What should I buy from Trader Joe’s?

Buy sparkling water, soap and nothing else. Their food tastes like cardboard. Try whole foods or world market instead.

Organic hash browns. Lol

Belgian Butter Almond Thins

[quote] Organic hash browns. Lol

LeL! :)

Their banana bread is amazing - best I've ever eaten. Lemon Curd is a real treat. Many excellent unusual and delicious cookies particularly the Dark Chocolate Almond Lacey’s Cookies. Mediterranean style hummus nicely different. Great selection of olive oil -organic Green olive oil wonderful.

should be: organic Greek olive oil ..

^I've bought that - it is good. OP, get the White Truffle potato chips as well for variety.

The Gum Tree, in various places in Melbourne (including Albert Park), has chocolate covered random things, such as chocolate crisps.

Cornbread Crisps to eat with Corn and Chile Tomato-less Salsa

Trader Joe’s is odd to me. I always thought it was an affordable alternative to Whole Foods, but then I started shopping there and learned it’s not all organic, etc.; it’s just affordable and kind of “random.” Some of their own foods are terrible and some are incredible, so you just have to experiment. I didn’t like it for a long time because of that, but it has come to be my favorite grocery store.

A while back everyone was going crazy over their “cookie butter.” That sounded like a slippery slope gateway junk food and so I have never tried it.

Their pantry-type items—cookies, etc.—are usually very good. Prepared foods are hit or miss. I do love the frozen chicken tikka masala; it’s a TV dinner and so it’s obviously not restaurant quality, but it is *really* good for its genre of food.

TJ is mostly snack foods the packaging is very attractive. Some of their frozen foods are good such as their Indian frozen food and some of their frozen dumplings.

maple-bacon-flavored crumpets. A genuinely-American take on a traditional British food item.

So delicious, they're like breakfast crack cocaine :-D

How to transform almost any international delicacy into an American variant:

* maple + smoky bacon artificial flavor

* "purple" flavor -- the taste-bud-electrifying grape-inspired artificial flavor Americans *love*.

* add cheese, beef, and (ideally) bacon.

* add milk chocolate, dark chocolate, fudge, brownie chunks, and some permutation of peanuts, cashews, and macadamia nuts.

Eww R14. I am American and I have always hated grape (and watermelon) flavoring.

Lactose Free Milk

Cookie Butter

Mochi Ice Cream

Pretzel Roll

Cafe Pajaro coffee

cheapest brand of coffee filters

English Breakfast tea bags

I don’t like TJ’s English breakfast tea.

I actually only use it for iced tea, r18. What kind of hot tea do you like?

I thought Australian customs rules were very strict. You might have to toss out all the food stuff before they let you go home.

German-owned company. Privately owned by extremely conservative, extremely private German family. They also own Aldi, the discount chain.

I suggest if you want something to take back as a gift to your family and friends, you buy something from an authentic American food producer, like a small olive oil company, jam or preserves company or something else that is shelf-stable. You won't find these items at Trader Joe's, as most of their products come from China and other places like that.

Green tea mints and the boxes are great when you're done. I keep my ear buds in one.

r21 - totally bogus comments. Are you working for big Safeway? Haha - who knew there's a anti-Trader Joe's troll - so funny.

Great selection of food. often organic. always wholesome. never over-processed. No BPA in canned foods. It's not a health food store but good quality food definitely a cut about the big-box grocery stores. Not much difference from Whole Foods except Whole Foods is bigger and usually costs more.

I love Trader Joe's and am glad I have access. When I lived in New York City sometimes long lines to get in the the store and shop. I live in the California now and thankfully not all the lines. Great wine selection.

R20 - you can’t bring in fresh fruit and vegetables and plants. You can bring in packaged foodstuffs provided it is sealed and labeled and that you declare it. (In either case the customs official is likely to be a prick, but they follow the law).

My mum used to get visitors from the UK to bring PG Tips tea bags for her, until they became more easily available here.

[quote]Green tea mints and the boxes are great when you're done. I keep my ear buds in one.

And chartreuse, to boot. Thanks, R22.

Iced Oolong tea. Divine.

Do you buy the tea bags and make it yourself, r26? Or what?

They discontinued the Mochi ice cream. Bastards.

