5 Things You Didn't Know You Could Buy at Trader Joe's

That spirit of adventure and experimentation is still going strong. Trader Joe's found success by anticipating the needs of its customers, in many cases knowing what the customer would want even before they did, and selling it to them at a low price in a fun atmosphere.
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Trader Joe's is one of the most beloved grocery store chains in America today, and with good reason. It's colorful, fun, the selection is great, and there's always something new to discover. It can sometimes be hard to keep track of all the insanely cool products that stock the shelves, so we've tracked down 10 that you should definitely know about, but probably don't.

By 1972, founder Joe Coulombe knew that the average American was traveling more and developing tastes for foods that were impossible to find at the average supermarket, so along with cedar-planked walls and Hawaiian shirt-wearing employees, he rolled out a granola product, the first in a line of foods under the Trader Joe's private label, which is still going strong today. Coulombe was also a big fan of California wines, and the original Trader Joe's (which still exists in Pasadena) sold literally every California wine that was available, helping put California wines on the map.

Cheddar with Caramelized Onions
Farmhouse Cheddar paired with caramelized onions? Your next roast beef sandwich won’t know what hit it.Click Here to See More Things You Didn't Know You Could Buy at Trader Joe'sPhoto Credit: Trader Joe's
Tunisian EVOO
Tunisia is actually the fourth-largest olive oil producer in the world, but it’s not exactly easy to track down. This organic oil is grassy, peppery, and goes perfectly with a hunk of crusty bread. Photo Credit: Trader Joe’s
Fully Cooked Pork Belly
Pork belly is super-popular right now, but it’s not exactly easy to get it right all by yourself. This belly is braised for 12 hours before being vacuum sealed, and all you need to do before serving is crisp it up. Photo Credit: © Flickr / Manuel SanvictoresClick Here to See More Things You Didn't Know You Could Buy at Trader Joe's
Luxury Beauty Products
Trader Joe’s sells some of the highest-end beauty products you can find, including triple-milled soap, facial cleansing pads, coconut body butter, and moisturizing face lotion. Photo Credit: amazon.com
Laundry and Dishwashing Detergent
Their detergents are generally less expensive than what you’ll find elsewhere, and those who’ve discovered them swear by them. Click Here to See More Things You Didn't Know You Could Buy at Trader Joe'sPhoto Credit: scentfreegirl.com

In 1973, a trip to Trader Joe's would have offered you many items that you won't find today, like pantyhose, which were sold until 1978. In 1975 they started cutting and wrapping cheese for the first time, and in 1977 they expanded their private label with fun names like Trader Ming's, Trader Giotto's, and Pilgrim Joe, and introduced the first reusable canvas grocery bag.

That spirit of adventure and experimentation is still going strong. Trader Joe's found success by anticipating the needs of its customers, in many cases knowing what the customer would want even before they did, and selling it to them at a low price in a fun atmosphere. They're constantly rolling out new products under their private label; here are 10 recent releases (and a few not-so-recent ones) that should definitely be on your radar.

-Dan Myers, The Daily Meal

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