but I certainly didn't see any of said apple pieces in my candies. Either they're so tiny you need some sort of optical assistance to see them or maybe just not every single bonbon has them..? I mean, there is "apple paste" in there as well as apple juice concentrate, so you're definitely getting some real apple. I just don't see anything that could be considered a "bit of apple." Not even a teeny little one. But I digress.

$5.99 for ten pieces of imported chocolate caramels. Product of Ireland. Fall exclusive seasonal product. Would buy again next year. Eight out of ten stars from Sonia for Trader Joe's Apple Crisp Milk Chocolate Caramels. I'll go with seven and a half.

Bottom line: 7.75 out of 10.

Trader Joe's Chocolate Chip Brioche Style Liège Waffles

Trader Joe's has been on a bit of a Liège waffle kick lately, and we're not complaining. Well, mostly. The latest addition to the lineup is Trader Joe's Chocolate Chip Brioche Style Liège Waffles, which combine the familiar bready, buttery goodness of the original with little bits of chocolate. Because apparently, sometimes the answer to "How can we improve this?" is just chocolate. Revolutionary stuff, folks.

For $4.99, you get six individually wrapped waffles imported from Belgium. That's a little less than a dollar per waffle, which isn't too bad considering the convenience factor. They're perfectly fine straight from the bag, making them a decent little breakfast or snack when you don't feel like doing anything more ambitious than opening a wrapper. But if you have a toaster handy, we'd recommend giving them a little heat first.

Texture-wise, we're getting the same general experience as the other Brioche Style Liège Waffles. There's a slightly crunchy exterior thanks to the pearl sugar, while the inside is soft, chewy, and pleasantly carb-o-riffic. The chocolate chips provide some extra sweetness and ooey-gooey goodness without completely taking over the show. Honestly, this flavor works about as well as any of the others we've tried, and I personally like it considerably more than the recently-reviewed pumpkin version. That autumnal orange gourd doesn't belong on everything, unfortunately.

Speaking of seasonal flavors, we're still scratching our heads a little over the timing. Why launch chocolate chip waffles in the fall, right alongside the pumpkin, apple, cinnamon, and everything else that tastes like a flannel shirt feels? Chocolate is a year round affair, Trader Joe's. Let it have its own moment.

As for serving suggestions, these are pretty versatile. Toast one up, slather on a little butter, and enjoy the simple pleasures of a sweet Belgian breakfast. Or go the dessert route with a scoop of ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream. Add some fresh berries if you're feeling fancy. Nobody needs to know you assembled the whole thing in approximately 45 seconds.

Sonia gives Trader Joe's Chocolate Chip Brioche Style Liège Waffles eight out of ten stars. I'll go with seven and a half. They're convenient, tasty, and a nice addition to the Liège waffle lineup, even if they're not exactly reinventing the waffle wheel.

Bottom line: 7.75 out of 10.

Trader Joe's Pumpkin Pie Spice Bark

There are folks that trust in the existence of The Great Pumpkin, there are those that refuse to believe without proof, and there are those who are...pumpkin agnostics. Like Fox Mulder, I want to believe...so I try nearly every pumpkin item Trader Joe's puts out. Sometimes you find a trace of transcendence—of greatness, if you will, and it leaves you with hope. Other times, you're left still searching, and your searches leave you with more questions than answers.

I really think Trader Joe's Pumpkin Pie Spice Bark could go either way for most folks. Big pumpkin spice fans will undoubtedly love it, provided they're okay with white chocolate. Pumpkin spice doubters might find it a bit overwhelming in terms of the ginger, cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg.

For those of you who are new here, I love white chocolate and always have. Sonia likes it in certain instances. We both like it here just fine. I think what's happening is they tried to balance out the sweetness of the sugary white chocolate with a decent amount of pumpkin spice. The result is both sweet and pumpkin spicy with a nice bit of bready crunch from the gingersnaps and a hint of saltiness from the pretzels.