It comes in a bottle!

When I go into Trader Joe's I feel like they're for me. When I go into Whole Foods I feel like they're against me.

I'll try it, r29. I really like Oolong. I hope I find it divine, too, but I usually don't like bottled tea.

TJs Shooting Star cookies are fun; they're sprinkled with Pop Rocks that blow up in your mouth.

Aldi has mochi.

those manzanilla olives in your post pic are great - i buy a ton of those

The Italian Roast coffee!

Caperberries. Trader Joe's are delicious.

Caperberries are much better than plain capers IMO and said to be good for you (liver, rheumatism, flatulence) in Aryuvedic medicine.

Yummy

It's hard to answer your question without knowing what kinds of things are already available where you live. That said, I'd focus on things that are unusual, or "American." And of course you probably can't bring things that are perishable or frozen, and you probably don't want to bring things that are bulky or heavy, so you're kind of limited, no?

[quote]When I go into Trader Joe's I feel like they're for me. When I go into Whole Foods I feel like they're against me ..

That's exactly how I feel. I may be better/different now that Amazon bought Whole Foods but I always felt ripped off when I bought stuff there. Everything was premium priced - even their sale items ... but Trader Joe's always makes me feel they are trying to keep prices low and they have a good selection of items. Yeah - their produce isn't a bargain, but everything else in the store seems fair priced - and wine and booze always cheaper.

When I was a kid my mother would shop at the A&P and that was it. Nowadays you shop at Trader Joe's, Wholefoods, I also go to Hmart (Korean Supermarket). Few people shop at one store.

R31–“divine” may be overselling. I’m just so excited to see an unsweetened oolong ice tea.

r39 - [quote]Few people shop at one store.

Isn't that the way people used to shop. Different stores for different items. Maybe things cycling back. I used to just hit Safeway and leave with everything (and that was nice and convenient). Now now I also stop at Trader Joe's and Sprouts for fresh produce .. and sometimes Walmart (yeah, so shoot me!!)

Does Trader Joe’s have decent stone-ground white grits?

I love their multi colored candied chocolate sunflower seeds. Their mini ice cream cones. The lasagna is surprisingly good. Those frosted oatmeal cookie planks are tasty. Also those chocolate covered fruits that look like colorful marbles are fun.

Oh and I love those spicy candied pumpkin seeds.

R43 are you sure you didn’t miss an item?

I'm addicted to their red pepper spread.

candied sunflower seed with chocolate?? gaaaaa. why do they have to debase good stuff.

seeds are delicious. my only req is for me they have to be salted..... but chocolated and candied?

oh hell no.

Just go to Aldi when you get home.

Thai Lime Chili Cashews

"When I was a kid my mother would shop at the A&P and that was it."

When you were a kid people also had to wait for the Pony Express to deliver the mail.

Since you’re so much closer to Indonesia, do you get plenty of Sulawesi and Sumatra coffees, OP?

Inferior products packaged and disguised as high-end products. German-owned company. Very little made locally or in the USA. Read the labels!

When I was a kid in the 1970's cars were so big and wide that when my mother pulled into the filling station and the attendant cleaned the windshield he would do one side then walk around the front of the car to clean the other side. This was, of course before the proliferation of self serve gas stations.

It's nice how people stay on topic here.

r52 was kind of egregious, wasn't it, r53?

Op, the mini almond biscotti, the cheddar/caramel popcorn mix , and weirdly, the ginger chews, were all big hits with my relatives in Mexico.

[quote]Very little made locally or in the USA.

Not true at all. Stop making shit up.

What foodstuffs can I not take into Australia?

Foods that are prohibited unless accompanied by a valid Import Permit include beans, peas, cereal seeds, eggs, fresh fruit and vegetables, uncanned meat and all pork products, milk, popping corn, raw unroasted nuts, whole salmon and trout. Live animals, plants, biological materials, straw, raw wool, soil and sand are similarly prohibited. Pine cones, potpourri and straw objects must be treated and in some cases there may be a treatment cost.

All other foods including cakes, honey and seafood will be subject to inspection.

