Trader Joe's Fans Voted These Products as Their Favorites in This Year's 'Customer Choice Awards'
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If your favorite foods are Kraft Mac & Cheese and Flamin' Hot Cool Ranch Doritos (yes, I'm still confused), then Trader Joe's is not for you. But part of the appeal of the grocer's focus on its own brands is that, as a Trader Joe's shopper, you learn to find new favorites. (In my early 20s, I practically survived on frozen taquitos; I moved further away from Trader Joe's, and I haven't had a frozen taquito since!)
Understanding customers' devotion to very specific Trader Joe's items, for 13 years, the grocer has released its Customer Choice Awards, with this year's winners being released this week. "Thousands of customers responded to our call for votes to name their very favorite Trader Joe's products," the brand wrote. "We've tallied the ballots, and while some of the winners may surprise you, others may be just as you expected."
Firmly in that expected group is Trader Joe's Mandarin Orange Chicken which won the Favorite Overall category for the second consecutive year. The frozen food section staple has won in previous years as well — though it was upset in 2020 by Everything But The Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend.
That doesn't mean the seasoning blend has been kicked to the curb: It landed in this year's overall runners-up along with Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, Unexpected Cheddar, and Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese.
And the excitement doesn't stop there. Trader Joe's tallied up votes for eight additional categories, including things like snacks and vegetarian items. Here's the full rundown:
Favorite Overall
Mandarin Orange Chicken
Runners-up
Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
Unexpected Cheddar
Everything but the Bagel Seasoning Blend
Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese
Favorite Beverage
Non Dairy Oat Beverage
Runners-up
Spiced Apple Cider
Ginger Beer
Sparkling Honeycrisp Apple Juice Beverage
Tangerine Juice
Favorite Cheese
Unexpected Cheddar
Runners-up
English Cheddar with Caramelized Onions
Baked Lemon Ricotta
Syrah Soaked Toscano
Triple Crème Brie
Favorite Sweets/Dessert
Hold the Cone! Mini Ice Cream Cones
Runners-up
Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
O & H Danish Kringle
Sublime Ice Cream Sandwiches
Brookie
Favorite Entree
Mandarin Orange Chicken
Runners-up
Chicken Tikka Masala
Butter Chicken with Basmati Rice
Joe's Diner Mac 'n Cheese
Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese
Favorite Home, Bath & Body Product
Scented Candle Tins
Runners-up
Body Butters
Ultra Moisturizing Hand Cream
Hand Sanitizers
Tree Tingle Shampoo & Conditioner
Favorite Produce
Teeny Tiny Avocados
Runners-up
Bananas (conventional & organic)
Persian Cucumbers
Arugula (conventional & organic)
Carrots of Many Colors (all)
Favorite Snack
Peanut Butter Filled Pretzel Nuggets
Runners-up
Organic Corn Chip Dippers
Organic Eloté Corn Chip Dippers
Chili & Lime Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips
Bamba
Favorite Vegan/Vegetarian Product
Soy Chorizo
Runners-up
Vegan Kale, Cashew & Basil Pesto
Vegetable Fried Rice
Cauliflower Gnocchi
Chicken-less Mandarin Orange Morsels
See the whole list and product descriptions at traderjoes.com.