Tuesday, May 22, 2018

Trader Joe's Blueberry Lavender Flavored Almond Beverage

Our house is over 100 years old.

On the exterior, it's all brick, and on the inside it's all drywall or plaster. For years and years, nearly a century, that's all there was, until Sandy and I moved in. Our first winter was frigid cold with arctic wind blowing right thru the walls. I'm not joking.

So we got an insulation job done, whole house, spray in type stuff. Our heating bill has been cut by two-thirds. It's awesome...but there's a flipside.

It's summer, or at least getting there. We have no AC, and with our Therm/os-fied house, once heat gets in, it stays in. It's not uncommon for it to be cooler outside the house than inside, and even with open windows and fans, only so much can be done. Next few months are gonna be extra sticky.

So, naturally, let's get a nice refreshing glass of milk. Ron Burgundy cringes.

But in the case of Trader Joe's Blueberry Lavender Flavored Almond Beverage, it kinda works.

Sandy and I are not big milk drinkers, dairy or nut alternative. We're just not. Our kids are another story. But there's just something tasty and appealing about this kinda almond milk. Just sounds good, doesn't it?

Blueberry is definitely the predominant flavor. It's fairly natutral-ish, though. There's no excessive sickeningly sweet added sugar that artifically ramps up the flavor in this TJ's blueberry almond milk...nah, just a small touch of blueberry that plays well off the natural nuttiness of the milk. I don't taste much lavender, though. There really tastes to be not much more than a small, small touch, if even that. Maybe my tastebuds aren't quite senstive enough, or perhaps I'm a bit clueless, but there doesn't seem to be much there, which is my only real knock.

The consistency of the berry almond milk is much like any other almond beverage - thre word "chalky" comes to mind. "Smooth" and "creamy" are definite overstatements in my opinion...I mean, it's not gritty by any means but there's a certain slight chunkiness to it that takes getting used to if not accustomed to it, as with any other nut beverage.

Blending some up with ice and yogurt for a smoothie sounds fantastic. Adding much else, even a banana, would probably overpower a lot of the subtle berry flavor.

We let our kids have some straight up. M, our almost six year old, immediately exclaimed "Oooo this is yummy!" and prompty gave it 10 Golden Spoons. She's well trained. B, our three year old, smiled happily and made her own big "mmmm" before saying it was good for "5 Golden Spoons, then a lot." That sounds pretty postive. Sandy also exclaimed it was a hit, making it very popular in our hot, hot house. I'll defer mostly to the ladies here, while adding I'm glad it's only $2 for the quart as I'm sure it'll be a repeat buy.

Bottom line: Trader Joe's Blueberry Lavender Flavored Almond Beverage: 8.5 out of 10 Golden Spoons 

9 comments:

  1. We finished the container already. It was pretty tasty on some oatmeal and berries too.

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  2. I've never understood the appeal of consuming lavender. If it just tastes like blueberry milk, I'd be more inclined to try it. But I think I will probably avoid it anyway, on the chance that your taste buds are less sensitive than mine. I could handle not a hint of it!

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  3. When it's cooler outside, take a big fan and place it in a window on one side of the house facing OUT. (We installed a shelf for this) Then, open a couple of windows on the other side of the house. Turn the fan on and it will pull the cooler outside air into the house. We do this early in the morning and close the house up when the outside temp starts to go up. It really works well.

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  4. If anyone tries this in coffee, please report in. :)

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  5. I didn’t buy this because anything with any lavendar that i’ve had before tastes like soap. Old lady soap to be exact. I do like blueberries but if i’m getting a flavored almond milk it’s going to be chocolate.
    My apartment sounds like your house. Except I don’t have insulatand do have crazy energy bills.
    You need some popsicle molds to make popsicles with this! TJs flavored kefeir also makes great breakfast popsicles fyi.
    Ttrockwood

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  6. I like it. I definitely can taste the blueberry and a hint of lavender. I think the collaboration is brilliant! Smooth and refreshing 😊

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  7. Can you buy it online anywhere??

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  8. I drive for hours to find a trader joes so I can buy the blueberry lavender. It's mild, but I do taste the lavender as well as blueberry. Never have liked fruity florals much but this is absolutely refreshing!! Love it!

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