Trader Joe's Freeze-Dried Mangos: Proof God Exists

[Jim Leff]

Dear God in Heaven, please see to it that everyone within sound of my voice runs immediately to Trader Joe's and buys their new freeze-dried mango slices. Amen.

[Toby Winter]

Those were my exact feelings when I tried them today for the first time. I ran to my computer to e mail my best friend who is driving cross country. I told her to stop at the first Trader Joe's she sees to get them. Pure bliss.

[dockhl]

Don't compare it to anything; enjoy it as its own crunchy self. Dip it in Chardonnay, make earring out of it.
It ISN'T fresh mango.

[Jim Leff]

Exactly. Human beings seem hard-wired to appreciate via comparison, even in situations where comparison isn't at all apt. Someone in a jazz club I was playing in once took me aside and compared me disparagingly to Kenny G. I was dumbfounded for a moment, but then politely pointed out that I'm not TRYING to sound like Kenny G. And that I'm a trombonist rather than saxophonist, and I play straight-ahead jazz rather than fusion. Needless to say, this was unconvincing. I was, after all, a horn player with (at the time) long curly hair.

Of course, the analogy is inapt because ripe mango is Lester Young, not Kenny G. But the freeze-dried stuff is Ornette Coleman.

[pigtails]

it is amazing. the pineapple is amazing too. i love how it looks inocuous like styrofoam, but then it is a taste sensation in your mouth.

[shaebones]

Ok.
I found them at my local TJ's, bought them. Now, what do I do w them? Anything other than just eat them out of the bag??

[dockhl]

Cut them into little pieces and send them out to all of us......

[Kiyah]

Ooo, shaebones, you're a Boston hound, aren't you? Which TJs had the FD Mangos?

[shaebones]

The one on Rte 114 on the Peabody/Danvers line.

[Gio]

That's great... gotta go get them now. Thanks for the information!!

[Kiyah]

Well, that's not as close as the Burlington one, but if I get up that way, I'll check it out! Thanky!

[mdepsmom]

I looked for these at my TJ's over the weekend and only saw dried mangos. I'm assuming the freeze dried are different? What does the label on the freeze-dried package actually say? There wasn't any shelf space (empty or otherwise) for another type of dried mangos so I'm not even if sure if mine carries them. TIA.

[Toby Winter]

The package is not see through. It is silver foil like with a big yellow toned label on the front. Keep looking or ask someone in a Hawaiin shirt.

[mdepsmom]

Does the label actually say "freeze-dried mangos"? I was at TJ's over the weekend and only saw the dried mangos. I didn't even see space (empty or otherwise) on the shelf for another type. What does the label say, so I know what to look for?

[bulavinaka]

The freeze-dried fruits in general are usually in a foil pack. The regular dried fruits are usually in those clear plastic/cello bags... According to Jim, look for them next month...yes, next MONTH... oh the agony...

[Jim Leff]

The dried mangos are very different. Yet useful. Rip into small pieces and throw into pot with oatmeal cooking water (i.e. at very start of process), and result will have vastly improved flavor and texture, and not be particularly mangoey.

I hear TJ's frozen mango is good, too. Maybe I need to come up with a "Tres Mangos Cake" recipe using 'em all....

[Eat_Nopal]

I like the frozen for making licuados and buy them regularly... but they lack intensity for things like Mango Mousse or Sorbet.

[jsaimd]

The Thai mango is much better than the regular frozen mango, but not as consistently available.

[Caitlin McGrath]

I throw the frozen mangos in the blender with some milk (even low-fat and nonfat work great in this) and a bit of apricot jam or fruit spread and let it go. It becomes a great, foamy drink in a minute or so.

[wearybashful]

Unless your milk and frozen mango drink is lots different than mine, it's main virtue is that the mango-milk thickens into a thick milkshake consistency. I think it's something chemical, not just becautse of the freezing, because fresh mangos will do it too.

[Eat_Nopal]

Yes... mangos have a type of fiber that is similar to inulin... that almost acts a little bit like gluten when broken down by the blender.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inulin

[Honeychan]

I was at TJ's this past weekend, and found the freeze-dried mango here in Vegas! I bought a bag, and this stuff reminds ne of the little mashmellows in Lucky Charms, OR astronaut ice-cream. I love it! I'm really big on textures, and I adore this new taste-treat. Gotta try the mangosteen and the pinapple ones now.

Thanks for setting me straight, and letting me know it's not just "typical" dried mangos, these are great.

[Bob W]

The mangosteens will definitely remind you of astronaut ice cream...in a good way, of course.

Is this a great country or what? My little kids (not quite 4) get to eat mangosteens and lychees (both fresh and freeze-dried). Back in the day, a fresh apricot was way out there.

[dockhl]

Very sad. Templeton (CA) TJ's doesn't have them, and when I asked said that they are out of them at the warehouse and have no idea when they'll be back in. Tried to get me to take FD Bananas (any good??) Didn't have the Australian TJ's olive oil that I like either.

:-(

[Jim Leff]

I got a few extra bags. email me your snail mail address, and i'll send you one (this offer, to preserve sanity, is now officially closed). My email is in my profile.

