Trader Joe’s Peanut Butter Cups from tub (l) and bag (r).
We are huge fans of dark chocolate Trader Joe’s Peanut Butter Cups. Here you have a perfect candy: a good quality chocolate shell with just the right amount of rigidity to resist then crack when you bite into it, enrobing a smooth filling from a peanut butter master. But hold on, there are two very different product configurations: a small package of cups wrapped in foil for 99c currently, and a plastic tub with unwrapped cups for $4.49.
Does the bigger size provide a better value? Are they the same cup or, as it would appear, two different configurations for different customers: the small package near the checkout for impulse buyers, and the larger tub over the freezer section for serious snackers? To answer the first question, the tub contains 16 oz while the small bag is 3.5 oz. Do the math and you’ll see the difference in price per piece is infinitesimal.
Cross section from tub (l) and bag (r).
As to the second question, I enlisted two small but experienced tasters who told me there definitely is a difference. The chocolate may be the same but the filling in one is grainier than the other. I wanted to confirm this for myself and found no difference whatsoever. I consulted the ingredient lists on the packages and found that each lists the same exact ingredients in the same order. I’m calling it a tie. Except…
If you look at the suggested serving it’s two candies for the tub but 3 candies for the small bag! This is probably because there are 9 candies per bag and the Trader wanted an even distribution, but still. Why eat 2 pieces when you are allowed to eat 3 for the same amount of guilt? Add in the bonus foil wrap (which is probably to protect the candies, assuming the package might end up in a backpack or lunchbox0, and we have a clear winner. Trader Joe’s dark chocolate peanut butter cup in the 3.5 ounce bag, you are now the official chocolate candy of Burnt My Fingers!
In southeastern PA they changed the recipe of the large tub ones. It used to be a salty, grainy, dark roasted peanut butter filling. Without any label change, they made it a sweet, creamy, light roasted filling. Try posting about it on Reddit they insta delete. It’s like trying to get North Korea to admit something. Trader Joe’s definitely screwed some customers with that recipe change.
Now that is interesting. Surprised by the concept of TJ having regional variations. I shop there in New York and SF repeatedly and the products seem identical.