Trader Joe's Solid Light Yellowfin Tuna

I guess tuna canned in oil has more flavor and moisture than tuna canned in water, but it also has more calories and fat. It's more messy too, and when you eat as much tuna as we do, that's at least a minor consideration.

That said, if I'm going to buy tuna in oil, I prefer that it be olive oil. It's funny how every brand that packs their tuna in olive oil proudly specifies that it's "canned in olive oil" right on the packaging and in their advertising, while companies that use other oils like sunflower seed or soybean never specify what type of oil it is, but say simply, "packed in oil."

Anyhoo, this product is canned in the good old USA...with fish caught by pole and line in good old Indonesia. An interesting business model to say the least, but who am I to question Big Joe? International tuna tastes just as good as domestic tuna.

And it's your typical yellowfin here, flaunting a softer texture than albacore tuna and a slightly more pungent flavor. Fun fact: yellowfin is the only species of tuna that you'll regularly find as sushi, steaks, and canned. It's considered more versatile than its cheaper cousin skipjack but far more affordable than its fancy family member bluefin.

Would I buy Trader Joe's Solid Light Yellowfin Tuna in Olive Oil again? Sure. But I'd probably gravitate towards their Albacore Tuna by virtue of its cheaper price tag and packed-in-water status on the majority of my Trader Joe's runs.

$2.49 for the 5 oz can. Kosher. Dolphin safe. Found with the other tinned fish products. I give Trader Joe's Yellowfin Tuna seven out of ten stars. Sonia will go with seven and a half.

Bottom line: 7.25 out of 10.

Trader Joe's Sparkling Guava Juice Beverage

I guess we're a little late getting around to this item. It's a limited time summer seasonal offering and we're just about on the verge of the annual autumn pumpkin product parade. Oh well. Still shows currently available on traderjoes.com as of the time of the writing of this review, and there's a chance we'll see it again next year.

What's working here: the carbonation level of these beverages is always perfect. Not too bubbly, not too still. It enhances the beverage and gives it that extra level of refreshment. The fact that there are no added sugars is a huge plus. All the sweetness is coming from guava juice.

What's not working here: guava juice just isn't that potent or sweet. It's a subtle flavor. For some of you, I'm sure that's a good thing. For me, I think I prefer sweeter juices like strawberry or honeycrisp apple. See Trader Joe's Sparkling Strawberry Juice Beverage and Trader Joe's Sparkling Honeycrisp Apple Juice Beverage, the latter of which I hope is coming back with the onslaught of fall stuff in just a week or so. Those two really blew my socks off. They were delicious.

That's not to say this one isn't tasty. It's just not my cup of tea. The taste is just a shade sweeter than those cans of flavored sparkling water. It's not very robust at all.

Would I turn you down if you handed me a cold can of Sparkling Guava Juice Beverage after mowing the lawn on a hot, humid day? Heck no. Would I choose another flavor if given the choice? Probably.

$3.99 for four 8.45 fl oz cans. Product of Vietnam. Probably would buy one of those two above-mentioned flavors or something brand new before purchasing this one again. Not hating. Just not my personal fave. Six and out of ten stars from me for Trader Joe's Sparkling Guava Juice Beverage. Sonia will go with seven and a half out of ten.

Nathan's score: 6 out of 10.

Sonia's score: 7.5 out of 10.