Summer is peeking around the corner, Memorial Day weekend is almost here, and the weather is finally becoming a little more merciful. That also mean cookout season is back, and so are backyard barbecues, pool parties, beach picnics and last-minute patio dinners. Trader Joe’s is ready for it all, filling its shelves with a mix of limited-time summer products alongside a few new permanent additions.
Here are 10 new items shoppers can spot this week at Trader Joe’s stores across the country.
Al Pastor Diced Pork Shoulder
Summer calls for cookouts, and cookouts call for tacos — at least according to Trader Joe’s, which just introduced a new Al Pastor Diced Pork Shoulder inspired by the taco carts of Southern California. The pre-marinated pork comes soaked in a citrus and pineapple juice blend with guajillo peppers, oregano, cinnamon, and other classic seasonings.
Pickled Red Onions
Now you can also combine those al pastor tacos with Trader Joe’s’ new Pickled Red Onions, which might be one of the easiest ways to make a quick homemade meal feel instantly more legit. Marinated in apple cider vinegar with garlic, sugar, salt, and black peppercorns, the onions add a tangy, slightly sweet crunch that works especially well piled onto tacos, nachos.
Smoked Cheddar Cheese With Paprika
Trader Joe’s has a knack for delicious cheeses — especially cheddar, considering the store’s Unexpected Cheddar has practically achieved royal status in the dairy aisle. So you’d expect nothing less from its latest limited-time Smoked Cheddar Cheese with Paprika, which sounds straight out of an artisanal cheese shop but costs just five bucks. Made by Wisconsin cheesemakers exclusively for the grocer, the cheddar is cold-smoked over applewood, aged for at least two years, and finished with a paprika-coated rind that gives the cheese its distinctive orange-speckled appearance.
Lefse Norwegian Potato Flatbread
Trader Joe’s went Scandinavian in its latest attempt at convincing shoppers they are far more cultured than their usual frozen orange chicken routine suggests. Inspired by the traditional Norwegian flatbread, Lefse is made mostly from potatoes and is soft and flexible enough to wrap around pretty much anything you’re craving, whether savory or sweet. Trader Joe’s recommends fillings like smoked salmon and whipped cream cheese or cucumbers with whipped feta for what can only be described as a modern-day Viking snack.
Sweet & Sour Gummy Worms Candies
The grocer is also hopping aboard the “healthy-ish candy” train with Sweet & Sour Gummy Worms Candies, a snack that sounds like Trader Joe’s version of what happens when gas-station candy grows up. The chewy worms contain zero grams of sugar per serving and are sweetened with monk fruit, allulose, and organic erythritol instead of traditional sugar, while citric acid gives it a sour kick. Joe’s also skipped the artificial food dyes, using fruit and vegetable juices for color and strawberry juice concentrate for flavor.
Trending on Cheapism
Shimmer Oil Sunscreen
Trader Joe’s is entering its “hot girl summer” era with a limited-time Shimmer Oil Sunscreen that promises both SPF 30 protection and a subtle bronzy glow. Originally part of the store’s Glow Anywhere Sun Care Set, the sunscreen contains mica for a dewy shimmer effect — think sun-kissed vacation skin rather than full-body glitter explosion — and comes scented with warm coconut.
Tazmin Breeze New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
The store is stocking a budget-friendly wine that feels tailor-made for warm summer nights. The new Tazmin Breeze New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc comes from Marlborough and features bright citrus and tropical fruit flavors with notes of grapefruit, lime zest, and fresh herbs.
Lemon Flavored Tiramisu
People have apparently been waiting months for this one after Trader Joe’s first teased its arrival and kept shoppers on the edge of their seats. Now, fans can finally sigh in relief because the grocer’s new Lemon Flavored Tiramisu has officially landed in freezer aisles. The limited-time dessert swaps the traditional coffee-soaked ladyfingers for lemon syrup-soaked layers paired with lemon curd and lemon-infused mascarpone cream, turning the classic Italian dessert into something much more summery.
Red White & Blue Cookie Bites
Patriotic Joe’s wants you to prepare in time for the peak suburban summer mode with its new Red White & Blue Cookie Bites, a limited-time snack. The bite-sized vanilla cookie pieces come coated in cherry, lemon, and raspberry-flavored candy shells in patriotic shades of red, white, and blue, though Trader Joe’s kept things slightly less artificial by using vegetable juice, spirulina, and annatto extract for coloring instead of synthetic dyes.
Sign up for our newsletter
Flat Taffy
Alongside its red-white-and-blue cookie bites, the grocer also dropped new Flat Taffy for the season. The raspberry-flavored chewy candy comes striped in classic Americana colors and is meant to channel that nostalgic boardwalk candy-shop feeling, just with slightly more health-conscious twist of using vegetable juice and spirulina extract for coloring instead of artificial dyes.
More From Cheapism
- 21 Things to Buy Your First Time at Trader Joe’s — Trader Joe’s can be overwhelming for newbies. If you’re going for the first time, here’s our expert advice on what to get.
- 9 New Trader Joe’s Items You Can Find On Shelves This Week — Spring is finally here, and things are bound to get better from here on out — well, at least at your favorite bougie grocer. Trader Joe’s is already adding new items to its shelves, from seasonal drops to potential cult favorites that could disappear just as quickly as they show up.
- Trader Joe’s Opening New Locations in 12 States — Trader Joe’s just announced new stores in a dozen states. If you’re hoping for a new TJ’s near you, see if your city is on the list.
