Trader Joe's: Droste and Van Houten imported cocoa

[bupkus]

These products only appear for a short time this time of the year. Both packages are 8.8 oz. (250 g) and whereas the Droste sells for $3.99, the Van Houten goes for about $0.50 less. The Droste comes in a small cardboard box like that for corn starch. The Van Houten comes in a small metal can with a replaceable lid. They are both imported from Holland and are fantastic products.
I use them for making chocolate syrup which far surpasses all commercial chocolate syrups. Try this in some milk and taste the difference yourself. It comes unsweetened so if you love hot chocolate, just follow the directions on the package and taste the best hot chocolate you've ever had.
If you miss this offer and try to buy it online it'll cost more than twice as much.

 

[maxcom]

locations

 

[kenkhanh]

Thanks. Cheap enough to try, since I will be there to pick up a bottle or two of Charles Shaw wines. Trader Joe's usually has good imported European desert and candies, which they are more aromatic than American ones. Our sweets tend to emphasize the amount of sugar rather than aromatic qualities.

 

[Eljefe79]

My Friends wife sells Simply Tasteful stuff and turned me on to their Chai at $11.00 USD per 10 oz can but Trader Joes has their brand for 3.99 and it's just as good UMMMMMMM comes in CHOCOLATE too

 

[bupkus]

Originally posted by: Eljefe79
My Friends wife sells Simply Tasteful stuff and turned me on to their Chai at $11.00 USD per 10 oz can but Trader Joes has their brand for 3.99 and it's just as good UMMMMMMM comes in CHOCOLATE too

FYI, Chai is probably much better for you. This cocoa can be hard on the system but it sure tastes good.

 

[Flexicon]

I always make my hot cocoa using semi sweet Ghiradhelli or Guittard chocolate chips, but I'll give these other two a try. Thanks for the tip.

Trader Joe's also has very good prices on Yellowtail wines (b/w $4.00 and $10.00). Yellowtail's shiraz and cabs are wonderful. Give 'em a try.

 

[TrentSteel]

Droste cocoa is very good, a staple product in most Dutch homes.

 

[bupkus]

Originally posted by: TrentSteel
Droste cocoa is very good, a staple product in most Dutch homes.

What about the Van Houten? I'm actually new to these products and although I've opened and used the Van Houten I'm wondering if the Droste is different before I buy a bunch of the cheaper Van Houten.

 

[TestGuyCT]

Saw this - may be of interest:


~ FROM WEBMD HEALTH ~

Sweet! Hot Cocoa May Prevent Heart Disease

Hot cocoa has more disease-fighting antioxidants than red wine or tea, research shows.

Article

 

[kenkhanh]

I'm glad this point was stated:

"One caveat: "Even though a bar of chocolate exhibits strong antioxidant activity, the health benefits are still controversial because relatively large amounts of saturated fats are present," Lee says. "However, a cup of hot cocoa has a much lower level of saturated fats (0.3 g per serving) than a bar of chocolate (8 g per 40 g bar)."

I'll wait until another finding coming out about the bad effects of cocoa before I'm willing to comsume it regularly like I do w/ green tea.

"Red wine had 340 mg of phenols and 163 mg of flavonoids."

Nothing beats a cup after dinner of $2.00 Charles Shaw Merlot at Trader Joe's

Originally posted by: TestGuyCT
Saw this - may be of interest:


~ FROM WEBMD HEALTH ~

Sweet! Hot Cocoa May Prevent Heart Disease

Hot cocoa has more disease-fighting antioxidants than red wine or tea, research shows.

Article

 

[jpitblado]

Check your local supermarkets as well. There's one near my house that carried Droste year round.

 

[bupkus]

Originally posted by: jpitblado
Check your local supermarkets as well. There's one near my house that carried Droste year round.

Would you happen to know what they (typical supermarket) charges?

 

[Harvey]

Trader Joes rocks!

 

[mdcrab]

Check your local supermarkets as well. There's one near my house that carried Droste year round.

Is the supermarket near you a chain? If so, what is the name of the market?