[bulavinaka]

Arghhh! The two TJ's in the Palms area of LA are out as well - you've created mob panic on this delectable and now everyone is hoarding them! I sobbed over some fresh ones sprinkled with chile powder from the local paletas store... '-)

[Jim Leff]

Note that east coast TJs pledge a reappearance in July. And I'm pretty sure super stable items like this are nationwide. So long as they haven't shifted producer, it should reappear. If not, hee hee, I've simply built up a demand so I can make a killing on eBay. Joking.

[Beach Chick]

I've already got my Ebay site up and running for the 'freeze dried' mango.. ; )

Drummer Chicka

[bulavinaka]

Okay, so I was able to find a couple of bags at the TJ's in Westchester by LAX. While I find the texture interesting - alot like freeze-dried ice cream - I am having trouble wrapping my tastebuds around the flavor. It's seems to be two-dimensional compared to a nice fresh one. Maybe I shouldn't be comparing this to its fresh counterpart - but I have the same issue with Astro ice cream. It's a great snack, but if I'm looking for this to quell my jonesing for the real thing, I'll be in trouble...

[Jim Leff]

I'm not sure everyone is grokking that I'm talking about TJ's freeze dried mango, not dried mango.

The freeze dried mango just appeared very recently, and is made from vastly better mangos than I've ever tasted, and certainly better than any available in the U.S.

You've got to give it some time and attention to fully appreciate it in the weirdo freeze-dried format....i.e. to really translate what you're ingesting into anything vaguely fresh-fruit like. I, myself, like the freeze dried format, being a longtime fan of freeze dried ice cream.

[dockhl]

:)

*grok*

I like freeze dried almost anything but especially ice cream......
gotta try the mango !

[ipsedixit]

freeze-dried ice cream = astronaut's ice cream ... Great Stuff!

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/507067

[Jim Leff]

Agree! I went to the source back on my Chow Tour: http://www.chow.com/tour/264

[Eat_Nopal]

I am fully aware of the Freeze Dried Mangos... like I mentioned... we have purchased the entire line because the baby likes the texture when she is teething. The Mango is good... but nothing out of the ordinary... I get comparably sweet & aromatic fresh manila mangos from my local Mexican store quite a few months of the year... and the freeze dried texture is certainly no improvement over a fresh, juicy mango.

[PayOrPlay]

Yeah, they're OK, I stick 'em in PayOrPlay Jr's lunchbox sometimes. He likes the freeze-dried pineapple too, and the rambutan. But I can't say that we get ecstatic about them. or anything. I wish we liked the mangosteen as much just to encourage the distribution of mangosteens in America, but we don't think the flavor survives all that well.

Now, some of the dried fruit we bought at Zabar's during our trip to NYC last week (incredibly enough, my first visit EVER to Zabar's, even though I spent 4 years in college an hour from New York--shame on me), now that was good stuff--including the mango, but especially the dried kiwis. Yum.

[yankeefan]

I have to agree, but I do think the mangosteen is the best of the offerings. Im not an enormous fan of the bananas but the other freeze dried stuff is delicious.

It is great mixed in with some greek yogurt on a hot day. yum.

[EdwardAdams]

I'll try 'em. I already buy an unseemly number of the bags of frozen mangoes. Two bucks and change for 24 ounces. Mango agua fresca without much trouble.

[Eat_Nopal]

No these are very different they are a room temperature snack.

[bulavinaka]

If you're a mango lover and like spicy chiles, try the TJ's dried mangos with chile powder - pretty traditional in many cultures to eat mango with some sort of chile...

[Honeychan]

Been there, done that and eaten 'em. They are allriight, but I personally like Philippine brand better than TJ's. It's a texture thing, I think. The TJ's were a bit soggy- not a good thig with dried fruit!

[another_adam]

Mmmmmmm, phillipine dried mangos... Yeah, I gotta admit, those are my platonic ideal of dried mango, too, and found the texture of the TJ's ones surprising, I just haven't quite warmed up to them yet. (I realize that the phillipine ones have a ton of sugar, so I bet the TJ's ones are better for you, but oh well...) I bet the TJ's ones would be great as a dried fruit in cooking or baking though. (Mango tzimmes, anyone?)

[Beach Chick]

You are SO right on the freeze-dried mango slices sent down from heaven..too bad my TJ's is out of stock..
Just did a grilled prawn cocktail with the mango along with some basmati rice/chicken satay..
Best to you!
Chicka

[Eat_Nopal]

They aren't half bad... my 18 month old really likes them... much more so than the freeze dried rambutan & strawberries... unfortunately I think you must be buying them by the truck load because TJ's has been out of them for several weeks now.

BTW... no they haven't quite convinced me God exists... wish he did... there are some politcians I would like to see go where they belong... the Mango are good but lets not get the CHers needlessly riled up!

[Bob W]

The freeze dried strawberries were also a big hit at our house, so of course when I went back to load up, I was told they were out of stock "at the warehouse."

The kids have enjoyed the dried mangos too, as well as the dried lychees and dragonfruit and mangosteens.

I guess this is the equivalent of my getting exposed to fresh apricots back in the 60s.

[Jim Leff]

The dried mangos have one big use for me: in oatmeal and other hot cereals. I add small bits early, in the water. It improves taste and texture greatly.

but the freeze-dried mangos....man...