Trader Joe’s Summer 2026 Grocery Haul: The Best Buys and Easy Skips

Trader Joe’s latest lineup brings a mix of refreshing drinks, creative snacks, convenient meals, and surprising seasonal treats.

I tested 24 new finds to uncover the must-buys, worthwhile picks, and easy passes.

1. Organic Non-Dairy Soy Beverage (Unsweetened Vanilla)

• Product Description: A shelf-stable, organic, unsweetened vanilla-flavored soy beverage.

• Price: ~$2.50

• Review & Rating: 2.5 / 5. The texture is noticeably looser and more watery than refrigerated soy milk, tasting almost like leftover cereal milk. It lacks a strong vanilla flavor, though it actually blended better in a matcha latte than the plain unsweetened version by avoiding a chalky aftertaste.

• Verdict: Pass (Unless for Emergency Pantry Storage). Fine to keep on hand in the pantry for recipes, but not enjoyable enough to drink straight.

2. Freeze-Dried Watermelon Candies

• Product Description: Freeze-dried watermelon-flavored candies with a crunchy, airy texture.

• Price: Not stated in transcript.

• Review & Rating: 4 / 5. Extremely crunchy with a nice tart/sour flavor kick—essentially tastes like a freeze-dried Jolly Rancher.

• Verdict: Buy (If You Love Sour Candy). Great taste and fun texture, though very sweet (you’ll likely only want 2 or 3 at a time).

3. Squeezy Extra Virgin Olive Oil

• Product Description: Extra virgin olive oil sold in a modern, squeeze-style bottle. A blend sourced from Italy, Tunisia, and Spain.

• Price: $11.00

• Review & Rating: 4 / 5. Highly convenient for cooking and pan-frying. The packaging features super cute branding, though the bottle is slightly translucent (which offers less light protection for the oil compared to dark glass).

• Verdict: Buy. Decently priced and very convenient for daily stovetop cooking.

4. Mandu Korean Kimchi Pot Stickers

• Product Description: Vegan Korean-style dumplings (mandu) filled with kimchi, glass noodles, and vegetables.

• Price: Not stated in transcript.

• Review & Rating: 4.5 / 5. Packed with authentic kimchi tang and a solid build-up of heat. The dumpling wrappers hold up well during cooking without sticking to the pan.

• Verdict: Buy. A fantastic, flavorful item to keep in the freezer for quick, lazy plant-based meals.

5. Freeze-Dried Fig Slices

• Product Description: Unsweetened and unsulfured freeze-dried fig slices featuring different fig varieties (purple and green).

• Price: Not stated in transcript.

• Review & Rating: 3 / 5. Delivers a solid crunch and natural fig flavor. A full bag is listed as one serving size.

• Verdict: Neutral. Good if you specifically want a crunchy fruit snack, but fresh figs are preferred overall.

6. Single-Origin Kilimanjaro Instant Coffee

• Product Description: Single-serve instant coffee stick packs sourced from Mount Kilimanjaro; prepared by mixing with 8 oz of hot water.

• Price: Not stated in transcript.

• Review & Rating: 4 / 5. Brews up surprisingly strong and rich with a pleasant, nostalgic instant coffee character.

• Verdict: Buy. A convenient, solid option for travel or quick morning coffee.

7. POG Juice (Passion Fruit Orange Guava)

• Product Description: A pure tropical juice blend made from passion fruit, orange, and guava with no added sugar or additives. Product of Vietnam.

• Price: Not stated in transcript.

• Review & Rating: 5 / 5. Exceptionally refreshing, balanced, and flavorful. (Pro tip: Let it chill thoroughly in the fridge before serving).

• Verdict: Must-Buy. An absolute winner for summer.

8. Buffalo Sauce with Avocado Oil

• Product Description: A tangy buffalo sauce made with an avocado oil base instead of traditional butter or seed oils.

• Price: Not stated in transcript.

• Review & Rating: 4 / 5. Features a punchy, vinegary kick with moderate spice rather than overwhelming heat.

• Verdict: Buy. A great plant-based alternative to standard grocery store buffalo sauces.

9. Welcome to Your Neighborhood Energy Bars (Chocolate Chip & Peanut Butter)

• Product Description: Snack bars featuring soy protein crisps and 10–11g of plant-based protein, stylized with National Park sign packaging.

• Price: Not stated in transcript.

• Review & Rating: 4.5 / 5. Features a great texture with a light crunch from the soy crisps, making them much easier to chew than dense GoMacro bars. The Peanut Butter flavor edged out Chocolate Chip due to its rich taste (and subtle hint of cinnamon).

• Verdict: Buy. A convenient, satisfying snack to keep in your bag or car.

10. Strawberry & Cornflakes Muffin and Loaf Cake Mix

• Product Description: A boxed baking mix with real dehydrated strawberry pieces and a cornflake-sanding sugar crumble topping.

• Price: Not stated in transcript.

• Review & Rating: 4 / 5. Easy to make vegan using flax eggs, non-dairy milk, and vegan butter. The cake has a sweet “berries and cream” nostalgic flavor, and the cornflake crumble topping adds a necessary texture contrast.

• Verdict: Buy. A fun, tasty bake that adapts easily for vegan preparations.

11. Misfits Caramel Fudge Protein Bar

• Product Description: A low-sugar chocolate caramel fudge protein bar imported from Croatia. Contains 1g of sugar.

• Price: Not stated in transcript.

• Review & Rating: 3.5 / 5. Tastes surprisingly like a real candy bar with a crisp center and gooey caramel layer, though it leaves a slight chalky protein powerbar aftertaste at the end.