Thanks,
mdcrab

 

[hansmuff]

I'll go a little off-topic, still Trader Joe's though: they are the best *and* cheapest place for a lot of cheese products! Get Holland Gouda for 1/2 the price of cheap supermarket brands, and they have an awesome selection of really good (and, again, cheap) import brie.
Another great (cheese related) thing they sell is the small brie circles you heat up and serve as a snack.. ~$5 where supermarkets usually charge $10.

 

[iwearnosox]

Two buck chuck is disgusting, I don't know how people drink it.

 

[huesmann]

The chocolate makes it go down easier.

 

[Tazan007]

I have seen Droste at Biglots, really good chocolate.

 

[Bodolza]

Originally posted by: Flexicon
I always make my hot cocoa using semi sweet Ghiradhelli or Guittard chocolate chips, but I'll give these other two a try. Thanks for the tip.

Chocolate is one of those rare foods where the powder form is actually better. Cocoa powder has the cocoa butter removed (what is used to make white chocolate), leaving a more pure chocolate product than the morsels.

 

[bupkus]

Originally posted by: Bodolza

Originally posted by: Flexicon
I always make my hot cocoa using semi sweet Ghiradhelli or Guittard chocolate chips, but I'll give these other two a try. Thanks for the tip.

Chocolate is one of those rare foods where the powder form is actually better. Cocoa powder has the cocoa butter removed (what is used to make white chocolate), leaving a more pure chocolate product than the morsels.

Also, the Dutch process of pressing the raw product and removing the cocoa butter is also removing significant fat content and cholesterol. This is only important if you need an excuse to consume this "...gift from [the] god".

 

[jpitblado]

Originally posted by: mdcrab
Is the supermarket near you a chain? If so, what is the name of the market?
Thanks,
mdcrab

It's a Fry's supermarket which is owned by Kroger. (Yes, it was at one time somehow related to Fry's Electronics.)

Originally posted by: bupkus

Would you happen to know what they (typical supermarket) charges?

Sorry, I don't recall. It's been a while since I've purchased any. I don't think it was much more than the TJ price.

 

[Flexicon]

Thanks Bodolza and bupkus; I didn't know that. Learn something new everyday.

Since we're on the subject of how hard Trader Joe's rocks, they also make a sinfully dee-licious chicken pot pie. It's loaded with calories, of course (like most pot pies), but absolutely worth it if you're in the mood for one. It's Trader Joe's own brand and it puts Marie Calendar's to shame. Other items to check out:

Trader Joe's Creamed Clover Honey - 3.49, quite good; not as overwhelmingly sweet as other honeys.
TJ Fettucini with Mushroom entree - in the frozen food section 3.29; add some diced chicken and fresh herbs, makes a great quickie dinner
1/2 Gal Fat free milk - only 1.69 and doesn't contain nasty BST
1/2 Gal Organic Soy Milk - 2.99; only Costco has it cheaper, but the brand Costco carries is chalkier, imho
TJ Fresh Cherry Preserves - about 2.99 I believe; this jam will knock your socks off! One taste and you'll never want anything else, guaranteed. I like it best with a dab of Danish Creamery butter on toast. Yum!
TJ 2 pk cheese enchiladas - only 1.49; another great quickie meal if you serve it with rice and beans
And if you have wives or girlfriends, pick them up some Kiss My Face products--especially the Pear Moisture Soap (it's heavenly! and it's cheaper at Trader Joe's than KMF's own website!); your girls will love you long time

 

[exm]

As a Dutchman living in NY I'm proud to see this chocolate being so much appreciated over here. It is indeed great chocolate; every year around December I ask my family to bring some Dutch Droste chocolate letters (Dutch tradition for December 5th: St. Nicolas; the REAL Santa).

 

[Kravahn]

Safeway has started to carry Droste year-round, but it's pricey at $5 a box. Excellent chocolate though.

 

[shoplifter]

One other thing to add to your Trader Joe's shopping list: GROLSCH BEER MINI KEGS!