If I could ask for more of one element, it's the pretzels. That saltiness goes a long way to balance out the spicy and sweet. There's also some sea salt right in the bark itself, but it's not overdone. There's plenty of gingersnap cookie mixed right into the candy. I don't have a problem with it, but there's already plenty of ginger flavor in there, so it's a bit redundant in terms of taste. It does add a nice cookie texture to the otherwise smooth white chocolate and dark chocolate drizzle. All in all, this is one of the better chocolate bark products we've seen from TJ's over the past decade and a half.

See also:

Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Bark

Trader Joe's Sweetheart Bark

Trader Joe's Cowboy Bark

Trader Joe's Cowgirl Bark

We'll finish this resealable bag, no problem. I'm glad they're experimenting with white chocolate products. In the end, I'm not really the biggest bark guy in the world, so I don't think I'd pick this one up again. The beautiful wifey would consider a repurchase next year. $5.49 for the 8 oz resealable bag. Kosher. Seven and a half stars from Sonia for Trader Joe's Pumpkin Pie Spice Bark. Seven out of ten stars from me.

Bottom line: 7.25 out of 10.

Trader Joe's Pumpkin Oat Bites

This is the part of the autumn season where I realize we bought more pumpkin and pumpkin spice products than any other flavor and I decide to do a theme for a week on the blog. Hooray for Pumpkin Week 2026. At this point, we've reviewed well over one hundred pumpkin products from Trader Joe's over the years, so the bar is set pretty high. Let's see what's on the menu for today.

It's Trader Joe's Pumpkin Oat Bites. These were a pleasant surprise. There's a nice, sweet pumpkin and pumpkin spice center in these things. It's just flavorful enough to balance out the dense, hearty grains without going overboard. It's got the same soft, chewy mouthfeel as Trader Joe's Raspberry Oat Bites. For some reason, we found the PB&J variety to be a little too stiff in terms of texture.

We like the convenient packaging—each bite is individually wrapped for maximum freshness and portability. Taking a hike? Throw one in your cargo pocket, gentlemen, for a little pick-me-up out on the trails. Late for work? Toss one in your purse, ladies, to snack on while you ride the train.

Crumble one on top of Greek yogurt for a fancy little parfait. Put pieces on vanilla ice cream for dessert. Add to a chai smoothie for a bit of extra texture. Upgrade a bowl of warm oatmeal by adding one of these bites on top. But they're perfectly fine straight from the package, and that's how we finished all six—sometimes they were breakfast, sometimes they were a between meal snack. Either way, they got the job done. Not too indulgent, yet surprisingly not boring.

$3.99 for six filling little gluten free snacks. Seven and a half stars from both Sonia and me for Trader Joe's Pumpkin Oat Bites, same score we gave to the raspberry ones. In the end, I think I'm in the mood for raspberry more than pumpkin, but these were a nice autumnal changeup that worked better than either of us expected them to. Would buy again next fall.

Bottom line: 7.5 out of 10.

Trader Joe's Wicked Good Mini Chocolate Bars

I think this is the fourth year in a row Trader Joe's has offered these Wicked Good Mini Chocolate Bars leading up to Halloween time. But this is the first year Sonia and I managed to get our hands on a bag. They've been sold out every single time we've tried to get them for the past three years. Finally, we're fortunate enough to try them.

They're a product of Germany. Those Deutsch folks really know their chocolate. Just ask Üter Zörker. I assume these candy bars come from the same chocolatier that gave us Trader Joe's Teensy Candy Bars. Let's break down the bag by each of the four different types of confections you'll find within.

First up, the yellow wrapper. It's the nougat chocolate bar. Just smooth, soft, sweet nougat surrounded by milk chocolate. It's the simplest of the bars and it's pretty good. To quote Radiohead, "no alarms and no surprises" is exactly how I feel about this offering. Basically a German Three Musketeers.

Next, let's look at the nougat & caramel chocolate bar in the purple package. True to the name, this bar contains...you guessed it: nougat, caramel, and chocolate. It's exactly like the previous bar but with caramel thrown into the mix. It's most similar to a Milky Way bar if we're talking American classics. For reasons I can't really articulate, I think I like these first two bars just a tad more than their name brand counterparts.

