Sometimes, all you need is some candy to brighten your day. For this issue of the Joe Show, we tried four different candies and let you know our thoughts (the good, the bad, and the ugly) on some of the most famous Trader Joe’s candies.
Dark Chocolate Covered Marshmallows
SA: I’ve had these before and I remember liking them! The marshmallow has a soft, spongy texture and is a little bit on the sweeter side, but the dark chocolate complements the flavor and “mallows” down the intense sweetness. I can’t see myself eating too many of these at a time because of the sweetness, but I’ll definitely purchase this again and try some periodically. (8.2/10)
SV: I’m not a huge fan of marshmallows, but I was willing to give these a try because I had heard many rave reviews from friends. Personally, I would have changed the dark chocolate to marshmallow ratio (with much more chocolate). But once again, I very rarely have marshmallows and do not enjoy the texture, so this only really comes down to personal preference! (4.4/10)
Despite our reservations when it came to these Dark Chocolate Covered Marshmallows, our assistant reviewers had no such qualms! Aanya Mittu (’25), for instance, poetically describes her eating experience: “This delectable gelatinous concoction has to be truly one of the best delicacies my taste buds have had the privilege of experiencing.”
Scandinavian Swimmers
SA: I’ve always seen people talking about this snack (arguably one of the most viral products from Trader Joe’s), so I was really excited to try it out! Each swimmer had a different flavor and shape with a fun texture. When it comes to candy, I prefer more chocolate-based and decadent sweets over a fruit flavor or gummy variety. Because of this, I personally wouldn’t rebuy the swimmers on my own, but I thought they were pretty good, and I can see myself reaching for one or two at a time! (6.8/10)
SV: I’ve always been a chocolate-over-candy person, so I was surprised that I liked these as much as I did! The multiple shapes of the candy in the form of ocean animals were a nice touch and fun to pick out. I also thought the four flavors were noticeably different, which was nice because I hate when candies are different colors but taste the exact same. I do wish the flavors were stronger, because after a couple bites they became bland, but I would definitely purchase them over (long-disputed) rivals Swedish Fish. (7/10)
The swimmers were pretty popular, and people agreed that the variety of gummies within the package was a nice touch. Alanna Loughran (’25) explained how she “really liked them because all the flavors are delicious and the shapes are cute and fun.”
Fruit Jellies
SA: This was super interesting! The outside was a bit firm, but the inside of the jelly was soft and almost melted in my mouth. The texture was akin to a Sour Patch in a small cube form, but the flavor was entirely sweet. I really liked the variety of authentic flavor options. Honestly, I would get this again! My favorite flavor was lemon. (9/10)
SV: I thought these jellies would be a lot chewier than they were, but I was not mad about it at all! I loved the slight crunch of the sugar surrounding the square, and the jelly itself was so sweet and delicious. I definitely ate more than one when we tried them, and I honestly regret not buying another pack. However, it was a little difficult to figure out which flavor corresponded with which color—there was a grape flavor but no purple color, no discernable difference between orange and mandarin—which was frustrating. Still, I had never heard of kettle-cooked jellies before, and this was an amazing introduction! (8.5/10)
It seems that the jellies stand the test of time, as Anya Nandiwada (’25) describes how her “childhood snack will always be a family fave.”
Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
SA: I’ve never had these, but my dearest colleague in the Trader Joe’s quests, Smriti, explained how these were her absolute favorite mainly due to the fact that dark chocolate and peanut butter are a classic combination in her books. Encouraged by her enthusiasm, I tried a cup, and it was delicious! The balance of the sweetness from the chocolate and the salt from the peanut butter created a satisfying and harmonious experience. I would absolutely get these again, and I love their bite-sized portions! (10/10)
SV: Like Semira mentioned previously, I am the number one fan of the chocolate and peanut butter combination and, therefore, also an avid buyer of these dark chocolate peanut butter cups. I have no criticisms—I love how the peanut butter is on the sweeter side and the dark chocolate to peanut butter ratio is perfect. These cups are so small and bingeable, and not even a week later after trying them for this article, I’ve gone back to Trader Joe’s to buy another pack for myself! (100/10)
The Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups got positive reviews from all our friends. Anay Shah (’25) voiced his approval by succinctly saying these were “better than Reese’s.”
And with that, our third issue of The Joe Show is in the books! Thank you to all our loyal fans and we’re so excited to bring two more exciting reviews to you very soon. Stay tuned!
