For years, Trader Joe’s Soft and Juicy Mandarins were a longtime family favorite snack. But the last time I went to TJ’s, I couldn’t find the dried fruit on the shelves. The store clerk told me that they weren’t discontinued, but sometimes products are rotated out.
Online, I found that other soft and juicy fans were as dismayed as I was, and the reason you can’t always find them is because of supply chain disruptions. Fortunately, I recently found a similar replacement at Aldi that’s just as good.
Aldi Southern Grove Sweetened Dried Tangerine
Price: $4.99 for a 6-ounce bag
Why I Love It: These chewy, tart dried tangerines come dusted in a light coating of sugar and taste almost like gummy sour candies.
Credit: Simply Recipes / Aldi
Why I Love Aldi’s Southern Grove Sweetened Dried Tangerine
Aldi is now selling Southern Grove Sweetened Dried Tangerine, and to my family’s taste buds, these beautiful little orbs of orange goodness taste the same as our TJ’s standby.
Now, I know that not all mandarins are tangerines, but all tangerines are mandarins—and these Southern Grove Sweetened Dried Tangerines really satisfy our cravings at only $4.99 for a six-ounce bag. Bags of TJ’s Soft and Juicy Mandarins have been popping up for sale online, but they cost $6 or more for the same-sized package.
My 16-year-old son especially loves Aldi’s dried tangerines—so much that neither my husband nor I got to enjoy the first bag I purchased. He ate the whole thing in one sitting. After I went back to Aldi and bought a couple of other bags, I can see why.
The dried fruits are soft and chewy, dusted in a light coating of sugar. They smell like orange blossoms, and when you bite into them, you’re hit with a tangy sweetness. I can’t eat just one. The oranges remind me of a natural version of gummy sour candies. They have a similar texture and about the same level of tart-sweet goodness.
Each member of my family snacks on them in a different way. I love eating the slices as a mid-afternoon snack to keep me humming along at work. My son takes them to volleyball games and diving practices, and sometimes tosses them into his bag when he goes to work at the local pool. My husband enjoys them late at night when he’s working on a photography project. He says they help his concentration.
I’ve also added them to overnight oats to add a bit of citrusy brightness to my mornings. They’d also be a perfect addition to homemade trail mix or granola, or a summer cheese platter. Mostly, though, they’re just wonderful for snacking.
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Read the original article on Simply Recipes