Buzz
Trader Joe's frequently updates its product lineup. Introducing seasonal items creates excitement and boosts demand, ensuring that the store's offerings change regularly. While some limited-time products make a comeback, others are discontinued for good. Here’s a look at 11 Trader Joe’s favorites that were removed, despite customer protests.
1. Matcha Joe-Joe’s
Launched in 2017, Matcha Joe-Joe’s quickly gained a loyal following. These cookies featured a green tea-infused cream filling between two crisp, golden wafers. Despite their popularity, the product was discontinued by 2019.
2. Arrabiata Sauce
This jarred tomato sauce was a favorite among Trader Joe’s shoppers for its fiery and robust taste. Sadly, the store removed it from shelves in 2022, leaving fans to choose from the many other pasta sauces available.
3. Speculoos Cookie Butter Cheesecake
The Speculoos Cookie Butter Cheesecake is now a thing of the past. | theimpulsivebuy via Flickr // CC BY-SA 2.0
Speculoos Cookie Butter, one of Trader Joe’s biggest hits, inspired several offshoots. This frozen cheesecake featured a speculoos cookie base and a cookie butter swirl atop the creamy filling. Sadly, it’s no longer found in the freezer section.
4. Hatch Chile Chicken Wraps
The Hatch Chile Chicken Wraps—Trader Joe’s version of Taco Bell’s Crunchwrap Supreme—were pulled in 2021 shortly after their debut. Fortunately, shoppers can still enjoy a range of frozen burritos, tamales, and taquitos.
5. Garlic Fries
Frozen garlic fries seemed like a surefire success for the store. Though they had their admirers, the product didn’t gain enough traction to remain on shelves beyond 2018.
6. Salted Caramel Gelato
Salted Caramel Gelato was a fan-favorite Trader Joe’s treat that disappeared too quickly. This indulgent, velvety dessert debuted in 2014 and remained a staple for several years before being discontinued.
7. Honey Butter Potato Chips
This unique blend of sweet and salty chips is now a nostalgic memory. | theimpulsivebuy via Flickr // CC BY-SA 2.0Honey butter on potato chips might seem unusual, but many who tried it agreed the sweet-salty mix was a hit. If more shoppers had embraced the snack, it might not have been pulled in 2018.
8. Eggplant Cutlets
Vegetarians rejoiced when Trader Joe’s introduced this meat-free option to frozen chicken cutlets. These pre-sliced, breaded veggies were ideal for quick eggplant parmesan dinners. Sadly, they were discontinued in 2019.
9. Trader Joe's Spicy Cheese Crunchies
Trader Joe’s often creates its own versions of popular snacks, and Spicy Cheese Crunchies were their spin on Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. Whether they matched up to the original is now irrelevant—the store’s version was axed earlier this year.
10. Frozen Phyllo Cigars
Trader Joe’s phyllo cigars, filled with brie and raspberry, were a gourmet offering in the frozen aisle. Despite their appeal, they didn’t secure a permanent spot in the store’s lineup.
11. Red Refresh Herbal Tea
Shoppers now have fewer options in Trader Joe’s extensive tea collection. The Red Refresh Tea—a blend of hibiscus, lemongrass, peppermint, orange peel, and wild cherry bark—was discontinued in 2022.
