Trader Joe's Just Released a New Mochi Flavor for Spring—and I’ve Bought 3 Boxes So Far

If you have a sweet tooth like I do, you’ve probably also worked your way through the vast selection of Trader Joe’s desserts. After shopping at the chain for nearly a decade, I’ve tried most of TJ's sweet treats, and there’s one I repurchase nearly every week—the Strawberry Mochi, a frozen Japanese-inspired dessert consisting of strawberry ice cream wrapped in sweet rice dough. TJ’s also carries other everyday mochi flavors, including green tea and vanilla, plus a few seasonal flavors that drop throughout the year.

When Trader Joe’s recently released the new Blood Orange Mochi ahead of the warmer months, I knew I had to try it immediately (spoiler: it didn’t disappoint). Like the year-round flavors, this seasonal mochi is found in the freezer section of Trader Joe’s, near the ice cream. For $4.99 a box, you get six bite-sized pieces of mochi, which conveniently make up a serving. This specific dessert is only here for a limited time, so if you want to try it, don’t wait. But be warned: you might get hooked like I did.

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The “It” Dessert of the Spring

Trader Joe’s tagged this mochi with the “heat wave” label on its website, which is no doubt due to the fact that spring is here and summer isn’t too far off. It makes sense that the grocery chain is gearing up for the warmer months with other seasonal product drops, including lemon sheet cakes, passionfruit tarts, and mango popsicles.

There’s no shortage of tropical fruit–flavored treats to choose from, but ice cream is undoubtedly the best to cool you off as temperatures rise. The blood orange mochi is right on cue. Though technically blood oranges are winter fruits, there’s never a wrong time to enjoy citrus. We know that the blood orange mochi is here for a limited time—likely through the spring—but Trader Joe’s hasn’t clarified how long they’ll be around, as seasonal items usually remain on store shelves until they sell out completely. If you spot them in your local store, definitely add a box to your cart.

What Does Blood Orange Mochi Taste Like?

Orange-flavored desserts aren’t as popular as those made with lemon, lime, and so on. But blood orange? People who normally pass up orangey treats (like me) would make an exception for anything with blood orange. That’s because blood oranges are a bit sweeter and juicier than regular oranges. They’re also more tart but less acidic. Plus, blood oranges have a very distinctive look—they have an unassuming orange peel with a deep red flesh (hence where the “blood” comes from).

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To mimic the vibrancy of blood oranges, this mochi has an orange dough wrapper with pink ice cream on the inside. However, Trader Joe’s doesn’t use any artificial colors or dyes to achieve this colorful presentation. Some shoppers suggested red ice cream would have been a better choice, but without dyes, that would be difficult to achieve. So, pink it is. It still looks — and tastes — great.

Speaking of taste, this mochi isn’t as subtle as others I’ve tried. The blood orange flavor, which comes from actual blood orange extract instead of artificial flavoring, is pretty strong and reminded me of sherbet ice cream. Redditors astutely compared this mochi to those Flintstones push-up pops from the 90s. All I wanted was a unique spin on my favorite Trader Joe’s frozen dessert, but I also got a side of nostalgia.

Is Blood Orange Mochi Worth Buying?

Everyone’s entitled to their own opinions, and boy, do Trader Joe’s shoppers have some thoughts on this dessert. Customers didn’t hold back on the Trader Joe’s subreddit. Most raved about the new product. “My new favorite for sure,” said one poster. “I can eat ‘em all in one sitting,” mused another Redditor. The label says a serving size is six pieces (aka the whole thing), so have at it!

While some commented that this mochi is “addicting” and they “can’t put these down,” others weren’t as impressed. The main criticism comes from those who aren’t crazy about mochi in the first place. The chewy rice flour wrapper is part of the experience, but it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. The texture throws some people off. Still, those who didn’t totally love the chewy wrapper said the overall flavor was “amazing” and they’d love it if the ice cream was sold on its own. That’s an idea I can get behind.

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My take? I can’t get enough. Like some Redditors, I’ve gone through multiple boxes. This flavor doesn’t dethrone my favorite Trader Joe’s mochi—the strawberry—but it’s definitely up there. I also appreciate that this dessert is gluten-free and kosher.

Read the original article on Real Simple