• Verdict: Buy (As a Treat). Great when you want a low-sugar chocolate fix on the go.

12. Strawberry Overnight Oats

• Product Description: Rolled oats soaked in a coconut milk beverage with a strawberry/apple juice puree base.

• Price: Not stated in transcript.

• Review & Rating: 2 / 5. Has an off-putting grayish color and tastes much more strongly of apple juice than fresh strawberries or coconut.

• Verdict: Pass. Highly skippable unless you really love apple-forward oat bowls.

13. Sweet Chili Black-Eyed Pea Tempeh Chips

• Product Description: Crisp chips made from fermented black-eyed peas (an Indonesian-inspired snack) fried in coconut oil.

• Price: Not stated in transcript.

• Review & Rating: 3.5 / 5. Extremely crunchy with a sweet and tangy chili spice kick. However, the background flavor of coconut oil can be a bit polarizing.

• Verdict: Buy with Caveats. Great texture, but best paired with a dip (like garlic dip or guacamole) to balance the spice and coconut notes.

14. Organic Non-Dairy Soy Beverage (Unsweetened)

• Product Description: A refrigerated, organic, unsweetened plain soy beverage.

• Price: $3.49

• Review & Rating: 3 / 5. Creamy in consistency, but has an artificial/protein powder aftertaste when drunk plain. When mixed into matcha, it left a chalky finish.

• Verdict: Pass for Drinking / Neutral for Cooking. Better suited for baking or oatmeal than drinking plain or in hot lattes.

15. Salt & Vinegar Potato Chips (Cooked in Avocado Oil)

• Product Description: Small-batch kettle-cooked potato chips cooked in avocado oil, featuring “Joe the Kraken” on the packaging.

• Price: Not stated in transcript.

• Review & Rating: 4.5 / 5. Thick-cut with an intense, satisfying crunch and plenty of folded chips. The vinegar flavor is pleasantly mild and not overly harsh or burning.

• Verdict: Buy. A solid option for anyone who wants a crunchier, milder salt-and-vinegar chip.

16. Lemon Plums

• Product Description: Chilean “chameleon” plums that shift in color from pale yellow to a blushed red-orange as they ripen.

• Price: Not stated in transcript.

• Review & Rating: 4 / 5. Crisp and tart when yellow/green, softening into a sweeter, floral fruit as they blush red-orange.

• Verdict: Buy. A fun seasonal fruit to grab and watch ripen over a few days.

17. Peanut & Crispy Noodle Salad Kit

• Product Description: A fresh salad kit with cabbage, romaine, carrots, celery, green onion, cilantro, chopped peanuts, fried rice noodles, and a peanut-lime dressing.

• Price: Not stated in transcript.

• Review & Rating: 4.5 / 5. Crisp, bright, and very refreshing with a great crunch from the peanuts and fried rice noodles.

• Verdict: Buy. Highly recommended as a base—just add pre-seasoned baked tofu or chickpeas for a complete meal.

18. Sour Cherry Cotton Candy

• Product Description: Tightly packed, fluffy sour cherry flavored cotton candy.

• Price: Not stated in transcript.

• Review & Rating: 3.5 / 5. Unique, nostalgic, and pleasantly sour, though very high in sugar.

• Verdict: Buy for Novelty. A fun impulse buy if you enjoy carnival-style candies.

19. Peach Black Tea Concentrate

• Product Description: A liquid tea concentrate made for mixing 1 part concentrate to 2 parts water (makes four 12 oz servings per bottle).

• Price: Not stated in transcript.

• Review & Rating: 5 / 5. Exceptionally good—reminiscent of classic Snapple or Arizona peach iced tea, but perfectly balanced and not overly sweet.

• Verdict: Must-Buy. Perfect for batching in a pitcher for summer gatherings.

20. Very Cherry Plums

• Product Description: Small, cherry-sized hybrid plum varieties.

• Price: Not stated in transcript.

• Review & Rating: 5 / 5. Extremely sweet, juicy, and ripe right out of the container with tiny pits.

• Verdict: Must-Buy. One of the best fresh produce finds of the season.

21. Trader Joe’s Flatbread

• Product Description: Small, fluffy, personal-sized flatbreads.

• Price: Not stated in transcript.

• Review & Rating: 5 / 5. Soft and fluffy on the inside with a nice crisp exterior when toasted or charred directly over a open stovetop flame.

• Verdict: Must-Buy. Excellent for personal flatbread pizzas, wraps, or paired with garlic spread and pickled onions.

22. Sprinkles Sunset Tomatoes

• Product Description: Ultra-tiny, bite-sized snacking tomatoes.

• Price: Not stated in transcript.

• Review & Rating: 4.5 / 5. Adorable presentation, firm texture, and wonderfully sweet for fresh snacking or topping salads.

• Verdict: Buy. Highly recommend for salads or snacking.

23. Pickled Red Onions

• Product Description: Jarred sliced red onions pickled in a tangy brine.

• Price: Not stated in transcript.

• Review & Rating: 4.5 / 5. Tangy and mild without any harsh raw-onion bite. Packaging design is adorable.

• Verdict: Buy. Great shortcut item for tacos, flatbreads, and grain bowls.

24. Carabao Mango Juice

• Product Description: Pure Carabao mango juice (not from concentrate).

• Price: Not stated in transcript.

• Review & Rating: 5 / 5. Rich, sweet, and authentic pure mango flavor. Excellent straight up or used as an ingredient for ice cream and smoothies.

• Verdict: Must-Buy. Best served ice-cold.