Moving along, it's time for the caramel & wafer chocolate bar in the black. If the other three bars in this collection are treats, then this one is the trick. Why? It's oddly large and oddly hard. The wafers here are extremely rigid. Sonia and I both found it quite difficult to bite into and chew. There's nothing wrong with the flavor. Looks like the wafers are made of wheat (and corn?) but I feel like crisp rice might have yielded something with a much more pleasant mouthfeel. We actually cut this one into four or five smaller bites with a sharp knife in order to eat it. This one is our least favorite just because of the hard texture. There's no exact match as far as American candy bars are concerned, at least as far as I can tell. Drop a comment if you think there's a name brand selection that's comparable.

Let's end on a positive note: the peanut & caramel chocolate bar in the blue wrapper. It's quite similar to the aforementioned Teensy Candy Bars which are, in turn, quite similar to classic Snickers bars. I think Zero is my favorite candy bar of all time, but if we're talking milk chocolate, then I might go with Snickers. Once again, this German knockoff is at least as good as the name brand. It's sweet, peanutty, and packed with creamy caramel. This one is our favorite by a good margin.

$4.99 for the 14.7 oz bag containing approximately 24 miniature candy bars. Product of Germany. Would possibly buy again. They'd be fun to give out to kids at Halloween. I really wish that wafer bar were easier to bite into. I think I'd go for the Teensy Candy Bars again before Trader Joe's Wicked Good Mini Chocolate Bars. The yellow and purple wrappers are a tad boring after a while, so the blue ones with peanuts are really the only ones I'm ever craving with any regularity. Still, this is a quality product for a reasonable price. Eight out of ten stars from Sonia. Seven and a half stars from me.

Bottom line: 7.75 out of 10.

Trader Joe's Cinnamon Powdered Sugar Mini Donuts

Trader Joe’s Cinnamon Powdered Sugar Mini Donuts are one of those products where I’m not entirely sure what to make of them. Not because they’re bad. Quite the opposite, actually. They’re really decent little donuts. The problem is that they’re almost too normal. These are basically the kind of cinnamon powdered sugar mini donuts you might find at any number of grocery stores, gas stations, or convenience stores. There’s nothing particularly weird, inventive, exotic, or especially Joesian about them. And yet...we kinda like ’em.

For $4.49, you get a 10-ounce bag of Trader Joe’s Cinnamon Powdered Sugar Mini Donuts. They’re tiny—about two or three bites each—and have a pretty good cakey texture. They’re soft without being mushy, with just enough density that they don't feel spongy at all. The cinnamon powdered sugar coating adds a pleasant sweetness and warm cinnamon flavor without going completely over the top.

Honestly, these are probably one step up from the normal grocery store mini donuts. The texture is good. The flavor is good. The cinnamon-to-sugar ratio is good. Dunk a couple into coffee and you’ve got yourself a perfectly respectable little breakfast/snack situation. They’re also small enough that you can eat three and tell yourself, “Well, they’re mini,” which is totally sound nutritional science.

But here's the thing: why now? Trader Joe’s drops these in the middle of the fall food explosion, surrounded by pumpkin this, apple that, maple whatever, and approximately 8,000 other products screaming AUTUMN! at you. And then there’s this bag of perfectly ordinary cinnamon powdered sugar mini donuts. No pumpkin. No apple. No butternut squash. No haunted barnyard spices. Just...donuts. Maybe that’s the point. Maybe we need a little normalcy amidst all the pumpkin spice chaos.

Either way, they’re tasty, they’ve got a really nice texture, and they’re certainly worth picking up if you like this type of donut. They just don’t feel particularly Trader Joe’s-esque. Sonia and I will both go with seven and a half stars on Trader Joe's Cinnamon Powdered Sugar Mini Donuts.

Bottom line: 7.5 out of 10.

