Most of their products are produced and packaged for them by established purveyors. A favorite game here is guessing what the item is in real life. Some are extraordinarily obvious, though by having TJ’s name on them, they cost less. Others, as is true for all store brands, might be a little different from what is sold elswhere, perhaps to cut the price of ingredients, or just to please the palates of the company's buying staff. I find a lot of ”just right” products at TJ's, like there's only one X sauce, but it's the one you'd choose if you tasted all 10 at another store. I assume because the staff are choosing. Products come and go, so it's wise not to get too attached. Trader Joe's was conceived as a way to bring the woorld to well educated and travelled people with limited salaries, like teachers. There are a lot more stores carrying world cuisine, and discounting, so TJ's doesn't seem as special. One of the greatest things is that they have a good reputation for how they treat employees, and the employees always seem glad to be there, and to help.

Short version: It's groceries. There's lots of good stuff, but there are far more unique products in California than what you get at Trader Joe's.

Trader Joe's carries some spice blends that are pretty unique to them and can pack quite a punch. A small, inexpensive and easy intro to this store!! I particularly like the 'Everything But The Bagel' mix (who doesn't??) and the Lime Chili but there are other great flavors as well.

I like their nuts-- always fresh. Their cheese selection is good and well priced. And their eggs are are priced competitively.

I love their Truffle Almonds ( the Rosemary Almonds are good, too) and quite a few of their frozen foods, but I'm thinking you're looking for non-refrigerated foods to bring back? If not, a new favorite of mine is Korean Japchae, a sweet potato noodle and vegetable dish in the freezer section. Hard to find because it sells out the minute they replenish the stock. One of their top sellers is the frozen Mandarin Orange Chicken. I also love the Chicken Soup Dumplings in the frozen case. I recently found some delicious Turkey Breast Medallions and Chicken Breast Medallions in the cold case. Sous Vide - really yummy and nice for a quick and easy protein. I also like their grilled, marinated artichoke hearts in a jar & their Greek Dolmas (in a can). The cheese selection is wonderful, as is the chocolate selection. They have great crackers; I like the organic Naan crackers and the Fig and Olive crackers. My grandson loves the black bean tacquitos in the frozen food section and I buy the frozen macarons, which are also quite good. I like the chocolate and vanilla package over the fruit flavors, but those are good, too. Oh, and their frozen lemon bars are as good as any homemade I've ever had. This list might give you some ideas. https://www.delish.com/food-news/g22553381/things-to-buy-at-trader-joes/

They also have jicama wraps if you have any interest in low carb options.

I do almost 100% of my grocery shopping at Trader Joe's simply because of the small store convenience and happy employees. That said, I agree that there's not much there that is a take-it-home-from-vacation item. My mother loves the sesame rice crackers and I used to ship them to her, but now she has a TJ's nearby.

I’ve been shopping at TJ’s since the 70’s when they had only one store here in Pasadena. My list for them is long and does change. Tell your daughter to check their nuts and dried fruits for something she thinks you’d like. Their Almond Butter Thins in the cookie section are yummy (and can be good for a crumb pie crust). I also like their Vanilla Bean Jo-Jo’s. Frozen items likely won’t work in your case, but I always have their Apple Blossoms and frozen berries in the freezer. As mentioned, great prices on herbs/spices. Their Organic Marinara Sauce can be good in a pinch. Good prices on wine and liquor, too. I go to TJ’s at least twice a week.

One more thing, you can’t beat their customer service. I’ve got some pretty great stories about that!

Triple ginger cookies. Chili lime cashews if they still carry them (haven't been in awhile).

I also love the triple ginger cookies and many other cookies and candies there, which is why I do not go that often.

I do find myself compelled to go there when I need a potted basil plant - it's cheaper there than at Home Depot, and I get very good use of their basil plants. I use the basil when I make Margarita pizza on our Ooni oven in Cathedral City.

If I did not have a TJs close by, I would probably spend most of my time in the nuts department.

The only TJs where I've had trouble from the employees was at the Westchester store, which is the closest one to me now. Some of the employees (stock persons) behave like the Westchester post office employees and can be a bit surly, especially if you ask them to allow you to access a shelf that they are blocking.

Oh, definitely the triple ginger Gingersnaps, they were Mother's favorite and I used to buy two containers for her and one for me when I made that 50 mile drive to the closest one.

I also stock up on nuts and dried fruit there, I like their mix of raisins, and I use their Everything but the Bagel seasoning regularly and my celiac daughter really likes their gluten free raisin bread, which is often sold out so it's really a treat when I can get a loaf or two.

Have fun! For years the closest one to me was 5 hours away, so when they opened one only an hour away, I was happy.

Annie

The Chili Lime seasoning is great - we use it a lot. I like their Elote seasoning too, on popcorn mostly.

What's so great about Trader Joe's is that they have so many excellent specialty items for a lot less than regular stores. Imported cheeses, pastas, condiments, and all kinds of yummy, unique treats.

The CA stores I've been to had large selections of fresh tortillas in different varieties. They don't carry those way over here on the other side of the country, unfortunately.

Their cards are really nice too. I always grab 1 or 2 when I'm there.

And then there's the beer & wines...

P.S. Just remembered you can browse their items on their website:

traderjoes.com

Oh! BTW I love the freezer isle! Mushroom rissoto, gnokki, roasted potatoes, green onion pancakes......all the freezer sides! NOT a fan of all the plastic packaging on the fruits and veges!

I don't recommend the tomatoes. Same brand elsewhere are much better. Hypothesis that they store them too cold unrip, which makes them mealy. I agree with everybody else about the quality of their nuts, dried fruit, trail mix, etc.

The ninety nine cent greeting cards. Three Buck Chuck aka Charles Shaw wine.

“Chloebud My FIL knew the original "Joe" in Pasadena! He told him "I eat your Joesoats (or something) all the time! Joe replied "what's that?"

LOL! He’d likely ask that about lots of items. Joe Coulombe had quite a vision that became a big success. It’s funny to think about that first store in Pasadena. I was there often since it was so close to my first apartment. Good memories!

While TJ's can sell some very good - even excellent - inexpensive wines, Charles Shaw/3 Buck Chuck is NOT one of them!!. A rather inferior concoction when compared to many others carried there. Instead, try the Epicuro Nero D'Avola red. At under $10, it is worth every penny!!

True, but like decent French Plonk, Chuck is remarkably palateable. It's blended from wine lake, which is why it's so cheap, and by blending and tweaking they can make it it taste good. Not like fine wine, but as a pleasing punch to wash down your sandwich. I use it for cooking unless there will vpbe a reduction. The kind of cooking which wrecks the wine anyway. But unpalatable wine wrecks the cooking, so Chuck works just as well as name cheap wines double or triple the price.

Speaking of, however, it comes to mind that I've gotten phenominal bargains on quality French champagnes at Tj's.

" like decent French Plonk, Chuck is remarkably palatable "

I guess that depends on one's palate!! 😕 I am no wine connoisseur but I don't find it the slightest bit appealing and won't even use it for cooking. YMMV

My daughter and I once did some taste testing with various Pinot Grigios. It was over a period of time and involved lots of different brands. We decided Charles Shaw‘s PG was one of our favorites. OTOH, their Sauvignon Blanc is pretty bad IMO. Not a red wine drinker so I can’t say about them, but DH occasionally buys their Red Blend.

I think it depends on if you expect it to be wine. But it's not too acidic, not too sweet, not too raw, not too tannic. And, as I said, I use it for moisture and a certain amount of alcohol. Where you're going to taste it, like a sauté or sauce, where it's reduced, and every flaw shows, I use "real" wine.