Trader Joe’s a very Merry Mingle is new for 2011 at Trader Joe’s for the winter Holidays.
I was pleased to see that Trader Joe’s managed to give this candy a name, as so many of their other holiday treats end up with nothing more than a functional description of ingredients or assembly.
The Merry Mingle is described as Cranberries, pecans and caramel don their dark chocolate apparel, creating a heaping helping of holiday candy. The box is large, holding 11 ounces, so it’s a good portion, and should be for the price.
The packaging is interesting, the box is sturdy and the graphics are clear and attractive. The inside is a little less posh: a plastic tray insert with four sections filled with four to five pieces each. While I may not have found the inside very nice to serve from, it did protect the pieces well, as they were all in very good condition when removed from the box. The chocolate was glossy and the pecans and cranberries were intact.
The pieces varied rather widely in size. Some were as small as one and a half inches while others were a full two and a half inches in diameter. The construction is interesting. The nuts and cranberries are held together with a little bit of caramel then they’re partially dipped in dark chocolate. There are a few zags and dribbles of chocolate on top of the pieces as well.
The base is mostly caramel, and it does a good job of keeping everything together. The caramel flavors (salt, burnt sugar) are lost in the toasty maple flavors of the pecans and the tart cranberries. The textures are great though, the caramel is smooth and chewy without being sticky or flowing. The chocolate, as the bottom, hits the tongue first, so it makes a bold impression on me as being deep and dark. There are coffee notes and probably some others but they’re lost in the flavor riot of the turtle.
Everything tasted fresh, each element was distinct (though the caramel a little lost). It also felt lighter then a traditional fully enrobed turtle (which actually do clock in at about 20 more calories per ounce). I get the impression from readers that they don’t look so good in the photos, but I thought they were great. If you’re a fan of Trader Joe’s trail mix but would like it dressed up for company, this might do the trick.
It’s Kosher but with so many ingredients, there are a lot of potential allergens: soy, milk, pecans plus traces of wheat, eggs, peanuts and other tree nuts.
Related Candies
- DeMet’s Turtles: Pecan & Cashew
- Fannie May Pixie
- Robitaille’s Presidential Inaugural Mints & Turtles
- Nestle Cranberry Raisinets
- Christopher Elbow: No. 6 - Dark Rocks
- Sweet Earth Chocolate Cups
- Hotel Chocolat Crostini Fruit & Nut Slab
I just bought a box of this “Very Merry Mingle” it is fantastic! Fresh, plump, tender cranberries; big pecan pieces; lots of caramel: and rich dark chocolate. This is a holiday treat I will not soon forget! Keep up the good work Trader Joes!!
ahhh
Stop reviewing all these yummy looking trader joe’s candies! We have none here and it makes me sad.
I bought 10 boxes this year. next year I plan to buy 20. My son is asking for them in milk.
they are terrific
This candy is simply the best turtle that I have had ever. I bought several boxes for Christmas. I gave a box to my friend and she brought it to work each day to keep her kids from eating it. I hope they bring it back for Valentine’s Day.
We received a box of the Very Merry Mingle for Christmas and it was simply the best candy we have ever had! Yes, we will be looking for more
around Valentine’s Day!
not bringing Merry Mingles back to Trader Joe’s was a
BIG MISTAKE! they are the BEST!!!!!!
I am looking all over for the merry mingles and am very disapppoineted that I can not find them at trader joes can you tell me how to get them.
PLEASE!!!!! bring these candies BACK!!!,, they are the best and make my holiday season
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