Trader Joe's Sparkling Cranberry Ginger Beverage: This holiday drink is definitely better suited for being a mixer than for consuming on its own because It's both quite sweet and has a sharp acidic cranberry flavor. I think if it were mixed with a little bit of ginger ale, or even diluted with some tonic water, the overall balance would improve. 3.0/5.0
drinks traderjoes sparkling cranberry ginger beverage 3.0
Trader Joe's Ridge Cut Potato Chips with Horseradish and Chives: I really enjoyed this fresh take on sour cream and onion. The horseradish flavor is spicy but palatably so, and the chips have a great texture – not too thick and more crispy than crunchy. Definitely recommended for anyone who likes sour cream and onion but would prefer a tangier, sharper flavor. 3.5/5.0
recommended potatochips traderjoes ridge cut potato chips horseradish chives 3.5
Trader Joe's Pumpkin Brioche Twist: This TJs brioche was in the same section as the pastries, so I was expecting it to taste more like a dessert. In reality, it's definitely more of a flavored bread than a cake, with the same buttery texture as regular TJs brioche but with a faint yet distinct spiced pumpkin flavor. Reading the label more carefully, I saw that they do accurately describe it as "slightly sweet" and "lightly spicy." Overall, I found it a bit too mild to be satisfyingly festive. 3.0/5.0
traderjoes bread pumpkin brioche twist 3.0
Trader Joe's Sparkling Black Tea with Peach Juice: This is a light refreshing soda alternative that essentially tastes of cold brew peach tea with a little bit of carbonation. It's low calories (15 calories a can with 2 g of sugar), which I found to be sweet enough. Purchased in a 4 pack from Trader Joe's. 3.5/5.0
recommended drinks tea traderjoes sparkling black peach juice 3.5
Trader Joe's Spicy Porkless Plant-Based Snack Rinds: I haven't had many versions of vegetarian "rinds," but Trader Joe's uses a base of rice and peas while still capturing the wrinkled, puffed texture of pork scratchings (though they lack the oily texture you typically get from meat-based snacks). They're flavored like a sweet barbecue with a kick just spicy enough to make the "spicy" labelling accurate. A good alternative to those who like scratchings but can't eat meat (or choose not to). 3.5/5.0
recommended traderjoes spicy porkless snack rinds 3.5 plant-based
Trader Joe's Organic Sparkling Lemon and Strawberry Apple Cider Vinegar Drink: I really enjoyed the ginger and lemon apple cider vinegar beverage I previously purchased from Trader Joe's, which is a fairly classic flavor combination as far as shrubs go. This strawberry lemon version is a little more unique and was equally refreshing – the berry flavor is tart and sweet, and overall the drink is well balanced. I was very sad to see that these drinks may now be out of season at TJs but I hope you get to try it if you come across it on the shelves. 4.0/5.0
recommended drinks traderjoes organic sparkling lemon strawberry apple cider vinegar drink 4.0