oh that sucks. They couldn't keep a decent soy yogurt supplier though so maybe it's the same + people wanting more almond or oat milk?
― Yerac, Monday, 21 September 2020 23:17 (three years ago) link
Maple butter is back!!!!! I’m going to buy a bunch because 1) it’s delicious and seasonal 2) my mom loooooooves maple and will lose her mind when I mail her some.
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Monday, 21 September 2020 23:27 (three years ago) link
We just struck out on like 4 products we had to return, which is a record for us, even if we knew better. Watermelon Jerky (which ... I know), Apple Cider Foaming Handsoap, Pumpkin Spice Rooibus and ... Cinnamon Bun Spread? Anyway, all duds, all disgusting. But it's cinnamon broom season, which makes me happy.
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 21 September 2020 23:31 (three years ago) link
I really wish TJ's would come out with a nice, cheap, 'natural' mouthwash. It pains me to spend $5 or $6 on a bottle of blue colored alcohol, especially if I'm not supposed to drink it.
― Andy the Grasshopper, Monday, 21 September 2020 23:34 (three years ago) link
Bought a "spicy miso ramen" instant/cup noodle thinking how bad could it be? It was terrible.
― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Monday, 21 September 2020 23:42 (three years ago) link
i am using their furikake. it's pretty basic but fine.
― Yerac, Tuesday, 22 September 2020 00:20 (three years ago) link
My son likes the watermelon jerky but he’s not yet 3 years old so there you go.New product I like: jalapeño sauce. Most of the heat of a real hot sauce but you use it in mustard/ketchup like quantities. Works very well with the new Mexican quiche thing they have.The Brazilian dough balls are not as good as the real thing but they’re pretty good. Freezer section.
― 𝔠𝔞𝔢𝔨 (caek), Tuesday, 22 September 2020 01:27 (three years ago) link
Oh and everything but the elote corn seasoning is great!
my wife swears by the chili onion crunch condiment.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 22 September 2020 02:17 (three years ago) link
Fuck!! Tha soymilk has been a staple for me for like 15 years. I don't see any others in stores that are unsweetened, and with only 2 ingredients. I'm mushed. almond milk is watery to me. Dammit
― scampos sacra fames (outdoor_miner), Tuesday, 22 September 2020 03:15 (three years ago) link
I'm pretty sure that the Trader Joe's Special Reserve Irish Whiskey is just Jameson... it even hints so on the label. At $15.99 it's a steal.
― Andy the Grasshopper, Tuesday, 22 September 2020 03:35 (three years ago) link
There is a cottage industry of people trying to suss out the spirits sourcing. I bought a bottle of "platinum reserve" wine the other day, and the sales person coyly told me that the $14 bottle was actually a $35 bottle under a different name/brand.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 22 September 2020 12:47 (three years ago) link
Their private label bourbon (90 proof, $15 for a 5th) is made by Buffalo Trace/Sazerac. But don't assume this is the same as their top or even mid-shelf bourbon, it just comes from the same facilities.
― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Tuesday, 22 September 2020 16:24 (three years ago) link
my local store unfortunately does not carry spirits, only beer and wine
I have to settle for Costco house brand liquors. That TJ’s bourbon intrigues me!
― mh, Tuesday, 22 September 2020 16:51 (three years ago) link
fwiw Benchmark bourbon comes from those distilleries but is only 80 proof. Could be a slightly-better one-off for TJ’s
― mh, Tuesday, 22 September 2020 16:52 (three years ago) link
Tha soymilk has been a staple for me for like 15 years. I don't see any others in stores that are unsweetened, and with only 2 ingredients. I'm mushed. almond milk is watery to me.
The one glimmer of hope is that there is one kind of soy milk that they didn't discontinue, but I didn't quite catch which one it is and I think they said that they don't currently have a source for it.
― Pleeenk Floyd (Leee), Tuesday, 22 September 2020 17:17 (three years ago) link
The Islay single malt whisky (Finlaggan $18.99) is a real deal... There are only 4 distilleries on that island, so it has to be one of them... possibly Lagavulin aged in Caol Ila barrels or something like that.
― Andy the Grasshopper, Tuesday, 22 September 2020 17:20 (three years ago) link
My understanding is the TJ scotch is high quality, but I can attest the bourbon is nothing special. Haven't tried Costco bourbon yet, but at least it has an age statement. 7 years, the sweet spot.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 22 September 2020 18:03 (three years ago) link
recommend:
chile and corn quiche with taco shell crust (freezer)+their jalapeno sauce (fridge)
― 𝔠𝔞𝔢𝔨 (caek), Friday, 2 October 2020 18:48 (three years ago) link
The chocolate chip almond cookies are ridiculously addictive btw.
OMG this.
― Kaliningrad Oberst (Leee), Sunday, 4 October 2020 03:12 (three years ago) link
I gotta say... my favorite beef jerkey is Trader Joe’s brand
― brimstead, Sunday, 4 October 2020 03:14 (three years ago) link
anyone tried the instant iced coffee? it's weird! i think it's good but it might be bad.
― 𝔠𝔞𝔢𝔨 (caek), Friday, 30 October 2020 17:41 (three years ago) link
Can’t believe I missed the window to stock up on maple butter. I swear it was only available for like 3 weeks???
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Saturday, 31 October 2020 00:52 (three years ago) link
I've always liked the canned dolmas at Trader Joe's. They have recently stocked quinoa-stuffed dolmas in the same section, I think they are even better
― Dan S, Saturday, 31 October 2020 00:57 (three years ago) link
xp haven't heard of maple butter, but it sounds good.
