Trader Joe’s Just Leaked Info on 19 New Groceries Hitting Stores This Summer

Summer can’t come soon enough. At least, that’s the theme of the latest Inside Trader Joe’s podcast episode. Cohosts and employees, Matt Sloan and Tara Miller (along with special guest and Trader Joe’s product developer Alex), are sharing over a dozen of the new and returning items hitting shelves now through early July. 

So what can we expect? A new take on a classic hummus, lots of frozen desserts, pastas, condiments, candles, candy, and more. Let’s take a look.

Your eyes are not deceiving you. This RRPH (Roasted Red Pepper Hummus) is decidedly different — and better, according to Matt — than the tubs of yesteryear. It’s topped with a “roasted red pepper relish of sorts,” says Tara, versus the previous version, which was a “homogenized, blended thing,” says Matt. We can’t wait to sample the newbie for ourselves.

The hotly anticipated frozen dessert bar is (finally) back. For the uninitiated, it’s a vanilla ice cream bar coated in a tangerine-orange sorbet — or, as we like to say, summer on a stick.

Another item we repeatedly check the freezer case for its yearly return, these unforgettable purple yam ice cream bites with a pistachio-vanilla-y flavor and oh-so-satisfying chewy texture will arrive in stores “probably [the] end of June,” says Tara. We’re officially on watch.

The pints at TJ’s are practically legendary: Not one, but three have landed on a coveted spot on our list of the 10 best Trader Joe’s desserts of all time. This newcomer — with its graham cracker-flavored ice cream and marshmallow and chocolatey swirls — is bringing serious contender energy to the freezer case. The endlessly riffable summer campfire sweet is showing up (and showing out) in frosty form. 

Made in Italy, these bars are a solid twist on the classic summer sip. But if drinking lemonade is more your speed, do as Tara suggests and pop these off the stick and into the blender with some tequila and make yourself a frozen margarita. Like the mochi, these frozen bars are also “expected in stores around the end of June.”

Have you been dreaming about these seasonal cookies since their launch last summer? The lemon-y wafer cookies (made with dried lemon) combined with the strawberry creme filling pack in as much of the classic drink flavor as possible. Pro tip: Stash these in the fridge for a chilled, mid-afternoon snack.

Another round of strawberries, but hold the lemon … and add jalapeños. These crisps — another returning favorite — are crunchy yet chewy and sweet, with a lingering heat. Of course, they’re a natural next to dips and cheeses and, like their figgy cousins, they’ll make salads way more exciting.

As the name suggests, you’ll find a combination of five different sauce-capturing shapes in one package of pasta, including mini fusili and Vesuvio. (Fear not: The pastas are said to have the same cook time, despite their varying shapes.) “Arriving sometime between now and the end of June,” says Tara, “I think this assortment of pasta might be my all-time favorite for pasta salad.”

Made with tons of lemon, lemon rind, and almonds instead of pine nuts,” says Alex, a product developer at TJ’s, this lemon pesto sauce has “a great balanced, slightly sweet, bitter, kind of nutty taste.” During the episode he mixed it with the pasta quintet and new mozzarella (more on that just below) and a little bit of mint — for brightness — to make a “very refreshing summer pasta salad.” *Takes note.* Again, this will hit stores between now and the end of the month.

The new pearl mozzarella (named for their pearl size, naturally) is what Alex describes as “the most perfect shape.” In addition to summery pasta salads (and salad salads), he recommends skewering them with little tomatoes and maybe even some basil. They should be in stores “about now,” says Tara. 

Have you ever seen a teenager stand in front of the refrigerator and just squeeze chocolate syrup into their mouth? Because Tara has. This year’s chocolate syrup has a new formulation (according to Matt, there was “an unstable, at best, supply situation”), but it’s just as iconic. And it’s already been spotted on shelves!

Milder than TJ’s Crunchy Chili Onion, this tangy, herbal, and crispy topping is another 2022 newcomer making its return, which means real-time flavor boosts to your eggs (breakfast tacos, anyone?), potato salads, coleslaw, ice cream, and fruit. Do like Tara and “get a few extra jars” so it lasts well beyond the season.

Matt is dubbing this new condiment “the most intense mango preserve that is spiced and seasoned and delicious.” Schmear it on your next grilled cheese, spoon it over a block of cream cheese for an easy two-ingredient dip, top all your grilled meats, and more. “It’s a little jar,” warns Matt, so “it’s easy to miss.” If you don’t spot it in the condiment aisle, then ask a crew member (aka a TJ’s employee) for an assist.

Another pasta import from Italy! Although it’s a singular shape, Tara thinks it’s a cool one: “They look like miniature lasagna noodles,” she says, and “have little ruffles on the edges.” Ruffles, you say? How fancy. Like other pastas made with a bronze die, this one is a little rough around the edges, which ups the sauce-stickability of it.

Pineapple sticks are further proof that stick-shaped candies are more fun. 

Joining the ranks of orange, raspberry, and watermelon, this pineapple treat is the newest dark chocolate-covered fruit. They hit shelves in early July and are “a limited seasonally available item,” says Tara. So don’t blink, or you might miss them.

A play on dog paws and crab claws, or as Matt explains “a crab cake for dogs,” these soft-baked, crab-flavored dog treats are a hit with at least one furry pup: “I have one dog who’s kind of picky,” says Tara. “[With] these, she came back and basically sat down next to me and asked for more.”

This new hand cream gives new meaning to Christmas in July. All the moisturizing you know and love (sans greasy film; thank you, TJ’s) in a fresh, fruity scent. It’s coming to stores in early July, according to Tara, so stock up for early stocking stuffers.

Great quality and an amazing scent at a fraction of the price. Those are a few of the reasons this mango tangerine candle made our list of must-have little luxuries last summer. It smells like eating a fresh mango by the pool and childhood summers.

This latest candle is the result of a contest TJ’s held earlier this year. It was the “runaway victor,” says Matt and, like the mango tangerine above, it will be available in July. It will also say “contest winner” on the tin. 

Which of these new TJ’s items are you most excited about? Tell us in the comments.