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Friday, April 21, 2017

Trader Joe's Matcha White Chocolate Bar

The topic of "punishment meals" have been brought up before on this blog. The short version: days that us kids were being brats, my mom would make us a dinner we'd be sure to hate just to get back at us. usually it was tuna fish casserole. Blecccccccch.

Well, a punishment meal can have a punishment dessert, right?

Unfortunately, that pretty much exactly sums up how both Sandy and I feel about Trader Joe's Matcha White Chocolate Bar with Matcha Green Tea Filling. Sounded intriguing enough to plunk down $1.99. I really wish we hadn't.

First off, look at our product shot inside the wrapper. There's so much wrong with that picture. First off, it looks like that bar got runover by a dump truck. I get that shipping and transit is what it is, and stuff happens, but seriously? That's a bit much. Then the colors...ugh. Maybe I'm jsut much too basic, but chocolate is not supposed to be that color. It doesn't even look appetizing. Then there's that filling, oozing out everywhere, looking like little puddles of melted green Army guys. Appeal factor definitely went down a few notches there.

A lot of that can be forgiven if tasted good...no. No. No. Look, kudos for effort, I guess, but swing a miss here. The chocolate portion is actually decent enough, decidedly on the sweeter side, with a hint or two of green tea mixed in. Or maybe that's its that greenness playing tricks on me. Regardless, it's not the problem. It's the filling. Very strong green tea flavor. Very herbaceous. You could have told me it was spinach jelly and I would have believed you. And it alternately doesn't jive that well with the rest of the chocolate casing while also in conjunction with that chocolate tasting like way too much green tea.

Dark chocolate with the green tea filling might have worked. Green tea white chocolate with a regular chocolate filling would have worked. Or heck, even like a berry filling of some type with that green cocoa concoction. But as is? Too much...and I like green tea. So does Sandy.

Check here for the nutritional stats and ingredients...we neglected to get a pic before trashing the box. "Good," Sandy said. "It's awful and no one should eat it anyways." She's going with a 1 for the inspiration, but, man, that execution...ugh. I gave it a second try right before writing it and really could not think of anything all that positive to say. Candy so bad it gets thrown out in my house? Must be pretty awful.

Bottom line: Trader Joe's Matcha White Chocolate Bar: 2 out of 10 Golden Spoons

19 comments:

  1. This is the 2nd review that I've read that says this products suks. I won't be buying it.

    Thank gawd, my momma didn't ever learn to make a tuna fish casserole. She had to cook what my father wanted every day and there was no worry of him eating anything like that.

    Happy weekend.

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  2. Thank you for backing up my own opinion of this disgusting product. WHAT were they thinking? Even a stoner would not eat this. The worst thing I've purchased at TJoe's, and I've been shopping there since the beginning.

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    1. You've been shopping at TJ's since 1967? Wow!

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  3. I love matcha flavored desserts and I thought this was awful. Thank you for making me feel better about not finishing it.

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  4. I disagree. This article drove me to try it and I absolutely loved it but I make lots of desserts with matcha. It's true to its taste and color.

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  5. I strongly disagree as well and would consider this one of my favorite TJ products. If you don't like matcha you probably won't like this, but either way, I find it hard to believe that it repulsed you to the point of throwing it in the garbage...

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  6. As a Trader Joe's Employee, I must say that I agree with most of it. When we got this product we were kind of intrigued by it. After closing, we do a meeting and we got the opportunity to try it out. From the 10~15ppl there, only our boss liked it and one person said it was okayish. I personally didn't like the texture. I won't be surprised if it gets discontinued soon.

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  7. I've eaten three and liked it enough to buy six backup bars. So, YMMV. It is excessively fragile, though.

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  8. I saw the pic and immediately thought, "REPTAR BARS!" Please tell me they turn your tongue green!

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  9. The color is pretty standard for being matcha. I didn't like it, way too sweet - and you're right with the dark chocolate comment, that probably would have fared better. Did you get to try the new matcha green tea ice cream?? Thoughts ?

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  10. I actually really liked the matcha white chocolate bar. Yes, it's fragile and because of the creamy interior it doesn't hold up well, but I thought the slightly bitter matcha tempered the sweetness of the white chocolate and I liked the creamy texture + delicate shell together.

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  11. The matcha green tea ice cream is awesome!! I was so excited to see it, and it tastes delicious. I bought 2 just in case it would be a short-lived product, but I can tell it won't be :)

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  12. This tea has hundreds of years prior essentialness in Japanese tea culture which makes it well known here ever today. matcha private label

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  13. I have been reading this blog for years now (love!!) and I don't believe I've ever posted a comment....But I HAD to for this one! OMG if you love matcha, then you will find this to be freaking fantastic. I love this matcha chocolate bar so much I had to come back and leave a comment b/c I almost didn't try it. I'm so glad I tried it, and as a matcha lover with a sweet tooth, I shall be stocking up lmao!!

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  14. Thought I'd add another voice of disagreement. I thought the bar was excellent--the matcha adds a nice savory note to the white chocolate and they blend perfectly.

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  15. I loved this chocolate and I crave it every day! Please stop saying negative things about it, I need it back on the shelves!!! Does anyone know where I can get it now?

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  16. This is one of the best matcha desserts I've had since leaving Japan. I LOVE this bar- it is for real matcha lovers! Yum!

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  17. I disagree with the article. The “herbacious” filling is the best part, if you buy matcha chocolate, what flavor are you expecting??? Lol . I guess you have to love matcha, liking it isn’t enough. I wish theyd bring it back.

    For the other commenters that liked it, if you guys have found it, share the info!!

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