This Trader Joe's Item Is A Can't-Miss Traditional Snack For Thai Food Lovers

Thai food is known for its bold flavor, harmoniously blending four of the five basic tastes — umami, salty, sweet, and sour. Married with chili heat, it all comes together in a unique sensation that exemplifies Thailand's food culture (think pad Thai, larb, or tom yum soup). But what if you could get that same multi-note hit in snack form? As usual, Trader Joe's has it covered. Inspired by traditional Thai dishes, TJ's Thai Lime & Chili Cashews will send your taste buds into a frenzy. If you love Thai food, don't sleep on this one.

Just looking at them in the bag, it's plain to see these whole, golden-brown-hued cashews are anything but plain. Generously dusted with a yellow-green tom yum-type seasoning blend of dried Thai lime leaves, lemongrass, chili powder, and salt, there's no question these nuts satisfy. Ridiculously addictive on their own or as a yummy topper, the heat builds the more you munch. If you've never tried them, prepare for an initial fiery punch to show up at the end of the first bite, accompanied by a bright lime eruption, as lemongrass dissolves on the tip of your tongue.

A robust, savory crunch gives way to an underlying buttery sweetness of the cashew. Just when you think the joyride is over, a tangy-tinged heat announces its arrival, building slowly at first but compounding with each subsequent handful. But snacking just scratches the surface of what these tongue tinglers offer. Integrating them into other dishes, like fried rice, is where they excel.

TJ's Thai Lime & Chili Cashews are poised to add a spicy zing and crunch factor to your favorite Thai dishes. They make an excellent topper for salads, such as chicken satay (satay gai) green salad or a fresh green papaya salad (som tum). Just place a handful of nuts in a bag and use a kitchen mallet to gently crush them into delicious crumbled bits. (Be sure to push out all the trapped air before sealing the bag and administering the crushing mallet blows.) These spicy shards are also perfect to add flavor in place of peanuts in a simple tofu pad Thai or use them to top Thai pork larb (larb moo). They're also equally tasty sprinkled over crispy fried ginger tofu, Thai cashew chicken (gai pad med mamuang), or Thai shrimp cakes (tod mun goong). Basically, if the dish is Thai, give it a try.

According to TJ's website (as well as the back of the bag), these cashews are specifically made for Trader Joe's in Thailand. Part of their characteristic flavor comes from the type and part of lime that is used, specifically, Thai (aka kaffir) lime leaves. It adds that unique flavor that Trader Joe's says "cannot easily be duplicated with any other citrus," making this snack a one-of-a-kind treat. Well, two-of-a-kind — there's also a Thai Lime & Chili Almond version. Just be sure to enjoy it as much as you can before Trader Joe's can discontinue it.