Sometimes when I debut a new TJ's product at one of my weekly dinners with Nina, we both try it at the same time, but silence prevails because neither of us wants to unfairly influence the opinion of the other. Then somebody breaks the ice.
Last night, with this soup, it was me. I mumbled, "This isn't very good." This implicitly gave Nina permission to reveal the emphatic opinion she had been holding back: "It's TERRIBLE!"
She had three or four spoonfuls before pushing the bowl away and refusing to eat more. I powered through the whole bowl. I was mostly trying to figure out what it was that I was finding so distasteful.
It basically comes down to pepper. I think it's specifically the plain old black pepper--which, though near the end of the list of ingredients by weight, is weirdly front and center in the taste department. Its prominence and dissonance with the other flavors reminds me of the famous Blue Oyster Cult sketch on Saturday Night Live. Except instead of "More cowbell!" somebody in the TJ's test kitchen was yelling "More black pepper!"
I first learned of the existence of this product from following the #TraderJoes tag on Twitter. The person who tweeted about it--Lara from Connecticut--wanted her opinion known here, and I promised to include it:
Will I buy it again?
No.
Ha! Thanks Robert. You can't say I didn't warn you! Sometimes TJ's just gets it wrong. Fortunately for us, it's not very often. :) All the best, Lara from Connecticut
ReplyDeleteA swing and a miss for Joe's. I guess they can't all be winners. Thanks for taking the hit for us!
ReplyDeleteThe other new soup (tomato feta) is delicious!
ReplyDeleteI gave up on TJs soups a long time ago. Probably because i frequently make my own which are just sooo much better. In a pinch i have the vegetarian chili around which is good enough with a bunch of toppings and some of those corn scooper chips.
ReplyDeleteHope you had a backup plan for dinner that night! Thanks for taking one for the team here
Ttrockwood
glad for the head's up. Although I don't think I would have picked it up to try because I'm weird and like plain old Campbell's vegetable beef soup from the can.
ReplyDeleteOr homemade. That's about it. Don't get soup in restaurants, because they usually are too expensive or don't taste good.
Happy weekend. Not sure where you are located, but hopefully you are having great weather. Cold here in Mississippi today. But, suppose to be in the 70's by tomorrow.
I'm in Asheville, NC.
DeleteActually, I just bought it yesterday and I liked it a lot, especially the kick from the black pepper. I would definitely buy it again. I have tried Trader Joe's Organic Clam Chowder and I like that, too. These are the only two soups that I have bought at TJ'so. I generally don't buy soups, I make my own in my pressure cooker.
ReplyDeleteActually, I really liked it, especially the kick from the black pepper. I don't generally buy soups, but I will definitely buy again when I don't have time to make my own.
ReplyDeleteI just bought this and there is no sign of pepper at all!
ReplyDeleteIt was actually my one of my favorite soups, this and the clam chowder. I wish they still had it.
ReplyDeleteYes, this is an excellent soup. As we know taste is individual. This was my goto healthy soup when I am unable to fix my own. Unique flavoring and the for those of us who enjoy garlic, this is a winner. Trader Joes, if you read this, please bring it back on line, at least to the Dallas market. Thank you.
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