Fall is here, and so are the flavors! We channeled our inner TikTok sensations, the Costco Guys, and took a stroll through the aisles of Trader Joe’s, picking out some seasonal treats to try. Here’s our guide to this year’s BOOMS and dooms in the Trader Joe’s fall section. 

Pumpkin Spice Flavored Cold Brew Coffee

Olivia Pham: I’m not the biggest coffee fan, so this was bound to be a miss for me. The so-called pumpkin flavor did not help to conceal the bitterness of the coffee. (2/10)

Sloane Christianson: I had high expectations for this because I love pumpkin and coffee, but it was a letdown. The pumpkin flavor was lacking and the overall taste wasn’t the best. I would pick a Starbucks Pumpkin Chai over this any day. (6/10)

Unfortunately, this gets a doom. 

Maple & Sea Salt Kettle Popcorn

OP: Honestly, these were better than I was expecting them to be. Having the perfect amount of crunch and a combination of sweet and salty, I would definitely reach for these as a little snack. (8/10)

SC: These were pretty good, but the maple flavor wasn’t prominent. Although these didn’t have the flavor I expected, I still enjoyed them and would purchase them again. (7/10)

These were a big BOOM!

Pumpkin Spiced Teeny Tiny Pretzels

OP: I was really excited to try these, and I’m glad to report that they were very good! My favorite part was their mini size. (7/10)

SC: These were a good one to end on because they actually tasted like pumpkin and were so cute and little. The flavor was similar to what I was anticipating with the perfect amount of pumpkin. (7.5/10) 

This concludes our review with another BOOM! 

We brought some of our leftover Maple & Sea Salt Popcorn to share with other students at Tualatin High School. Junior Nina Ichikawa explained her experience.

“When you first bite into it, it’s salty because of the sea salt. Then when you bite into it again, it’s sweet because of the maple. 7/10,”  she said.