One Seasonal Trader Joe's Find Is Winning Customers Over By Its Surprisingly Good Taste

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Sweet-and-savory is a flavor combination that almost always works. When it comes to cheese, however, daring to experiment with avant-garde flavors can verge into high-risk, low-reward territory. Happily, one of the newest Trader Joe's cheeses has pulled it off: the Sticky Toffee Cheddar. This limited-time fall product has shoppers buzzing over its surprisingly dimensional, elevated taste.

Trader Joe's Sticky Toffee Cheddar comes from a master cheesemaker in southern England. It's dotted with bits of dates and raisins, but the the pièce de résistance is the crunchy, buttery toffee flecks. Boldly savory flavors meet rich sweetness in this aged cheddar — sharp, deep, rich, and creamy — for $11.99 per pound.

In December 2015, a review of a Trader Joe's product called Sticky Toffee Cheddar Cheese appeared on the What's Good at Trader Joe's? site. In the previous iteration, the reviewer criticized the cheese's overly soft texture and lack of sharpness. Now, just over a decade later, it seems the TJ's team has reworked its longstanding concept to deliver a better, harder-hitting product. 

A review shared on TikTok, @braxtonsunfiltered gave the cheese a "10 out of 10" rating, specifically praising the juxtaposition of the sweet toffee and sharp cheddar — which doesn't seem like it should work at first, but absolutely does. They're not the only one who feels that way, either. 

In another TikTok, @trishdottrishh echoed the rave review of the cheese's dimensionality and harmonious balance, mentioning creamy, sweet flavors that arrive "caramelized" and "a little salty." The video shows a generous dotting of visible toffee and date bits in every morsel of cheese, with no shortage of elements in the mix. Fellow foodies in the post's comments section sound off with similarly enthusiastic praise for the product. "It's delicious," wrote one TikTok commenter. "I just got home, said I was taking a little taste ... now I need another one this cheese is good," added another.

Trader Joe's Sticky Toffee Cheddar is a standout snacking cheese for autumnal charcuterie boards. It'd pair especially well with the Roasted & Salted Rosemary Marcona Almonds from TJ's — or any other one of Trader Joe's nuts — for convenient, one-stop shopping. If you're already hitting another store, the Simple Mills Rosemary & Sea Salt Almond Flour Crackers are a hit pairing among customers. For a fresh element, this rich cheese could be counterbalanced with tart green apple slices or Anjou pear. Bonus points if you pair it with one of the nine Trader Joe's wines worth picking up for fall. 

The grocery chain's Sticky Toffee Cheddar will be a crowd-pleaser (or at least a conversation starter) during holiday parties and cozy gatherings all season long. However, the cheese is listed as a limited-time product, so be sure to make the most of it while you can.