Trader Joe's Fiesta Guacamole

I certainly didn't grow up eating a lot of guacamole, but I love it. I'm not sure if I'd consider myself a connoisseur of fine guacamole, but here are a few of my credentials: I've eaten it at more than a few decent Mexican restaurants. Sonia and I (emphasis on Sonia) have made our own guac before. We mashed avocados and added our own onions, tomatoes, lemon juice, salt, and a few spices. We've eaten and/or reviewed:

Trader Joe's Spicy Mango Habanero Guacamole

Trader Joe's Chunky Spicy Guacamole Autèntico

Trader Joe's Reduced Guilt Chunky Guacamole

Trader Joe's Avocado Mash

So you know, I'm at least a casual guac fanatic as I'm sure many of you are, as well. Sonia's been eating it since she was a kid, so her guacamole roots go back even farther than mine. And not only are we fond of guac, but we're quite fond of roasted corn and black beans, including any and all corn & bean salsas that we've tried. So Trader Joe's Fiesta Guacamole with Black Beans & Fire Roasted Corn seemed like it'd be right up our alley.

It's good, but it could be better. The corn and beans add a little bit of texture to the guac, but not a whole lot of flavor. And since the guac is so full of corn and beans—which would normally be a good thing—there's not a lot of room for all the pico de gallo type ingredients which give other guacamoles a lot of their flavor.

Don't get me wrong, the product still has some onion, garlic, and pepper flavor, but it needs more of it. It lacks that punch that a lot of excellent guacamole dips provide. It lacks sass. I want to love it, but I just can't help but compare it to the above-mentioned mango habanero guacamole. That stuff was spicy and potent and it brought a wonderful, bright tropical flavor that was totally unique. Corn and beans just don't have the pungency required to punch through the dense earthiness of avocado.

We put it in tacos, we used it as a dip with tortilla chips, and we did a few other fun things with it in the kitchen. And that's probably where this Fiesta Guacamole works best. It's versatile enough to add some creaminess, corn, beans, and a little bit of flavor to whatever you're making. I could see it working nicely on nachos, burritos, quesadillas, or even alongside some grilled chicken or steak. So it's not like this stuff is useless by any means. It's just that when we ate it straight up as guacamole, we kept wishing it had a little more personality.

We'll finish the tub, no problem, but we probably wouldn't go out of our way to purchase again. $3.49 for the 10 oz container. Found in the refrigerated section. Kosher. Product of Mexico. Seven out of ten stars from both the beautiful wifey and me for Trader Joe's Fiesta Guacamole with Black Beans & Fire Roasted Corn.

Bottom line: 7 out of 10.

Trader Joe's Pumpkin Pie Spice Donut Holes

Considering that Trader Joe's Pumpkin Pie Spice Donut Holes are gluten free and dairy free, I guess it's hard to shaft them completely. But there have been so many gluten free offerings from Trader Joe's throughout the years that have been just as good, if not better, than their traditional glutenful counterparts that it's hard for me to garner much enthusiasm for these little do-dads.

Yes, we've tried the gluten free pumpkin muffins and liked those quite a bit. I think those are head and shoulders better than these donut holes—and the muffins aren't even pretending to be a dessert treat. Right? I mean donuts are supposed to be more indulgent than muffins. Maybe I'm just getting old, but I'll take those muffins over these donut holes any day of the week. Although I'm guessing they're out of season right now, the gluten free strawberry muffins were even better still.

These donut holes are dense, cakey, and somewhat soft, though they don't quite achieve the mouthfeel of a traditional donut hole in my opinion. There's just a hint of something stiff—a whisper of something not-fresh-baked. The glaze is fine, providing a slightly firmer outer layer and a sugary sheen to the appearance of the spherical treats, though Sonia says it rubs off too easily on the inside of the package. They're bite-sized and convenient.

The flavor is good. There's rice and tapioca flour in the mix, and honestly they taste more like classic wheat flour donuts more than they feel like classic wheat flour donuts. The spice blend is inoffensive with an appropriate amount of sweetness. There's actual pumpkin puree adding a bit of warm, rich earthiness.

Despite the positive buzz about these donuts, I'd steer any gluten free folks toward Trader Joe's Gluten Free Pumpkin Streusel Muffins before these particular gf confections, but that's just my take on the matter. In the end, most folks are just fine with this product if not rabidly fanatical about it. Each to his own.

$3.49 for the 6 oz package. Gluten free. Dairy free. Kosher. Sonia liked these a tad more than I did. She'll give Trader Joe's Pumpkin Pie Spice Donut Holes seven and a half stars. I'll go with six and a half.

