Looks like Trader Joe's Apple Cider Caramels have disappeared, never to return. Too bad because we liked those quite a bit. Then they offered Trader Joe's Apple Caramels, which also contained apple cider. They've gone the way of the dodo. Aaaand now we have Trader Joe's Apple Crisp Caramels. Let's not get too attached to them considering TJ's track record with discontinued products—applicious caramel candies in particular.
Again, it's a shame, because these are unique and tasty. They come to us all the way from Ireland. That's unexpected. They make some killer potato chips over there, but who knew they did apple caramels, too?
There's a crispy, crunchy layer to these bite-sized candies. Looks like the crunchy part might be...<gasp> chickpea flour? Looking through the ingredients, I can't imagine what else it might be. No crisp rice. No toffee. I suppose you could prepare cornstarch in such a way as to make it crunchy. I mean as much as I love the delicious and versatile garbanzo bean, I don't necessarily want any in my apple flavored chocolate caramel candy.
But you know what? It works. There's just enough crunch to let you know they were going for apple crisp. And it actually tastes like apples and cinnamon and maybe even a hint of something grainy. I like 'em.
The milk chocolate is the right choice here. It's nice and sweet and it balances out the spicier elements. Traderjoes.com says there are little pieces of apple throughout the candy. Umm. I'm not saying it's a lie, but I certainly didn't see any of said apple pieces in my candies. Either they're so tiny you need some sort of optical assistance to see them or maybe just not every single bonbon has them..? I mean, there is "apple paste" in there as well as apple juice concentrate, so you're definitely getting some real apple. I just don't see anything that could be considered a "bit of apple." Not even a teeny little one. But I digress.
$5.99 for ten pieces of imported chocolate caramels. Product of Ireland. Fall exclusive seasonal product. Would buy again next year. Eight out of ten stars from Sonia for Trader Joe's Apple Crisp Milk Chocolate Caramels. I'll go with seven and a half.
Bottom line: 7.75 out of 10.
It wasn't all that long ago when I discovered the London Fog drink. Traditionally, it's Earl Grey tea, milk, vanilla, and sweetener of your choice. I made a few using Trader Joe's Bourbon Vanilla Extract a couple years ago and was quite pleased with the results. Sonia has whipped up a London Fog or two of her own in the recent past and those were quite tasty, too. She's had a few from local coffee shops and generally likes the beverage. I don't think I've ever had one from a coffee place or a pre-mixed version prior to this offering from TJ.
To prepare Trader Joe's London Fog Tea Drink Concentrate, simply mix one part concentrate to two parts milk or non-dairy milk alternative. Serve over ice for a latte or heat it all up for a traditional hot tea beverage. Predictably, I preferred it cold and the beautiful wifey liked it better hot.
The result is surprisingly sweet. There's plenty of bright citrus and smooth, earthy Earl Grey underneath it, but the cane sugar and vanilla are more dominant than I expected. There's also a bit of extra citrus essence thanks to bergamot oil, lemon extract, and lemon juice concentrate. Earl Grey itself usually has some bergamot and citrus, and these extra ingredients helped accentuate the citrusy undertones.
We made ours with good old-fashioned cow's milk, which gave the drink a nice creamy body and helped mellow out some of that citrusy Earl Grey bite. But the beauty of a London Fog is that you can customize it to your heart's content. Oat milk would probably be a particularly good fit here, adding a little natural sweetness and a creamy texture that plays nicely with the vanilla. Almond milk might make things a bit lighter and nuttier, while soy milk could provide a fuller, creamier result of its own. Coconut milk might introduce a more pronounced tropical note, which could either complement the vanilla or compete with the bergamot, depending on your personal preferences. Your mileage may vary, of course, but there's plenty of room to experiment with this one.
$2.99 for the 16 oz bottle. Makes four 12 oz beverages after mixing with milk. Kosher. Keep refrigerated after opening. Sonia says Trader Joe's London Fog reminds her of the Earl Grey latte she used to get regularly from The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf many years ago, and she's a big fan of both. She'll go with eight and a half stars for Trader Joe's London Fog Tea Drink Concentrate. I'm not gonna argue with that.
Bottom line: 8.5 out of 10.
