If imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, then Trader Joe’s is the world’s most flattering grocery store. With how many food products they sell modeled after famous brands, this store might be more known for its dupes than anything else. But are they better than the originals? To find out, I have tried five of the most famous Trader Joe’s copycat foods and their original counterparts.
Round 1: Oreos vs. Jojos
The Oreo is a classic favorite dessert that has been enjoyed by many generations. It has a satisfying crunch and an iconic flavor, but the best part about it is arguably the number of ways you can eat it. You can twist it apart and eat the filling first, you can combine five oreos together to make a mega Oreo, or you can be a weirdo and just eat it normally. On the other hand, Jojos are somehow always soggy and stale and the filling has a paint-like texture. Not to mention, they have much less structural stability than an Oreo and you can never trust the filling not to squeeze out when you take a bite. For these reasons, originals take the first point.
Round 2: Biscoff vs. Speculoos Cookies
Before I tried the Trader Joe’s version, I thought this would be an easy win for Biscoff cookies. If you don’t know what a Biscoff cookie is, it’s a small biscuit with flavors of caramel, cinnamon, and nutmeg. I used to only have the chance to eat them when they handed them out on an airplane, but after trying Trader Joe’s Speculoos Cookies, they are clearly the winner. They taste warm, comforting, and freshly-baked even when they’re room temperature. Trader Joe’s takes the win on this one, evening out the score to 1 – 1.
Round 3: Swedish Fish vs. Scandinavian Swimmers
This was admittedly a very hard decision for me to make because I’ve always hated Swedish Fish, and after tasting Scandinavian Swimmers, the two are not very different. They both taste like water, and they don’t even have a gummy texture. I’ll give it to Swedish Fish because Scandinavian Swimmers get more stuck in your teeth, but I wouldn’t call this a win, it’s more like the lesser of two evils.
Round 4: Reese’s Cups vs. Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
Unlike last round, I took this round very seriously because peanut butter cups are one of my favorite snacks of all time. Reese’s Cups are a beloved candy all year round. They are so famous that they can be identified anywhere just from the orange packaging. There are a few problems with them, though. First of all, Reese’s Cups are almost always melted when you open them. I don’t know why this happens or how to prevent it, but it never happens with the Trader Joe’s version. Furthermore, the chocolate that Reese’s uses is cheap and low quality, while Trader Joe’s uses chocolate of decent quality. Overall, this one goes to Trader Joe’s. The score is now tied up, so it all comes down to:
Round 5 (Final Round): Takis vs. Chili Lime Flavored Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips
Originally introduced to the United States in 2004, Takis gained popularity for their unique shape and intense spice. Following the success of Takis, Trader Joes jumped on the cylindrical chip bandwagon when they released Chili Lime Flavored Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips, better known as “Trader Joe’s Takis.” Clearly they both have catchy names, but which one is better? First off, Takis come in over ten unique and creative flavors, while TJ’s come in only one. This could be seen as good or bad, but my problem with the different flavors are the artificial colors. There are Taki flavors for almost every color of the rainbow, none of which seem to be remotely natural. On the other hand, I love the amount of spice that Takis bring, and I wish the Trader Joe’s version were a little spicier as well. When all is said and done, though, it really only comes down to one thing: the flavor. Trader Joe’s Takis have a more complex chili and lime flavor that you can taste much more than the original. I am literally eating them right now as I write this sentence. Without a doubt, Trader Joe’s takes the fifth and final point.
Final Score
With an overall score of 3 wins and 2 losses, our winner is…… *drumroll*
TRADER JOE’S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don’t know if Joe is a real person or not, but if he is, he must be very talented at copying people, because his grocery store can somehow make iconic snacks even better than the original.