Salty, crunchy, and packed full of fiber and antioxidants, popcorn is the ultimate snack. And, luckily for Trader Joe’s shoppers, the retailer sells plenty of delicious options. Our experts at Tasting Table did the hard work for you, testing seven Trader Joe’s bagged popcorn flavors and ranking them from worst to best. There were a few standout winners, but there were also some clear losers — namely, the extremely disappointing organic popcorn with organic extra-virgin olive oil.
Sprinkled with a little salt and flavored with extra-virgin olive oil, we had high expectations for this popcorn but were pretty disappointed. It wasn’t inedible, but it tasted bland and flavorless. We kept searching for the hints of oil, but they just weren’t there. There were a few redeeming qualities: It’s organic, and the texture was good, but that doesn’t make up for the taste. It’s not bad popcorn, but it’s a forgettable option from a store known for having some of the absolute best snacks.
Better options
That being said, the popcorn does have some favorable reviews online. In a Reddit thread discussing the product, customers called it “underrated” and “simple but satisfying.” Someone even said it was their favorite Trader Joe’s snack. However, in another discussion, a Reddit user said they found inconsistencies with the salt levels between bags, which might explain why our testers had a different experience.
Overall, we recommend opting for some of Trader Joe’s other popcorn options. Sugar fans should reach for the chocolatey, drizzled strawberry kettle popcorn. It’s fruity, balanced, and indulgent without being overly sweet. Unfortunately, it’s a seasonal product, but it usually pops up (pun intended) around holidays like Valentine’s Day. The store’s regular kettle corn is also a good backup.
Our favorite savory popcorn was the piquant flavor, which is cheesy, salty, and speckled with garlic and onion. It’s even vegan to boot. The buttery movie theater popcorn is also a fan favorite. It all comes down to preference, but the organic popcorn with organic extra-virgin olive oil is probably one to pass on.