Foods I used to buy that Trader Joe’s discontinued

Chipolte lime chicken skewers

Cilantro yogurt dip

Chicken breasts in Asian marinade

Firecracker shrimp

Cranberry walnut Gorgonzola dressing

Simply pasta (frozen plain pasta my son could throw in the microwave for 2 minutes instead of turning on the stove)

A bunch of appetizers, like mini quiches

Yougurt covered raisins

Sea salt and pepper rice crisps

Pumpernickel sticks

Trader Joe’s regular hummus

I wish they’d get rid of their damn 30,000 seasonal pumpkin spice, mango and Christmas Peppermint Crunch Everything and bring back some of their good stuff. I find fewer and fewer reasons to shop there. I remember when they had precooked rice before anyone else did.

The peppermint JoJo's at Christmas are a signature item that pretty much defines them. Not going away!

Shooting Star cookies sprinkled with popping candy for a lighthearted gift. They're surprisingly tasty, too. They come in a small, navy blue rectangular cardboard box.

Go to a dollar store. Buy movie sized boxes of classic American candies. I have got these through customs around the world and people are generally amused to receive such Americana.

I used to love the Spa Salad. Great for dieting. They discontinued it, of course.

What were the ingredients in the Spa Salad, r62?

r62 chicken breast, noodles (like spaghetti, I think), red grapes, walnuts, mandarin oranges, romano cheese, and a curry dressing. 310 calories of yum.

That sounds totally delicious, r64. I am going to try a version of it tomorrow. Thank you!

a bullshit detector

TJs is a decent alternative to any flash-frozen & reheated junk food binge. Their prices are low because they don't have major Faux-luxury overhead like a hot bar or cafe. For anything prepared, you need to eat it pretty quickly (betw 0-2 days from purchase). But for pantry extras or snacks, they're good.

Shhhh, but I've attended enough highly planned / invite-only dinner parties built around TJ's frozen stuff, snacks, and wine which turned out madly successful. Just plan ahead and don't let the WF/Amazon stans have the last word!

Candy? The quintessential American souvenirs would be an assault rifle and a Bible. Trader Joe’s sells neither of these items.

. I used to see this really good looking cashier at my local Trader Joe's. Good looking , slim , slightly rumpled, friendly in a low key way. I should have asked him to pose naked for me. I could have had phony cards made up saying I was a professional photographer.

Doesn't everyone agree that there are lot of good looking male employees at Trader Joe's.

wasabi cashews

Not the one by me, r69. Not at all. Most are part time retirees.

This slim, rumpled guy looked about 26 years old at the time.

I hate their shit. produce Sux

Ginger chew sounds great; cheddar/caramel popcorn?! Not so much.

I'm hooked on their Honey Roasted Peanuts, I always have a bag of those in m y pantry.

I love TJ's Creme Fraiche. And the grainy mustard. Plus the produce is decent too. But that may just be in the U.S.

I had a friend named Jake once. Big dick.

[quote] What should I buy from Trader Joe’s?

Your squandered dignity

[quote] Foods I used to buy that Trader Joe’s discontinued

This shit is why I don't shop there anymore. They just end up getting rid of everything I've ever liked from them.

[quote] Go to a dollar store.

Only the Poors do that

Pre-cooked rice, 58? Do you know that takes 2 minutes to do at home using good quality rice? Pffft!!

Uh, what kind of rice can you cook in 2 minutes? Are you eating hard, raw rice? Idiot.

r65, see r62.

Dark chocolate peanut butter cups. Like crack to me. Kringles - almond-filled around Christmas and raspberry at Easter, Island Salsa, their puff pastry around the holidays, Lace cookies. Unexpected Cheddar or Cambozola blue with Some Enchanted Crackers.

I love the Kringles. The only other time I ever had them was in southern Wisconsin. I guess they're a local specialty.

The effort expnded to gather the ingredints and throw them in a pot is about 2 minutes. Then you let simmer for about 10 minutes or so, r82. Blockhead.

[quote] Uh, what kind of rice can you cook in 2 minutes? Are you eating hard, raw rice? Idiot.

Uh, huh? Wtf are you talking about?

R58, the same brand of mini quiches is now at Costco. Costco also has boxes of mochi. They also have a lot of other bite sized frozen snack stuff.

