I Tried All Trader Joe’s New Products for May 2024

Trader Joe’s new items this month include a variety of exciting products, from shrimp scampi to boxes of chocolate to freeze-dried fruits. As usual, I went to my local Trader Joe’s to taste all their new products for May 2024. If you want to know which items are worth picking up on your next grocery run, here’s my list.

1. Belgian Truffle Ballotin Box – $3.99

I think it’s safe to say that Trader Joe’s has mastered the art of assorted chocolate boxes. Visit your local Trader Joe’s at any time of the year, and you’ll find at least two or three fun, fancy boxes that contain a handful of different chocolates.

The most recent one is the Belgian Truffle Ballotin Box, which features eight different Belgian chocolates in a colorful, spring-themed box. The chocolate flavors range from white to milk to dark, with hazelnut, espresso, and caramel fillings. Cappuccino Milk is my favorite of the few I’ve tried. This is a super easy, fun gift to bring to a dinner party or as a Mother’s Day present.

Rating: 9/10

2. Jumeokbap – $4.99

Jumeokbap is a Korean street food dish made with rice and various savory ingredients. In the case of Trader Joe’s new frozen Jumeokbap, it’s made with plant-based bulgogi and savory-seasoned carrot, green onion, and cabbage.

The bulgogi has a slightly sweet flavor to it, which pairs well with the umami soy sauce flavor incorporated throughout the rice. Each pack comes with three separately packaged Jumeokbap, which are pyramid-shaped and hold their shape even after they’re cooked through.

The texture is similar to sticky rice. I paired my Jumeokbap with a side of spicy mayo and ate it as a snack, but you could make a meal out of these if you warm up a few and pair them with some protein.

Rating: 8/10

3. Shrimp Scampi – $8.99

I was a little confused when I opened this Shrimp Scampi box. Even though the packaging doesn’t have any pasta on it, I assumed this would be one of Trader Joe’s famous heat-and-eat frozen dinners. That’s not the case, though. Instead, each box comes with frozen raw shrimp dipped in a garlic, butter, white wine, and lemon juice coating.

These are shelled, deveined, and tails have been removed, so they don’t require any prep work before throwing them in a pan. The packaging states you can cook these in a pan or the oven.

The sauce here is the perfect balance between creamy, zesty, and garlicky. Since the shrimp are ready to cook and covered in sauce, it cuts down on the meal prep time in a major way. Each shrimp is coated with enough sauce that there will be extra in the pan, which you can pour onto the pasta, veggies, or whatever else you’re serving this with.

Rating: 9/10

4. Freeze Dried Raspberries – $3.99

This new product from Trader Joe’s is pretty straightforward. It’s just freeze-dried raspberries, but these little guys are quite versatile. Use them in oatmeal, smoothies, homemade ice cream, and cookies.

These come as full raspberries, but they can be easily crushed up in a plastic bag with a rolling pin if your recipe calls for powdered raspberry. They taste identical to regular fresh raspberries but have a crunchy, dry texture.

Rating: 8/10

5. Milk Chocolate Covered Honeycomb Candy – $3.99

If you get anything from Trader Joe’s this month, make sure it’s their new Milk Chocolate Covered Honeycomb Candy. This product can definitely be one of the best Trader Joe’s chocolate candies of all time! It’s made with sugar, honey, and baking soda, which creates a crunchy, sweet, and caramelized treat.

The candy is covered in rich, smooth milk chocolate, which contrasts nicely with the crunchy, airy honeycomb. Something about the mix of textures and flavors makes this candy irresistible. I had to practice self-restraint; otherwise, I could have easily finished the whole bag!

Rating: 10/10

6. Potato Salad – $4.99

Potato salad can be hard to get right – some are too mayonnaise-y, and others are too dry or under-seasoned. Luckily, Trader Joe’s new Potato Salad doesn’t fall prey to any of these mistakes.

It’s made with chunks of potato, diced onion and celery, hard-boiled eggs, and a creamy mayo-mustard dressing. The potatoes here have the perfect texture – they hold their shape but are super creamy and soft at the same time.

You’ll get a few crunches of celery and onion in each bite, providing a nice textural change from the otherwise creamy salad. I couldn’t really taste the egg, but I prefer it that way. The dressing is the perfect mix of creamy and tangy.

Rating: 9/10

7. Dried Australian Red Papaya – $2.99

I pick up a papaya at the grocery store once or twice a year and enjoy it, but I never crave the fruit. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about Trader Joe’s new Dried Australian Red Papaya at first, but I was pleasantly surprised when I tasted it.

These have zero added sugar yet are fairly sweet and have a nice chewiness to them. I actually prefer the dried version to fresh papaya now. They were perfectly enjoyable to eat straight from the bag, but I’ll also mix them into my morning yogurt during the summer for a little extra texture and flavor.

Rating: 8/10