I tried award-winning foods from Aldi and Trader Joe's, and my favorites came from the chain known for its low prices
Pascale Mondesir
![I tried award-winning foods from Aldi and Trader Joe's, and my favorites came from the chain known for its low prices](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstaticbiassets.in%2Fthumb%2Fmsid-103365888%2Cwidth-700%2Cheight-525%2Cimgsize-594060%2Fi-tried-award-winning-foods-from-aldi-and-trader-joeaposs-and-my-favorites-came-from-the-chain-known-for-its-low-prices.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
- I tried fan-favorite foods from Trader Joe's and Aldi to see which chain had the tastiest winners.
- The selections from Trader Joe's 14th-annual Customer Choice Awards were full of flavor.
Trader Joe's and Aldi both dish out annual awards for the items shoppers love the most each year.
So, I put both grocery-store chains head to head by comparing some of the winners (and a runner-up) of this year's Trader Joe's Customer Choice Awards and Aldi's Fan Favorites Awards.
Though each chain has different categories for its winners, I tried the foods I thought were most comparable, like the award-winning cheeses, chips, entrées, beverages, and desserts.
Here's how this year's Trader Joe's and Aldi award-winning foods stacked up.
I first tried Trader Joe's cheddar with caramelized onions, the winner of the chain's cheese category.
![I first tried Trader Joe](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-103366292,width-700,height-525,imgsize-394498/i-first-tried-trader-joeaposs-cheddar-with-caramelized-onions-the-winner-of-the-chainaposs-cheese-category-.jpg)
I thought Trader Joe's cheddar cheese with caramelized onions seemed like the perfect addition to an elevated charcuterie board or sandwich.
According to Trader Joe's website, a caramelized-onion marmalade is mixed into the cheddar to create this fascinating appetizer.
I expected to taste or see pieces of onion in the block but the caramelized-onion flavor seemed to be infused throughout the cheese.
I thought the cheddar with caramelized onions was decadent.
![I thought the cheddar with caramelized onions was decadent.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-103366288,width-700,height-525,imgsize-208064/i-thought-the-cheddar-with-caramelized-onions-was-decadent-.jpg)
A few bites of the cheddar and saltine crackers made for a terrific snack, though I think the cheese could be used in a more sophisticated meal.
I'll definitely add the cheddar to a fancier grilled-cheese sandwich or gourmet burger. I also think it'd be interesting to include in a creamy fettuccine Alfredo.
The Emporium Selection mozzarella cheese was the winner of Aldi's cheese category.
![The Emporium Selection mozzarella cheese was the winner of Aldi](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-103366286,width-700,height-525,imgsize-222182/the-emporium-selection-mozzarella-cheese-was-the-winner-of-aldiaposs-cheese-category-.jpg)
The Emporium Selection mozzarella comes in a fresh ball or presliced log form.
I thought the Emporium Selection fresh mozzarella log was salty, soft, and straightforward enough to work well with anything. It wasn't overwhelmingly salty and the flavor was so subtle I tasted a strong milk flavor more than anything.
The Emporium Selection mozzarella seemed fresh.
![The Emporium Selection mozzarella seemed fresh.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-103366285,width-700,height-525,imgsize-147150/the-emporium-selection-mozzarella-seemed-fresh-.jpg)
The mozzarella tasted awesome on a saltine cracker and I could see it being good on its own or on a charcuterie board. I plan on adding the cheese to the Caesar salads I make each week, though I could also see this pairing well with beef or pork tacos.
That being said, I liked the interesting blend of flavors in Trader Joe's cheddar with caramelized onions a bit more.
Trader Joe's chile-lime rolled-corn tortilla chips won the chain's best overall and snack categories.
![Trader Joe](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-103366281,width-700,height-525,imgsize-321778/trader-joeaposs-chile-lime-rolled-corn-tortilla-chips-won-the-chainaposs-best-overall-and-snack-categories-.jpg)
I thought Trader Joe's rolled-corn chile-lime tortilla chips seemed fresh, flavorful, and hearty.
I thought the spice level was the right amount and the kick from the chile didn't bother me. The lime and tortilla flavors made these enjoyable for even a sensitive eater like me.
Trader Joe's chile-lime rolled-corn tortilla chips had the ideal amount of spice.
![Trader Joe](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-103366277,width-700,height-525,imgsize-196548/trader-joeaposs-chile-lime-rolled-corn-tortilla-chips-had-the-ideal-amount-of-spice-.jpg)
For me, the small rolled chips, made from stone-ground corn masa and then fried, felt less processed than other tortilla chips I've had.
But truly, the chile was the star and really heightened the enjoyment. These chips were less spicy than sriracha or jalapeño in a good way.