Bottom line: 7 out of 10.

Trader Joe's Italian Pistachio Gelato

Pistachio gelato. It's one of those flavors that I feel like I should eat more often, but for whatever reason, it doesn't seem to make its way into my freezer all that frequently. Maybe because I'm too busy eating cookie dough. Maybe because I'm too busy eating everything else. Maybe because I'm just easily distracted by shiny new Trader Joe's desserts. Who knows.

But here's a familiar flavor in yet another format: Italian Pistachio Gelato Style Frozen Dessert. Previously, the pistachio portion of this Italian-made frozen dessert shared billing with Fior di Latte in a seasonal two flavor container. Now the pistachio gets the whole pint to itself, and, according to Trader Joe's, it's the same pistachio gelato from the same Italian supplier.

Anybody remember Trader Joe's old Pistachio Gelato? I reviewed that one back in 2019, and I remember really liking the combination of sweet, nutty pistachio flavor and actual pistachio pieces throughout the gelato. It was also packaged in that plastic Talenti-esque jar, which I rather liked for reasons that had absolutely nothing to do with the food inside it.

This new version is a little different, though. First, there are no actual pistachio pieces or nuts here. It's smooth, creamy and pretty darn easy to eat, with a nice pistachio flavor that's nutty, lightly sweet and just a touch salty. That's pretty much what Trader Joe's promises, too, describing it as sweet, creamy and with a delicately savory edge.

Texture-wise, this is also lighter than I expected. It's nice and smooth and creamy, but it's not nearly as dense as most gelato I've had. It's almost...airy. Maybe "whipped" is the word I'm looking for? There's definitely some air in here, giving it a lighter mouthfeel than that old-school pistachio gelato, which had a heavier, thicker consistency. And while I don't necessarily dislike that, I do kinda miss the old version's heft. I also miss the pistachio pieces. And the jar. I apparently have unresolved feelings about that jar.

One other difference worth noting: the old gelato used some heavy cream, while this one only lists nonfat dry milk in terms of dairy. The list is built differently overall with sugar, coconut oil, and glucose syrup rounding out the top ingredients this "gelato style frozen dessert."

If you like pistachio, you'll probably like this just fine. It may not completely blow your mind, but it's a pleasant, smooth, creamy frozen dessert that hits the pistachio mark without getting too heavy or going overboard on the nut flavor.

$3.99 for the pint. Product of Italy. Would probably buy again. Seven and a half stars from me for Trader Joe's Italian Pistachio Gelato Style Frozen Dessert. Sonia will give it eight out of ten stars. It's good but it definitely won't dethrone Trader Joe's Horchata Ice Cream as our current favorite TJ frozen dessert product.

Bottom line: 7.75 out of 10.

Trader Joe's Crispy Rice Bars

Trader Joe's Crispy Rice Bars have been around for a few months now. Sometimes I'll deliberately avoid reading online opinions about a product so I can go into my review as blind and as objective as possible. However, sometimes it's just not practical, and sometimes curiosity gets the best of me and I'll read others' thoughts before sampling a product myself. This is one of those instances.

I didn't find there was one overwhelming majority opinion on this product. It's got its fans, for sure, as most TJ's products do, but it's got its fair share of detractors, as well. Similarly, Sonia and I are split on this one. Let's break it down into positives and negatives and then the parts we don't agree on.

The first thing that jumps out at the beautiful wifey as a positive is the texture. I won't argue with her on that point. It's very similar to classic Kellogg's Rice Krispies Treats in terms of density and chewiness but maybe even a tad softer—I'm talking about the pre-packaged ones, not ones freshly made in your kitchen at home. Homemade is (almost) always best. Trader Joe's offering is very easy to bite into and pleasant to chew.

The product is also very convenient and modestly priced at $2.99 for eight bars. The format is perfect for school lunches or brown bag work meals. Again, a thumbs up from both of us.

What we're both not fans of: some of the ingredients. Pork gelatin. Sonia and I both avoid pork when possible. It also alienates the kosher crowd from the product. May contain wheat. That counts out the gluten free folks, who may have otherwise turned to this product since it's rice and tapioca-based. And finally, carrageenan and seed oils might eliminate people with inflammation issues.