Some things are seasonal. I bought Autumn cheese there last year at this time, liked it but went back to find it gone. I found it again this year though.
My favorite ever purchases from Trader Joe's have been the peonies, which are only available in May
― Dan S, Saturday, 31 October 2020 01:10 (three years ago) link
the most recent new thing there that I found there was "heirloom chicken", a ridiculous name but it is a whole chicken that is small, and it makes the best roast chicken
― Dan S, Saturday, 31 October 2020 01:21 (three years ago) link
Sounds like a heritage or game hen.
― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Saturday, 31 October 2020 01:57 (three years ago) link
it's good for the Zuni roast chicken recipe
― Dan S, Saturday, 31 October 2020 02:30 (three years ago) link
most of the chickens raised for the mass market are just too large for roasting or selling rotisserie chickens!that’s part of why costco was having trouble sourcing enough for their cooked rotisserie chickens and ended up buying their own chicken farm
― mh, Sunday, 1 November 2020 14:41 (three years ago) link
I miss the gluten-free bread & bagels & chocolate cupcakes A LOT lot. It's not that they're super great compared to actual bread, it's that they're adequate and nothing else out there is (that doesn't also contain stabilizers and soy additives that I don't eat).
― Ima Gardener (in orbit), Sunday, 1 November 2020 14:47 (three years ago) link
their gluten-free cupcakes were really good -- and I can eat gluten, so the GF cupcakes were actually better than some of the "regular" cupcakes I have had.
― sarahell, Sunday, 1 November 2020 18:26 (three years ago) link
The green dragon hot sauce is the shit. I put it on everything.
― officer sonny bonds, lytton pd (mayor jingleberries), Sunday, 1 November 2020 21:39 (three years ago) link
green dragon is amazing, mix it with some mayo and it makes a killer flavored mayo/dipping sauce
― musically, Thursday, 19 November 2020 00:39 (three years ago) link
I was disappointed with green dragon sauce at first because it seemed a little too sweet, but decided I like it
― Dan S, Thursday, 19 November 2020 00:52 (three years ago) link
their new fromage pavé is really good
― Dan S, Saturday, 5 December 2020 03:50 (three years ago) link
Did they get rid of the faux-Stoned Wheat Thins? Haven't seen them at my local for months.
Wish they'd bring back the lemur tea.
― JoeStork, Saturday, 5 December 2020 03:57 (three years ago) link
Yup, the faux-Stoned Wheat crackers have disappeared here, too. That's a death knell at least 80% of the time.
― Respectfully Yours, (Aimless), Saturday, 5 December 2020 04:07 (three years ago) link
there are many Trader Joe's products that are suddenly discontinued, but there are equally as many new products there that I discover there when I go back
― Dan S, Saturday, 5 December 2020 04:13 (three years ago) link
Are the lebkuchen back this season? If so, I may have to brave the store. I love those things.
― Lily Dale, Saturday, 5 December 2020 04:25 (three years ago) link
sounds interesting. haven’t focused on their sweets but in the recent past I have discovered dolmas stuffed with quinoa, beef pho, different canned and jarred olives, artichoke hearts, plu gras butter, eggplant hummus, double cream gouda, fromage pavé, soup DUMPLINGS!, flour and corn tortillas, and heirloom chicken
― Dan S, Saturday, 5 December 2020 04:37 (three years ago) link
not sure how DUMPLINGS! came out capitalized there tbh, I certainly didn't do it
― Dan S, Saturday, 5 December 2020 04:40 (three years ago) link
ha ha. I didn't capitalize it, but I approve of the idea of DUMPLINGS!
― Dan S, Saturday, 5 December 2020 04:46 (three years ago) link
whenever the word DUMPLINGS! appears ilx will automatically capitalize it and add an exclamation mark. this is a long standing tradition.
― Respectfully Yours, (Aimless), Saturday, 5 December 2020 04:47 (three years ago) link
My parents have friends in Germany who used to send us lebkuchen every Christmas, and the Trader Joe ones are every bit as good as the German ones. Like, I genuinely can't tell the difference.
― Lily Dale, Saturday, 5 December 2020 04:57 (three years ago) link
I will have to look for them
― Dan S, Saturday, 5 December 2020 05:04 (three years ago) link
trader joes raisin bran was off the shelves for six months. when it came back the box and contents were different and it is now made in germany. it tastes exactly how you would imagine central european breakfast cereal tastes. i mean i like it. but it's definitely a style.
― 𝔠𝔞𝔢𝔨 (caek), Saturday, 5 December 2020 06:14 (three years ago) link
If so, I may have to brave the store. I love those things.
(the TJs near you is the only supermarket/grocery store I've seen enforcing limited numbers indoors, & with people fairly consistently spacing in the queues outside)
― huge rant (sic), Saturday, 5 December 2020 06:50 (three years ago) link
Yes, they're very good about it, and I do feel safer there than at other stores in the area. Most of the things I buy from TJs last a long time, though, so I still don't go that often.
― Lily Dale, Saturday, 5 December 2020 08:47 (three years ago) link
trader joes raisin bran was off the shelves for six months.
I haven't seen it in maybe a year!
― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Saturday, 5 December 2020 14:25 (three years ago) link
It’s back on the west coast but the box is very different.
― 𝔠𝔞𝔢𝔨 (caek), Saturday, 5 December 2020 16:20 (three years ago) link