Al Sadaf makes a dry dip mix for use with yogurt. It’s mint and other spices. Al Sadaf brand can be found at import stores. Another popular Al Sadaf product is dehydrated hummus. Just add water.

You can buy small boxes of yogurt dipped raisins at most supermarkets.

Sunmaid Raisins individual serving boxes also come in chocolate covered as well as yogurt covered. I know Winco has them; I think Walmart does too.

You cook uncooked rice in two minutes.

I love these frozen chicken/cheese pierogi type things. Served with sour cream. Yum.

[quote]You cook uncooked rice in two minutes.

It usually takes 17.

I also like this body wash - so tingly!

That body wash burned my dinkerdonker!

2 minute rice is probably minute rice which is cooked rice that has been dehydrated. I can't imagine that it has any flavor or nutrients since most of it is probably lost in the dehydration process.

Minute Rice is disgusting.

R55 I always take the Ginger Chews with me when I go on a boat. It really works to prevent sea sickness.

You could also stay off boats, r97.

R96

As a young bride, my mother's signature dish that she served sometimes for supper was Minute Rice, breakfast sausages and applesauce. It was a big hit apparently.

Later in life, r99 would use these ingredients to make his own special lasagne.

Does somebody have a sugar addiction?

Trader Joe's butter cookies with a dollop of chocolate in the center. Those are good.

[quote]Does somebody have a sugar addiction?

I was there the other day, r101, and I was thinking along similar lines.

I like their sesame seed covered almonds and cashews. You have to eat a serving only or else you will be enticed to eat the entire bag in one sitting.(while bingeing TV)

[quote] Minute Rice, breakfast sausages and applesauce.

No pork chops?

I shopped there yesterday. They have pickle flavored popcorn. Meh.

I got the Thai red curry sauce in a jar and the frozen wild Argentinian prawns and stir fry veggies in the freezer section. Great easy healthy meal. The yellow curry had way more sugar.

There is a sudden rapidly advancing rash of posts by supposed Australians on The DataLounge. I have nothing against Australians. It stretches belief that these posts are by Australians (and the occasional New Zealander).

Would an Aussie really care about Trader Joe's food? Would he really be fucked to carry a box of Jo-Jo's or a frozen quiche in his luggage?

Sweet and spicy pecans! They are like crack! Also, frozen chocolate chip cookie dough. The cookies it made were amazing! But I haven’t seen it in a while. Anyone know if it’s discontinued?

New Mexico Pinon coffee, wine, to-go sandwiches. I'm always in a hurry and haven't had time yet to browse and sample.

A box of Tastykake Butterscotch Krimpets, that's it.

the mini peanut butter cups.

(don't know if that was already suggested, i don't have time to search the entire thread, bitches)

I could swear that there's an Official DL Troll that trolls for Trader Joe's and posts positive threads and whatnot about TJ's, while bashing Whole Foods. I really do. I think there's a Trader Joe's Troll.

R113, no, there are just a lot of people who like Trader Joe's, and/or who are hooked on something they sell.

It's a smallish store where you can find neat things at a fairly reasonable price and get in and out relatively quickly. There are TJs in driving distance from most DLers, so it's a common experience (as opposed to Wegmans, Vonn's, Publix -- those are geographically limited). Aldi is similar in that they're almost everywhere and pretty much exactly the same anywhere.

People like food. People like novelty. Therefore, Trader Joe's is a popular store.

I like the marinated artichokes, frozen almond croissants (much better than the chocolate), and the sunscreen spray (top rated by Consumer Reports).

R113 Perhaps you're thinking of the Aldi troll.

[quote]A box of Tastykake Butterscotch Krimpets, that's it.

At Trader Joe's?

TJ's graham crackers and vanilla wafers are wonderful. The pricey ones in the plastic tubs, not the cheaper ones in cardboard boxes. Also, the dark choc covered caramels. My Brit friends hate American chocolate because it is overly sweet but they always stock up on TJ's dark chocolate caramels when they're in the states.

R8 is naive about the dairy industry.

R30 John Mackey sure is against you if you're a poor.

I love the dark chocolate nonpareils. Perfect size of chocolate to chuck in your pie hole.

[quote] frozen chocolate chip cookie dough. The cookies it made were amazing! But I haven’t seen it in a while. Anyone know if it’s discontinued?