What we disagree on: the taste. Sonia likes it and enjoys it quite a bit. I taste something odd and off-putting. It's sweet. Sure, you can taste toasted rice and sugary marshmallows but underneath it there's something I'd call a chemical flavor. One Redditor describes it as "a very artificial marshmallow taste." I certainly don't disagree, but I can't tell if that industrial flavor is attached to the marshmallows or something else. Sonia kind of tastes it but isn't really bothered by it as much as I am.

In the end, Sonia would consider a repurchase while I would not. I've had two from the box and I'll let the beautiful wifey finish the rest. No need for a return, but if it were just me alone, I would have at least thought about it. Product of Canada. Seven and a half stars from Sonia for Trader Joe's Crispy Rice Bars. I'll throw out five and a half. FYI this isn't the first time TJ has done Rice Krispies Bars. 

Nathan's score: 5.5 out of 10.

Sonia's score: 7.5 out of 10.

Trader Joe's Passion Fruit Guava Bars

More popsicles? Yes. Summer doesn't end until September 22 and it's still friggin' hot. In no way is pumpkin spice appropriate just yet...unless we're talking about Trader Joe's Pumpkin Spice Sheet Cake. That's good enough to eat anytime.

Trader Joe's Passion Fruit Guava Bars are still available at our local TJ's as of the time of writing this review, but I know they're already done for the season at many locations. I'm thinking we'll see them again next year, but then again, we're talking about Trader Joe's, so your guess is as good as mine. They really hit that passionfruit and guava hard this summer. I hope some of those fun items return for 2027.

Trader Joe's Organic Guava Fruit Spread

Trader Joe's Sparkling Guava Juice Beverage

Trader Joe's Passion Fruit Orange Guava Juice Blend

Trader Joe's Organic Guava Nectar

Trader Joe's Passion Fruit Granola

And I think there were some tarts we missed this time around, but hey like I said, there's always next year...maybe. At any rate, I like these tropical popsicles almost as much as the recently-reviewed Trader Joe's Pineapple Coconut Bars. At $2.99 for the box, this product is a little cheaper overall, but you're only getting four bars as opposed to six. Each bar is bigger, however, yielding a slightly greater overall net weight.

I really enjoyed the creamy texture of the aforementioned pineapple coconut bars, but here there's guava puree in the top section, which does render a thicker liquid than juice. The guava section (the top) is a pinkish color while the bottom part is orange-colored passionfruit juice. They're very similar in flavor, but if you pay attention, there is a slight difference. The guava part is a bit sweeter, and the passion fruit is a little more tart.

There's something kind of fun about getting two popsicles in one here. It's like Trader Joe's couldn't decide which tropical fruit to go with, so it just said, "Screw it, do both. Two tropical fruits are twice as nice." It's a happy little reminder that summer isn't over yet, despite the pumpkin spice industrial complex trying its darnedest to convince us otherwise.

Three bucks for four bars. Kosher. Vegan. Sonia gives Trader Joe's Passion Fruit Guava Bars eight out of ten stars. Like I said, I'd repurchase the pineapple coconut bars before these, but they're certainly not bad. Seven and a half stars from this guy.

Bottom line: 7.75 out of 10.

Trader Joe's Brioche Style Pancakes

While Trader Joe's Brioche Style Liege Waffles are imported from Belgium, these Brioche Style Pancakes are imported from France. For four bucks, you get eight small shelf-stable pancakes wrapped up two by two in little cellophane packs.

If anything, these pancakes taste even more like fresh-baked breakfast fare than their waffley counterparts...and we like those waffles quite a bit. To be clear, none of these products truly compare to fresh homemade flapjacks, but considering the convenience factor, they're very much worth a pick-up.

Straight from the package, the texture of these pancakes is surprisingly soft and fluffy. They don't feel or taste stale in any way. Toss 'em in your toaster for a spell for an even nicer mouthfeel. The warmth wakes up the wheaty goodness even more, too. They're sweet enough that I wasn't even tempted to slather them with syrup, but they're not over-the-top sugary, either.

