Over the length of the Joe Show, the co-hosts have gotten to know each other and grow closer together through the medium of Trader Joe’s. For the finale of the Joe Show, we decided to put our knowledge to the test and do a snack swap where we each bought each other one drink, snack, and dessert that we thought the other would enjoy. Keep reading to find out more about our swap and reviews!

Drink:

Set-Up

SA: I’m well aware that Smriti doesn’t like carbonated drinks, so I went to the juice section of Trader Joe’s. I saw a variety of cold-pressed juices, but I wanted to avoid something like a green juice or turmeric juice just in case she wouldn’t enjoy those flavors. I settled on a cold-pressed pineapple juice for her to try!

SV: Looking upon the drink section of Trader Joe’s, I was trying to find a unique drink because I know Semira likes to try new flavors. When I saw the Sparkling Black Tea with Peach Juice, I knew it was the perfect selection for her. One of our mutual friends really loves the drink and it’s a combination I haven’t seen elsewhere, so I picked it up!

Review

SA: I really enjoyed the black tea peach drink! I’m a huge fan of the white tea pomegranate drink already so this was fun to try a new version. The black tea wasn’t too strong and I enjoyed the subtle peach flavor to sweeten the drink ever so slightly. The carbonation and bubbles made it even more enjoyable! (8.5/10)

SV: I’ve never tried any of the drinks from Trader Joe’s, but this pineapple juice was very refreshing. It was the perfect level of sweetness and would be an amazing drink on a hot summer day. (8/10)

Snack:

Set-Up

SA: I figured I couldn’t go wrong with a pizza flavor since the cheese, tomato, and bread all come together in a classic snack. A cheese pizza would be perfect since Smriti is vegetarian, but I didn’t want to risk getting a greasy pizza. I ultimately chose the mini cheese pizzas since I’ve had them before and have thoroughly enjoyed them. 

SV: My family likes to try Trader Joe’s appetizers on a regular basis, and one of our favorites is the jalapeño cream cheese wonton bites. I wasn’t sure if Semira had tried them, but I was excited to hear her thoughts. 

Review

SA: I really enjoyed the wonton bites! The jalapeño provided a sharp, good flavor to the cream cheese, and the texture overall was a great balance between a crispy exterior and a melt-in-your-mouth filling. I will definitely repurchase this. (9/10)

SV: The mini cheese pizzas were a staple of my childhood, so the fact that Semira picked them up was perfect. With a quick cooking time but still a yummy result, these mini cheese pizzas deserve a spot in your freezer. (10/10) 

Dessert:

Set-Up

SA: I remember how much Smriti loved the dark chocolate peanut butter cups from our candy taste test and wanted to find something with the same flavor combination. As I roamed the aisles, I found a PB&C snack duo where there are crunchy, créme-filled chocolate wafers with a peanut butter dip in individual packages. I had a good feeling about this one. 

SV: When we tried the Pumpkin Spice Mini Sheet Cake for our very first Joe Show issue, Semira remarked that she’s been a lifelong fan of the line of mini sheet cakes that Trader Joe’s offers. As a result, I knew that when I saw the new lemon-flavored sheet cake, I had to get it for her.

Review

SA: I love lemon! I especially love the combination between lemon and cream cheese, so the bright tart flavors combined together in a delicious bite. The cake itself was incredibly airy and the frosting had a nice contrast. I loved the lemon zest on top too for an authentic flavor. (10/10)

SV: Semira was right, I do love the peanut butter and chocolate combination! I am also a huge fan of the chocolate wafer sticks that Trader Joe’s sells separately, and the mini ones in this snack duo tasted exactly the same. The peanut butter was sweet and creamy, and with the wafer sticks was an excellent treat! (1000/10)

And that’s the end of The Joe Show! Thank you for sticking with us and reading our issues. We loved being able to try new items from Trader Joe’s and share them with you all. Maybe we’ll continue this in college… 🙂