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Trader Joe's Chili & Lime Flavored Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips
Trader Joe’s

Trader Joe’s fans, the results are in. The cult-favorite grocery chain has released its annual list of customers’ favorite items in nine categories. To make the yearly survey more interesting this go-around, TJ’s recently pulled some of the most frequent winners out of contention, moving them instead to the Trader Joe’s Product Hall of Fame. Think you know which products scored the coveted top spots? You might be thrown for a loop. If you’re a longtime shopper, see how your usual picks stack up, and if you’re a Trader Joe’s newbie, consider this roundup a guide to what’s worth buying.

RelatedSurprising Facts About Trader Joe’s

Favorite Beverage: Sparkling Honeycrisp Apple Juice

Trader Joe’s

Seasonal products at TJ’s are all the rage and the sparkling Honeycrisp apple juice is about as close as you can get to bottling up autumn and drinking it. The three-ingredient blend of apples, water, and bubbles is a simple beverage begging to be paired with a cinnamon sugar doughnut.

RelatedDiscontinued Trader Joe’s Products Shoppers Miss the Most

Favorite Beverage: Runners Up

Trader Joes Sparkling Black Tea with Peach Juice
Saundra Latham / Cheapism
  • Triple ginger brew
  • Sparkling peach black tea with peach juice
  • Sparkling cranberry and ginger beverage
  • Nondairy brown sugar oat creamer

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Favorite Cheese: English Cheddar with Caramelized Onions

Trader Joe’s

The English part of this delectable cheese’s name isn’t just for show. The cheddar with caramelized onions comes straight from an English countryside estate’s cow herds, which, of course, graze locally. The flavor of the onions provides just the right hit of sweetness against the bite of the cheddar, making this cheese top-rated among TJ’s fans.

RelatedThe Best Trader Joe’s Wines Under $10 

Favorite Cheese: Runners Up

Baked Lemon Ricotta
Trader Joe’s
  • Syrah soaked toscano
  • Baked lemon ricotta
  • Blueberry and vanilla chevre
  • Brie

Favorite Sweets/Dessert: Hold the Cone! Mini Ice Cream Cones

Hold the Cone
Cheapism

These mini ice-cream treats are the perfect size for kids or adults who just want a quick, sweet snack. The chocolate plug at the tip of the cone is perhaps the best part.

Favorite Sweets/Dessert: Runners Up

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  • Danish kringle
  • Sublime ice cream sandwiches
  • Chocolate lava cakes
  • Brookie

Favorite Entree: Butter Chicken with Basmati Rice

Favorite Entree: Butter Chicken with Basmati Rice
Wilder Shaw / Cheapism

Packed with strong Indian flavors in a rich and creamy sauce, Trader Joe’s butter chicken with fragrant basmati rice is a tasty go-to for a quick lunch or dinner. 

Favorite Entree: Runners Up

Chicken Tikka Masala
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  • Chicken tikka masala
  • Kung pao chicken
  • Butternut squash macacroni and cheese
  • BBQ teriyaki chicken

Favorite Home, Bath and Body Product: Scented Candle Tins

Amazon

Many TJ’s fans can’t get enough scented candles, and that goes for Trader Joe’s version in little metal tins as well. The scents change seasonally.

Favorite Home, Bath and Body Product: Runners Up

Trader Joe’s
  • Daily facial sunscreen
  • Ultra moisturizing hand cream
  • Tea Tree Tingle shampoo and conditioner
  • Shea butter and coconut oil hair mask

Favorite Produce: Bananas

Bananas – Trader Joe’s by Aranami ((CC BY))

Many customers visit TJ’s for things they can’t find at other grocers, like the heaven-sent dark chocolate peanut butter cups, but the specialty grocer offers bargain prices on bananas. Organic bananas are quarter apiece while nonorganic bananas sell for just 19 cents each.

Favorite Produce: Runners Up

Trader Joe’s
  • Teeny tiny avocados
  • Honeycrisp apples
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Organic carrots of many colors

Favorite Snack: Chili & Lime Flavored Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips

Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips
Cheapism

Move over, Takis, Trader Joe’s take is coming in hot. The chili and lime-flavored rolled corn tortilla chips mimic the flavor and texture of Takis and almost give off limon hot Cheetos vibes. So good.

Favorite Snack: Runners Up

Organic Elote Corn Chip Dippers
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  • Organic elote corn chip dippers
  • Organic corn chip dippers
  • World’s Puffiest white cheddar corn puffs
  • Crunchy curls

Favorite Vegan/Vegetarian Product: Vegan Kale, Cashew & Basil Pesto

kale cashew pesto
Trader Joe’s

Pesto without parmesan? Trader Joe’s has it. As long as you have basil, you can still have pesto. Just bring cashew and kale to the mix and don’t forget the lemon. This spread is a favorite at TJ’s. 

Favorite Vegan/Vegetarian Product: Runners Up

Trader Joe’s
  • Vegetable fried rice
  • Beefless bulgogi
  • Palak paneer
  • Cauliflower gnocchi

Favorite Overall: Chili & Lime Flavored Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips

Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips
Cheapism

The chili and lime-flavored rolled corn tortilla chips are as addicting as they are tasty and for that reason, they win the whole shebang in the hearts of TJ’s shoppers. 

Favorite Overall: Runners Up

Box of Trader Joe's Chocolate Croissants
Cheapism/Maxwell Shukuya
  • Trader Joe’s hashbrowns
  • Steamed chicken soup dumplings
  • Everything but the Bagel sesame seasoning blend
  • Four chocolate croissants

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Meet the Writers

Lacey Muszynski is a staff writer at Cheapism covering food, travel, and more. She has over 15 years of writing and editing experience, and her restaurant reviews and recipes have previously appeared in Serious Eats, Thrillist, and countless publications in her home state of Wisconsin.

Rachel is a Michigan-based writer who has dabbled in a variety of subject matter throughout her career. As a mom of multiple young children, she tries to maintain a sustainable lifestyle for her family. She grows vegetables in her garden, gets her meat in bulk from local farmers, and cans fruits and vegetables with friends. Her kids have plenty of hand-me-downs in their closets, but her husband jokes that before long, they might need to invest in a new driveway thanks to the frequent visits from delivery trucks dropping off online purchases (she can’t pass up a good deal, after all). You can reach her at [email protected].