One drawback: they've got canola oil. I really feel like it's just a matter of time before there's a big enough outcry that Trader Joe's will be forced to avoid seed oils altogether, just like they avoid artificial colors and HFCS. I'm not going to lead the charge on that one, but plenty of readers have spoken out that they won't buy any products with seed oils. I respect that.

But enough about the ingredients label. At the end of the day, these are little French pancakes, and there's something inherently delightful about having a couple of 'em warm and fluffy on your plate in a matter of minutes. No mixing bowls, no measuring cups, no pancake batter mysteriously ending up on the floor. Just pancakes. Sometimes that's all you really need.

$3.99 for four servings of two pancakes each. Product of France. Would buy again, although we wouldn't mind a version without canola oil. Seven and a half stars from this guy for Trader Joe's Brioche Style Pancakes. The beautiful wifey will go with eight out of ten.

Bottom line: 7.75 out of 10.

Hardywood Tangerine Cream Ale

Unpopular opinion: Hardywood Tangerine Cream Ale tastes neither like dessert nor beer. After being pleasantly surprised by the last Trader Joe's Hardywood collab, the Joe-Joe's Vanilla Creme Stout, we decided to pick up a four pack of this happy summer libation, and we drank some on our most recent video review.

It's certainly not bad beer, but it's not really my thing in the end, either. Like other cream ales, there's a light crispness to the beverage, and with significant vanilla notes coming through, it does indeed taste "creamy" in the traditional sense in a way. There's a modest amount of citrus in the background, but not nearly as much as I was expecting or hoping for in a beverage that's putting out a distinct dessert vibe and gives the word "tangerine" top billing in its title.

It wasn't as sweet as I was expecting it to be. Nor was it anything like most ales I've had. Disclaimer: I haven't had many traditional cream ales or fruited wheat beers which, I'm told, is what this drink is most comparable to. Obviously, I wasn't expecting something as hoppy as an IPA or as malty as a stout or porter, but if it's not going to taste like dessert, I was expecting it to taste a bit more beer-ish.

With an ABV of 6%, this brew is slightly higher than your average ale, so a couple of the one pint cans might give you a little buzz. The price tag is a bit steep IMO at $3.75 for a single serving or $15 for the four pack. In terms of pairing with light warm weather fare, I'd point to the Josephsbrau Grapefruit Radler, in terms of overall taste and value, over this one. But that's just my opinion. I know it's like comparing apples and oranges—er, tangerines and grapefruits—as the case may be, but they're both popular fruity beers available at Trader Joe's in the summertime.

I will note this brew tastes and feels much better the colder you can get it—as is the case with most beers, to be fair. Sonia liked this beverage a bit more than I did. Ultimately, we'll both score this one a little lower than that recently-reviewed radler. Eight out of ten stars from the beautiful wifey. Six and a half stars from me for Hardywood Tangerine Cream Ale...which tastes nothing like the Tangerine Cream Bars.

Sonia's score: 8 out of 10.

Nathan's score: 6.5 out of 10.

Trader Joe's Fresh Cut Watermelon Chunks

I'm the first one to admit Trader Joe's isn't always the best place to buy fresh produce. But Sonia was quick to point out that we've never even tried any of their pre-cut fruit options. Hey, there's a first time for everything, so we picked up a batch of Trader Joe's Fresh Cut Watermelon Chunks.

Hot take: this batch of watermelon was pretty good. At $3.99 for a full pound of pre-cut, fully de-rinded seedless watermelon, it was a great value. They were nice uniform cubes, none too big, none too small—perfectly bite-sized.

As is the case with most watermelons, certain pieces were a darker shade of red than the others. There was a sliding scale going from pale pink or almost white to that deep rich red that you want to find. I'd seek out the reddest piece, stab it with my fork, and pop it in my mouth. So good. There's nothing like cold watermelon on a hot day.

The paler pieces were, unfortunately, far less sweet and far less scrumptious than their deep red counterparts. They weren't awful—far from inedible. They were simply, predictably, not as good. Just a tad bland.