I haven't seen the frozen dough, but they do have dough in the refrigerator section where the canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls are found.

[quote] I love the dark chocolate nonpareils. Perfect size of chocolate to chuck in your pie hole.

How do they compare to Sno-Caps?

I was there yesterday and saw two new cookies that will be like crack to me: Peanut Butter Cartwheels (PB cookies with PB filling) and Peanut Butter Roundels.

Here are the Cartwheels.

This thread weighs at least 300 pounds.

Thanks R122, I'm going to get some of those peanut butter cartwheels for my grandma. She lives on ice cream and peanut butter and toast.

I love their stuffed grape leaves. They are made in Greece according to the can.

OP ...Are they Grimaldi's chocolate covered chips????

Who the fuck is claiming they cook rice in 2 minutes? I don’t see anyone saying that in this thread,

I just remembered they stopped carrying their mini chicken pot pie appetizers. I loved them. Does anyone know if they are sold elsewhere?

[quote] It's a smallish store where you can find neat things at a fairly reasonable price and get in and out relatively quickly

Every cash register is open any time I’ve been in there, as opposed to supermarkets & Walmart stores where maybe 2 out of 10 registers are open. The cashiers are fast and I always bring my own bags and bag most of my items. It’s so much faster than other stores. And I use their reusable bags and freezer bags all the time at other stores.

What does the cookie butter taste like? Does it taste like peanut butter?

r126 Trader Joe's carries almost no name brand items. Almost everything is their own house brand (like Aldi.)

They make deals with name brands to let them rebrand their product as Trader Joe’s. Amy’s Indian food is rebranded as TJ’s and Stacy’s pita chips, Pepperidge Farm pumpernickel sticks , Tate’s chocolate chips, etc. They also buy products from Italy and France.

Unlike one poster's assumptions there are no Chinese made items at Trader Joe's. the clerk told me that once and since then I have read labels and their products come from many countries but not China.

I recommend the chocolate covered cacao nibs. also the chocolate-covered graham crackers are nice though they are salted for some peculiar reason. you probably can't transport cheese internationally so I would recommend their sheep milk Manchego if you can get it past customs. some of the house brand personal items like soaps are extremely economica and lovely quality.

Someone said they have lactose free milk. I haven't had milk in a very long time. Does the lactose free type taste like regular milk or does it taste peculiar?

I usually love Trader Joe's but have to admit I'm not happy with one recent purchase. I bought some of their "British Muffins," (which are more like crumpets than English muffins) on Sunday; today, I went to get one out of the package and they were all MOLDY! Bread products shouldn't go bad in two days. And if they need to be refrigerated, they should be sold that way.

I had some pickle flavored crisps once.

Did you bring back the moldy muffins for a refund?

[quote]They make deals with name brands to let them rebrand their product as Trader Joe’s. Amy’s Indian food is rebranded as TJ’s and Stacy’s pita chips, Pepperidge Farm pumpernickel sticks , Tate’s chocolate chips, etc.

Why though? They would sell a hell of a lot more if people knew what brand it really is. I don't buy Trader Joe pita chips or cookies but I would buy a ton if I knew they were really Stacy's chips and Tate's cookies.

Dear Trader Joe's PR Troll,

Every so often, you start a thread about TJ's, usually about a product. This one is a great example and shows your prowess at posting threads that provoke user interaction. Good job in trolling.

Now go the fuck away.

Signed, People who don't like German conservative family-owned secretive companies

Norwegian crisp bread crackers...super healthy, very filling..one or two crackers and piece of cheese..divine, and I'm filled up.

What about a German Nazi flag?

Trader Joe’s concern troll

Even though you're already home by now, fyi they make lavender sachets for your dryer; makes a lovely gift.

Get the waxed cloth Saran Wrap.

Nazi souvenirs.

[quote]they make lavender sachets for your dryer

They don't "make" anything -- they SELL them.

Op, are you permitted to bring off-continent food into the country? I don’t know the rules. I think packaged stuff is ok, but like I said, I don’t know the rules.

R145 My mistake. Thanks.

[quote] I recommend the chocolate covered cacao nibs

They've since discontinued them.

Like all other good things.