Then I tried Clancy's kettle chips, a crunchy snack that was an Aldi fan-favorite this year.
![Then I tried Clancy](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-103366272,width-700,height-525,imgsize-141328/then-i-tried-clancyaposs-kettle-chips-a-crunchy-snack-that-was-an-aldi-fan-favorite-this-year-.jpg)
Clancy's kettle chips typically come in original, jalapeño, and mesquite-barbecue flavors. I chose the original for this taste test.
I thought Clancy's kettle chips were perfectly salty and didn't feel like they were drenched in oil, a problem in other potato chips I've tried. And you can't beat the price — a large bag at my local Aldi costs less than $2.
I was a huge fan of Clancy's kettle chips.
![I was a huge fan of Clancy](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-103366270,width-700,height-525,imgsize-285680/i-was-a-huge-fan-of-clancyaposs-kettle-chips-.jpg)
I preferred Clancy's kettle chips over Trader Joe's chile-lime option. The delicious simplicity and kettle-style snack was more my speed because I was able to taste all the great main ingredients: Potato, salt, and oil.
In my opinion, Clancy's snack tastes like I was eating a fried potato, rather than an over-processed chip.
Trader Joe's butter chicken with basmati rice earned the No. 1 spot for the chain's best entrées.
![Trader Joe](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-103366264,width-700,height-525,imgsize-451140/trader-joeaposs-butter-chicken-with-basmati-rice-earned-the-no-1-spot-for-the-chainaposs-best-entrxe9es-.jpg)
I was looking forward to trying Trader Joe's butter chicken with basmati rice, especially since it has a flavor profile I don't typically go for Unfortunately, it wasn't my favorite.
The chicken was the star of the show and came marinated in what I thought was a pretty good curry made with tomatoes, cream, onions, garlic, ginger, and butter.
Despite the bold ingredients, I still found the meal to be a bit too mild. I've had great curries with mouth-watering nutty, smoky flavors but in comparison, this was bland to me. I also thought the basmati rice could've used more salt or butter.
I'm also not sure if microwaving Trader Joe's butter chicken was the right idea.
![I](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-103366258,width-700,height-525,imgsize-527538/iaposm-also-not-sure-if-microwaving-trader-joeaposs-butter-chicken-was-the-right-idea-.jpg)
According to the directions on the box, you can poke a few holes in the plastic packaging and microwave the dish or place the tray in the oven and cook until it's heated through.
I opted to microwave the dish instead of using the oven but, after tasting the results, I wish I hadn't because my butter chicken got a bit overdone on the sides.
Still, I'd try a different frozen Trader Joe's entrée in the future.
Next, I tried Mama Cozzi's deli pizza an award-winning premade meal from Aldi.
![Next, I tried Mama Cozzi](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-103366247,width-700,height-525,imgsize-949340/next-i-tried-mama-cozziaposs-deli-pizza-an-award-winning-premade-meal-from-aldi-.jpg)
Mama Cozzi's pizza comes in several flavors, like supreme, mega meat, and five cheese, but I opted for the pepperoni version.
When I typically buy supermarket pizza, the actual pie never tastes much better than the cardboard it's sitting in. But when it comes to Mama Cozzi's pizza, I'm happy to say my concerns were unfounded.
Though I was least excited for Mama Cozzi's pizza, it ended up being one of my favorite items.
![Though I was least excited for Mama Cozzi](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-103366239,width-700,height-525,imgsize-429116/though-i-was-least-excited-for-mama-cozziaposs-pizza-it-ended-up-being-one-of-my-favorite-items-.jpg)
The sauce, cheese, and pieces of pepperoni seemed high quality for a pizza from the grocery store. An extra-large Mama Cozzi's pepperoni pizza at my local Aldi only costs $6.50, which truly feels like a steal.
I enjoyed the pizza more than the butter-chicken entrée from Trader Joe's.
Trader Joe's sparkling black tea with peach juice got third place in the beverage category.
![Trader Joe](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-103366230,width-700,height-525,imgsize-218728/trader-joeaposs-sparkling-black-tea-with-peach-juice-got-third-place-in-the-beverage-category-.jpg)
Trader Joe's award-winning beverage this year, the sparkling Honeycrisp apple juice, is a seasonal winter offering. So instead, I tried one of the runners-up — the sparkling black tea with peach juice beverage.
The black tea wasn't too sweet but still refreshing, with just the right amount of peach flavoring. The drink tasted like summer.
Trader Joe's sparkling black tea was really refreshing.
![Trader Joe](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-103366217,width-700,height-525,imgsize-172840/trader-joeaposs-sparkling-black-tea-was-really-refreshing-.jpg)
I'm always looking for lighter alternatives to soda and I think this is a pretty great option.