I'm pretty picky when it comes to fresh fruit in general, but especially with watermelon. I'd say about 2/3 of the plastic tub was up to my standards. I ate a few of the paler specimens just to convince myself that they weren't really up to snuff, and the beautiful wifey took one for the team and finished them off after dressing them up a bit with lime juice and Trader Joe's Chile Lime Seasoning.

All things considered, I think we'd buy this product again. It was at least as good as other batches of pre-cut watermelon I've had from other grocery stores. Product of the USA. Let's go with seven and a half from me for Trader Joe's Fresh Cut Watermelon Chunks. Sonia will go with eight out of ten.

Bottom line: 7.75 out of 10.

Trader Joe's Chicken Salad Croissant Sandwich

If you've ever been standing in front of TJ's refrigerated grab-and-go section wondering whether Trader Joe's Chicken Salad Croissant Sandwich is the lunch hero you deserve, I've done the dirty work for you.

At first glance, this sandwich makes a pretty solid first impression. The croissant is buttery, flaky, and exactly the sort of bread that convinces you you're making a classy life decision. Unfortunately, you'll quickly find that the parts of the croissant touching the filling are noticeably soggy, creating a texture that feels less like a French bakery and more like yesterday's leftovers.

The chicken salad itself is nice. It's creamy without drowning in mayonnaise and there are plenty of respectable-sized chunks of chicken throughout. Our only complaint? We wanted more of it. The filling-to-bread ratio leaves the croissant doing a little too much of the heavy lifting.

Then there are the greens. The sheets of lettuce don't really contribute much besides a few stringy bites that make you wonder why they were invited to the party in the first place. They don't add freshness, crunch, or much flavor—just a minor obstacle between you and the chicken salad.

Overall, the flavor is genuinely enjoyable. The ingredients work well together, and it's tasty enough. The problem is the texture. Between the soggy croissant and the stringy greens, every few bites feel like a bit of a gamble. It's also quite messy, as the chicken salad wants to flee the croissant at the first sign of movement.

At $4.49, this chicken salad sandwich is an okay value, but it doesn't quite rise above the crowded field of convenient lunches. We'd happily eat it again if it magically appeared in front of us, but we probably wouldn't go out of our way to buy another one.

In summary, there's a good flavor, questionable texture, and a decent but not spectacular value. Sonia and I will both give Trader Joe's Chicken Salad Croissant Sandwich a perfectly respectable seven out of ten stars. Watch our video review of this sandwich by clicking this link.

Bottom line: 7 out of 10.

Trader Joe's Pickled Red Onions

Trader Joe's Pickled Red Onions are all about the convenience factor. For $3.29, you get 12 oz of the tangy, crunchy condiment. Sure, you could make your own. But will you? For some folks the answer is yes, and they're already in the habit of chopping and pickling their own onions right in the kitchen. For others, the answer is "I could, but I know I won't."

Both answers are valid. Sonia and I sometimes buy a jar of pickles and then when we've finished the product within, we save the juice and pickle whatever else needs pickling: onions, cucumbers, jalapeños...you name it. I just don't trust myself to get the vinegar to salt to sugar ratio quite as perfectly as a company that's been pickling stuff professionally for decades.

Trader Joe's Pickled Red Onions are quite vinegary—more so than other pickled onions I've tried. That's certainly not a bad thing, especially if you like the acidic taste of vinegar. There's plenty of onion flavor and the garlic, salt, and black peppercorn adds a faint but noticeable background essence. I think I prefer the Lime Pickled Onions from Broken Taco when it comes right down to it, but they tend to be a bit more expensive.

These pickled onions add a nice tang to tacos, burgers, and salads. We're especially fond of putting them in beef tacos—see pic. They're also legit on hotdogs and avocado toast. I threw some on top of an omelette as a garnish and it worked just fine. The sky's the limit. The only question is: how will we use the leftover pickle juice once the onions are gone? If we throw little cucumber slices in the jar will we get oniony pickles?

Sonia and I would both buy this one again. Just as good as Trader Joe's Pickled Jalapeño Slices. The beautiful wifey will go with eight out of ten stars on Trader Joe's Pickled Red Onions. I'll throw out seven and a half.

Bottom line: 7.75 out of 10.