Trader Joe's Sparkling Watermelon Juice and Trader Joe's Watermelon Fruit Spread

Maybe you're itching to reclaim a normal summer, but what is normalcy in today's world. New normal is the name of the game. A bit normal helps the transition to new normal I think. Why not watermelon? The perfect summer food. It's bursting with sweetness and hydration - the food that embodies the essence of summer. I prefer watermelon in its unadulterated form, but watermelon has some nice applications too. Watermelon, feta, and mint in a salad. Watermelon soju. The key is respecting the watermelon and using it in a way that highlights or augments its natural sweetness. At least that's my preference, which is why I've never really tried TJ's watermelon-themed offerings. But I find myself in summer 2020, a surreal reality where trying gratuitous, attractive-looking, and artificial-leaning products is a privilege not to be taken for granted. 

Aesthetically pleasing packaging goes a long way in today's social media world. I mean...ombre watermelon pink? Yes. Please. 

I'd argue that enjoying a watermelon isn't just about the sweet watermelon juice but rather the whole sensory experience of eating a watermelon. The bite through the solid but hydrated flesh. The slurping. The juice dripping down your fingers. But like I said, the packaging is pretty and it's sparkling...soooooo it portrays a level of fancy fance. TJ's is all about that - delivering a level of fancy fance to middle America without breaking the bank.

PS. thanks for the "not a low calorie food" disclaimer. 

The ingredients aren't bad - just watermelon juice and the carbonation. I pretty much view this as a soda.

The packaging for the fruit spread doesn't speak to me as much as the ombre pink box, but I still get it. It resembles a watermelon..woohoo.

 

Just note that for this fruit spread - 7 of the 8g of sugar is ADDED sugar. I kind of expect that for a jam. 

1) Both products taste like watermelon candy - specifically watermelon Jolly Ranchers. Except I find the sparkling watermelon juice a bit more usable and palatable compared to the fruit spread. 

2) The watermelon juice tastes a tiny bit less artificial than the jam, to the point where yes, I could probably enjoy it as a soda or mixed into a cocktail or something equally fun. Like a fizzy, watermelon fresca drink mixed with green tea. And can we just call it a soda instead of sparkling juice? Is it because sparkling juice sounds healthy and soda sounds like junk food? And TJs has kind of branded itself as a "healthy" store? 

3) The watermelon fruit spread is true to the description - it's bright, sweet, and punchy. Like a watermelon jolly rancher. I don't mind watermelon Jolly Ranchers. I welcome watermelon as a Jolly Rancher candy flavor, as a candy. But do I want to make it into a spreadable sweet jam that you slather on everything? Not really. It just doesn't suit my taste. But I imagine that this is the stuff of dreams for like a 7 year-old or or for someone who enjoys candy and is looking for more ways to sneak candy into life. 

4) I'm open to the possibility of repurchasing the watermelon juice because it's usable for making drinks and whatnot. But the fruit spread? Pass. 

5) The sparkling watermelon juice is $3.99 for four modest cans, and the jam is $2.99. 

TL;DR: Trader Joe's Sparkling Watermelon Juice. Sweet fizzy watermelon candy-flavored juice asking to be used for cocktails and mocktails. 7 out of 10. Trader Joe's Watermelon Fruit Spread. Even sweeter watermelon candy-flavored jam. For those who want to be or feel like kids eating candy on toast. 5.5 out of 10.