One can of juice contains 15 calories and, judging from the label, is made with simple ingredients. I thought it was best served ice cold to help with its slightly bitter taste.
I wanted to try one of Aldi's fan-favorite beverages, so I got the Belletti sparkling Moscato rosé.
![I wanted to try one of Aldi](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-103366213,width-700,height-525,imgsize-76318/i-wanted-to-try-one-of-aldiaposs-fan-favorite-beverages-so-i-got-the-belletti-sparkling-moscato-rosxe9-.jpg)
I thought the Belletti sparkling Moscato rosé was a light, very sweet, and refreshing drink. It was much better ice cold than room temperature, so I could see myself enjoying it on a hot day.
The rosé had a sweet flavor, with strong notes of cherries and strawberries.
Though I don't always love alcoholic beverages, I enjoyed the Belletti sparkling Moscato.
![Though I don](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-103366208,width-700,height-525,imgsize-92670/though-i-donapost-always-love-alcoholic-beverages-i-enjoyed-the-belletti-sparkling-moscato-.jpg)
The wine's alcohol percentage is 9.5% but it didn't have a bitter or strong aftertaste thanks to the sweet and fruity flavor.
I could definitely see myself sipping this with a pork chop and green roasted veggies for dinner. I really liked Trader Joe's peach juice for its simple ingredients but the Belletti rosé from Aldi was a much sweeter sip.
Trader Joe's Hold the Cone ice-cream treats took the No. 1 spot in the dessert category.
![Trader Joe](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-103366205,width-700,height-525,imgsize-491126/trader-joeaposs-hold-the-cone-ice-cream-treats-took-the-no-1-spot-in-the-dessert-category-.jpg)
Trader Joe's Hold the Cone ice-cream treats come in a variety of flavors, including chocolate, chocolate chip, and coffee bean. I opted for the plain vanilla ice-cream cones dipped in chocolate, which had that great familiar taste that I love.
Sadly, I wasn't that impressed by the Hold the Cone treats.
![Sadly, I wasn](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-103366197,width-700,height-525,imgsize-92422/sadly-i-wasnapost-that-impressed-by-the-hold-the-cone-treats-.jpg)
The vanilla ice cream and the soft, sugary waffle cone weren't overwhelmingly sweet.
In fact, the thin coating of milk chocolate was the sweetest part, as it tasted similar to a melted Hershey bar. Though I wouldn't say the brand is strikingly better or different than other ice cream in waffle cones, it's still a great option for those with a sweet tooth.
So many store-bought desserts come in large sizes, so I appreciated that Trader Joe's Hold the Cone ice-cream treats came in eight-count boxes for only $4.
The Specially Selected ice cream won first place in Aldi's awards.
![The Specially Selected ice cream won first place in Aldi](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-103366191,width-700,height-525,imgsize-274190/the-specially-selected-ice-cream-won-first-place-in-aldiaposs-awards-.jpg)
The Specially Selected ice cream comes in vanilla-chocolate-almond, chocolate-peanut-butter, chocolate, and vanilla. To keep things simple, I chose the vanilla.
I thought the Specially Selected vanilla ice cream was more refined than your run-of-the-mill half-gallon tub. It was smooth and sweet and I also got that vanilla-bean taste.
I think the Aldi voters nailed it by choosing the Specially Selected ice cream.
![I think the Aldi voters nailed it by choosing the Specially Selected ice cream.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-103366188,width-700,height-525,imgsize-163576/i-think-the-aldi-voters-nailed-it-by-choosing-the-specially-selected-ice-cream-.jpg)
I didn't even need fudge, nuts, or whipped cream to level up the vanilla ice cream.
I truly liked Trader Joe's mini ice cream cones but they didn't really taste any different than other ice-cream cones on the market. For me, the Specially Selected vanilla ice cream felt a bit more memorable.
If I had to choose a winner between these picks, I'd have to go with Aldi.
![If I had to choose a winner between these picks, I](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-103366184,width-700,height-525,imgsize-382482/if-i-had-to-choose-a-winner-between-these-picks-iaposd-have-to-go-with-aldi-.jpg)
Although I appreciate Trader Joe's commitment to offering unique versions of popular foods, I liked more items from Aldi in this taste test.
I was underwhelmed by Trader Joe's butter chicken and the Hold the Cone ice-cream treats weren't a standout for me. But each Aldi product I tried, including Clancy's kettle chips and the Specially Selected vanilla ice cream, was delicious and surprisingly sophisticated.
Honestly, I enjoyed options from both Trader Joe's and Aldi and thought several items from both chains deserved their status as winners. I'm also very excited to try next year's award-winning options from both chains.
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