We have some hot takes about that mushroom umami seasoning.
Trader Joe's has snacks, easy frozen meals, and even the most affordable flowers in town. We always look forward the new issues of The Fearless Flyer so we can discover the exciting foods that we can add to our weekly shopping trip. And, since it's one of the cheapest grocery stores in the United States, we can indulge in our favorite Trader Joe's treats without over-spending.
There are so many things to love about Trader Joe's, but one section that doesn't get enough hype is the spice aisle. Trader Joe's stocks the standard spices we use in our day-to-day cooking, but they also offer unique proprietary seasoning blends. Some are inspired by cuisines around the world, while others borrow flavors from some of our favorite snacks.
But if we're being honest, some of their offerings are better than others. There are only a select few that gain star status and become top sellers. On the other hand, some of their seasonings seem great in theory but don't exactly meet our standards. So we decided to rank all of them.
Whether you're new to the Trader Joe's spice aisle or you're already a seasoned shopper (pun intended), you're bound to discover new products on this list that are worth trying. Here are the 15 seasoning blends currently offered by Trader Joe's, ranked worst to best.
Ketchup Flavored Sprinkle Seasoning Blend
This seasoning captures the balance of sweet, tangy, and savory flavors you'd expect with ketchup. But there's one incredibly important factor it's lacking: moisture. We're not just using ketchup for the flavor. It also helps remedy a dry sandwich and balances the crispy texture of fries. A powdered version, while smart in theory, just misses the mark in practice.
Mushroom & Company Multipurpose Umami Seasoning Blend
Some people swear by this multipurpose umami seasoning blend, and we can understand why. Adding umami-packed ingredients like cheese, soy-based products, and, in this case, mushrooms incorporates depth to any dish.
But in literally every instance that you'd realistically use this seasoning, we'd rather reach for plain MSG instead.
Nori Komi Furikake
If you're not on the furikake wave, you should be. This type of seasoning fuses dried fish, seaweed, sesame seeds for a savory, crunchy sprinkle that you can put on just about anything. Different brands have their own proprietary blends—and we've tried a lot of them.
The version from Trader Joe's is serviceable if you can't find Japanese brands at your nearby grocery stores. But it pales in comparison to the real thing.
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Cheesy Seasoning Blend
Is this cheese in the room with us right now? This seasoning blend uses powdered cheddar as the base, but we'd argue that this seasoning blend tastes only like a whisper of cheese.
If you want to sprinkle some savory cheesy flavor on your popcorn or pasta, we suggest opting for nutritional yeast or even just the powdered cheese in the green tub instead.
Cuban Style Citrusy Garlic Seasoning Blend
If you love mojo-marinated proteins, this Trader Joe's seasoning blend is a great shortcut for replicating the Cuban-inspired flavors at home. It's bright, tangy, and garlicky. We can see this used as a rub for meats and vegetables before hitting the grill.
But as an all-purpose seasoning? Not so much. The tartness of the citrus is far too overwhelming for most snacking applications.
Salmon Rub Seasoning Blend
We have a similar gripe with this Salmon Rub Seasoning Blend that we have with the Citrusy Garlic Seasoning—it doesn't have a wide range of applications.
The sweet and smoky flavor would lend well to roasting any kind of protein, or even potatoes and other roasted veggies. But that's about it. It's mild enough to act as a stand in spice blend for basic cooking projects, but it's not versatile enough to be a go-to.
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Seasoning In A Pickle Seasoning Blend
What is this seasoning trying to achieve, exactly? This blend packs a tangy, herbaceous, and salty bite. But it's far from reaching the perfection of a pickle. We can understand wanting to add some bright and herby flavors to your food, but there are other seasonings (including ones at Trader Joe's) that do it better.
Ajika Georgian Seasoning Blend
This is a powdered version of a beloved Georgian red pepper dip that's aromatic, garlicky, and just a tad spicy. The coriander and fenugreek adds a little pop of spice without being spicy. We'd gladly sprinkle this on shawarma, salads, and grain bowls.
Ranch Seasoning Blend
The Ranch Seasoning Blend takes everything we liked about their pickle-flavored seasoning and ups the ante. And we can credit the extra boost of flavor to buttermilk powder and dried chives. It's like the powdered Hidden Valley packets, only way more versatile.
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Pizza Sprinkle Seasoning Blend
This seasoning blend may be modeled after the ingredients typically put on a pizza, but it's so much more than that. There's garlic, oregano, and paprika for starters. But the real star is the tomato powder.
If you're wondering, it doesn't make your food taste like marinara sauce. Instead it offers a deep savory flavor (did you know that tomatoes have high concentrations of naturally-occurring MSG?). We want to sprinkle this seasoning blend on pretty much everything.
Green Goddess Seasoning Blend
You want to add some zesty, herby goodness to any recipe? This Green Goddess Seasoning Blend is your best bet when it comes to the Trader Joe's spice aisle. It's packed with parsley, spinach, and four different types of alliums (onions, garlic, chives, and green onions). The added tang of the powdered lemon juice takes this seasoning to the next level.
Everything But The Elote Seasoning Blend
While we don't really care for the Trader Joe's cheese-flavored seasoning, the Everything But The Elote blend is an entirely different story. There's the added boost of cumin and multiple varieties of chile. It's great on corn, sure, but this seasoning could upgrade just about any recipe. The Cheesy Seasoning Blend could never.
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Sriracha Sprinkle Seasoning Blend
It's spicy. It's a little tangy. It's unaffected by the worldwide shortage. We love the classic sriracha sauce, but when we can't find it at our local grocery stores, we're gladly turning to the Trader Joe's powdered seasoning. It's balanced enough serve as a condiment while still versatile for cooking projects.
Chile Lime Seasoning Blend
Whether you're sprinkling it on fresh fruit or adding a flavorful rim to your spicy margarita, the Trader Joe's Chile Lime Seasoning Blend is always clutch. It's delicious in savory and sweet dishes—this is a spice blend we turn to time and time again.
Everything But The Bagel Seasoning Blend
We mean, what can we say about Everything But The Bagel Seasoning that we haven't already? The entire world fell in love with this spice mix for a reason. It's salty, savory, aromatic, and full of texture. If you're one of the few people who dislike this stuff, we strongly recommend that you reevaluate.
