It is that time of year again, where the weather turns gray and leaves turn brown, knitwear popping out in hallways until it consumes schools and workplaces. It is autumn, and for food industries, this is the time of year that pumpkin spice takes the world by storm. Grocery stores are no exception to this, with the beloved Trader Joe’s bringing in seasonal pumpkin spice snacks. I highly encourage you to try these snacks to decide for yourself whether they are good or not!
Pumpkin Ravioli: (3/10)
Each time I have tried ravioli from Trader Joe’s freezer section, I have been disappointed, and this time was no different. The pumpkin ravioli has no contrast or any semblance of a strong flavor profile. It was mildly sweet, and that was about it. For some, there could be artistry in the pumpkin ravioli’s sweet but mellow taste, but for me, it was an unsatisfying concoction of irregular flavors that had me barely able to finish the quarter portion of the raviolis I did try.
Pumpkin Spice Granola Bark: (6.5/10)
With pumpkin-spiced granola covered in a layer of dark chocolate and salt-sprinkled pumpkin seeds, the pumpkin spice granola bark is the first TJ’s fall-flavored product I tried, and I was hesitant to do so, as I have never been a granola fan. I was also doubtful of the addition of pumpkin spice with granola, as I have traditionally had the flavor with softer textures. But despite these concerns, the bark was surprisingly addictive. To say I liked it right off the bat would be a lie – it has a depth of flavor that took me a while to adjust to, but the sweetness of the granola, with the spice of the pumpkin flavoring was enhanced by the contrast of salt sprinkled over perfectly-crunchy pumpkin seeds. This in turn broke up the signature monotony of granola.
This Pumpkin Walks into a Bar Cereal Bars: (4/10)
The bar has an aromatic pumpkin smell, with sweet filling revealed upon a bite into the semi-crumbly bar. Yet despite this, the bar was more reminiscent of an apple cinnamon flavor. This flavor was intense, a bit too much for me, especially in a mellow cereal bar. Pushing this was the fizziness of the filling, which reminded me of a Sprite – carbonated. The outside shell itself had a semi-crumbly texture at the edges that made me wary of eating it in a car or without a bowl or plate underneath it. For me, this product fails, but for those who lean towards Sprites and candied apples, it is a great snack! TJ’s has a wide variety of pumpkin flavored items, with at least one that will cater to everyone. I highly recommend checking out your local TJ’s and giving some of these snacks a try.
