From sweet to spicy, new snacks are always showing up at Trader Joe’s, so we, Simran and Claire, decided to try a few of the newest arrivals and see whether they actually live up to the hype. We chose five different snacks and rated them based on flavor, texture, and how likely we would be to buy them again. Some ended up being surprisingly good, while others didn’t stand out as much as we expected. Here’s what we thought after tasting each one.
Spicy Cheese Crunchies
The Spicy Cheese Crunchies were easily one of the best snacks we tried, mainly because of their bold flavor and satisfying crunch. Each bite had a noticeable kick, but it wasn’t overwhelming or too spicy to enjoy. Claire rated them an 8/10, pointing out that the lime flavor added a tangy twist that made them different from other spicy cheese snacks. Simran also gave them an 8/10, saying they looked and tasted similar to Hot Cheetos but seemed slightly less intense and even a little “healthier.” Overall, they had a good balance of heat, citrus flavor, and crunch, which made them one of our top picks.
Hot Honey Popcorn
The Hot Honey Popcorn had a good combination of sweet and salty flavors, but the heat was more subtle than we expected. Both Claire and Simran rated it a 7/10 because, while it tasted good, it mostly tasted like classic kettle corn. The honey flavor was definitely there, but the “hot” part didn’t really build up or leave any kick afterward. Even though it wasn’t as bold as the name suggested, it was still an enjoyable snack if you like sweet popcorn with just a small hint of something extra.
Dark Chocolate Covered Kernels
The Dark Chocolate Covered Kernels were kind of confusing. They sounded interesting, but weren’t extremely memorable. Claire gave them a 5/10 because the crunch was unexpected and was an unnatural combination with the chocolate, and overall, were not as exciting as the first two. Simran rated them a 6/10 and agreed that they weren’t bad, but also nothing special. The dark chocolate flavor was there, but it didn’t really stand out enough to make us want to keep reaching for more. Out of everything we tried, this was definitely the most average.
Brookies
For the Brookies, we did not see eye to eye. It’s hard to go wrong with a combination of a brownie and a cookie, but Simran did not enjoy these at all. Claire felt the opposite. Claire gave the Brookies a 7/10, and noted that they had a “chewy” texture that was satisfying. Simran disagreed and rated them a 4/10, explaining that they “tasted like sugar” and had no chocolate flavor. We gave the Brookies mixed reviews, so be sure to try them and come to your own conclusion!
Pretzel Bread
The Pretzel Bread was definitely the most interesting of the items we tried. Claire rated them a 5/10, because it was too dry and didn’t taste like a pretzel. Simran agreed and disagreed. She rated them a 4/10, because they were moist and soft, but had an odd smell and didn’t taste like a pretzel. It was also a controversial item, and the lowest rated out of all of the snacks that we tried.
Out of all of our snack options, there was a clear favorite. We will definitely be buying the Spicy Cheese Crunchies again, as well as the Hot Honey Popcorn. The Dark Chocolate Covered Kernels, Brookies, and Pretzel Bread we might have to pass on in the future. Yet, just because we didn’t love them doesn’t mean that you won’t too!
