I tried 8 of the strangest products I could find at Trader Joe's and some were barely edible
MANGO JOE JOE'S: Joe-Joe's are Trader Joe's version of Oreos. When I saw the mango-flavored variety, I was both confused and intrigued.
I'm usually a fan of citrus-flavored foods and expected to be a fan of these fruity cookies. However, I was sorely disappointed.
The Joe-Joe's tasted like Tom's brand mango-flavored toothpaste that I had as a child. They were simultaneously bland and artificial-tasting. Honestly, I couldn't even get through one of them without wanting to gag.
CHOCOLATE HUMMUS: I also wasn't impressed by the chocolate hummus, though I've heard other Trader Joe's fans rave about the item. Made of chickpeas, this sweet hummus was definitely a strange concept.
I was confused about how to eat this. Although I assumed that you definitely wouldn't pair it with pita chips, the container provided little instruction about how it should be served.
I tried it on toast Nutella-style and was not a fan. It tasted like bitter chocolate icing. I couldn't see myself purchasing this again.
CHOCOLATE LAVA GNOCCHI: The arguably strange chocolate lava gnocchi proved to me that potato and chocolate simply don't go together.
The chocolate-flavored gnocchi was easy to prepare with a little butter and smelled heavenly in the pan.
However, when I bit in, I was disappointed to realize that although the chocolate flavor was tasty, the chewy, potato-like texture ruined my tasting experience.
BIRTHDAY CAKE POPCORN: One of the strangest products I tried, this popcorn comes coated in a vanilla-flavored glaze and doused in rainbow sprinkles.
The popcorn smelled sickly sweet and strongly of frosting and vanilla.
This popcorn was way too sweet for my liking and tasted distinctly artificial. The sprinkles added nothing but more sugar-fueled guilt to my tasting experience.
CHURRO BITES: Described as crispy baked corn puffs coated with cinnamon and brown sugar, I was excited to see if this sweet treat could live up to actual churros.
Coated in a sticky coating of what tasted more like caramel than cinnamon and brown sugar, these snacks had a satisfying crunch to them.
However, they tasted identical to caramel corn — not churros in the slightest.
PHILLY CHEESESTEAK BAO BUNS: This fusion food item is a new take on an American classic.
These bao buns were extremely easy and quick to make — I simply popped them in the microwave for 45 seconds and they were ready to eat.
The beef filling was flavorful and tender, but I found the outer bun to be somewhat tough. Despite being called "Philly Cheesesteak Bao Buns," there was no cheese to be found. The flavorful steak filling was delicious enough to make these a must-have, however.
Regardless of these critiques
RUSSET POTATO CHIPS: I was confused as to whether these dark russet potato chips would taste any different than regular potato chips, and was surprised that they did.
When I cracked open the bag, the smell of salt and potatoes immediately wafted from the bag. The chips were surprisingly well-sized and the amount inside the bag was generous.
The chips tasted more cooked than other kettle-cooked chips I've tried in the past. I enjoyed the plain, dark russet taste but would have liked some added flavor such as salt and vinegar.
CRISPY RICE SALMON BITES: I've never heard or seen anything similar to these fried rice salmon balls at other grocery stores, but I was anxious to see how they would taste.
The crispy salmon bites are cooked in the oven and come with a dipping sauce similar to a spicy mayonnaise or aioli. The fried coating was perfectly crispy and the salmon was fresh and moist inside the crunchy layer of rice. The sauce was perfectly spicy and creamy.
The salmon bites were by far the most delicious strange product I tried — and may even be the best item I've ever bought from Trader Joe's. I will continue to buy these again and again for party appetizers or as a quick dinner, no matter how strange they seemed at first.
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