Trader Joe’s Corn and Chile Tomato-Less Salsa
Posted: November 7, 2013 Filed under: Condiments, Salsa | Tags: Salsa 13 Comments
Why would they do this to you salsa? Noooooo!
One time, at a Hawaiian themed buffet, I loaded up my plate with chocolate pudding, put a big spoonful in my mouth, and discovered that it was actually sour poi . Until now that was the most shocking food surprise I’d ever had. Having tried Trader Joe’s Corn and Chile Tomato-Less Salsa, that is no longer the case. This salsa, or “salsa” I should say, and I hope the judicious use of italics and quotation marks conveys my dubiousness, is incredibly sweet. Sweeter than most confections, in fact. Sugary sweet, corn-based salsa. I’m going to say that again, in case you haven’t thrown up in your mouth yet. Sugary corn salsa.
This is really a very crazy and very unpleasant thing for me to write about. Know, first of all, that I love salsa. I love salsa in, I thought, all of its many forms. I love it all the way from the simple jar of mild Pace picante sauce to the artisanal batches of peach and mango salsa. I liked cowboy caviar, I liked papaya and mango salsa, I thought I would like this as well, but I never imagined they would just out and out make a super sweet, barely spicy, salsa.
I’ll admit I shouldn’t be so surprised – they do mention it on the label after all, “A sweet combination of corn, red peppers and onions” they say. But this sweet? This sugary? That is the sort of information that shouldn’t be hidden in a small font under the title – it should be called out in huge letters proclaiming “WARNING: This salsa is 20% sugar by volume” or more to the point “WARNING: This salsa is really gross tasting”.
It’s really hard for to stress how sweet this salsa is. Think syrup, then take it up a little bit. The whole kernels of corn, which are otherwise fine, are suspended in what is essentially a clear, simple syrup, mixed in with some minced onion and red pepper. Really, what we’re talking about is a very nice, very mild corn salsa that someone decided to ruin by pouring a ton sweetener into it. I really don’t know why anyone would do this or, more accurately, I don’t know why you would do this and call it a salsa. I have nothing against gross tasting condiments, they just need to go by their proper name – relish. Despite Trader Joe’s labeling here, this is clearly a corn relish, not a tomato-less salsa. If it had been billed as such, I wouldn’t have undergone the eye-popping surprise I experienced when I dug my first tortilla chip in and took a big bite. Instead I would have spooned a tiny amount into a sandwich and experienced it that way. Would I still consider it gross? Most definitely, but relishes, like ajvar, get the sort of leeway that salsa doesn’t.
At the end of the day, I don’t suppose it really matters. If you’re one of the dozen or so people world wide that find themselves constantly spooning sugar onto their corn because it isn’t sweet enough, this is for you. For everyone else, I’d recommend taking a miss on it. That said, a shocking 14 million+ jars of this stuff have be sold by Trader Joe’s as of this post, which boggles my mind and makes me question my place among humanity. Please, if you enjoy this “salsa”, let me know in the comments and explain, if you can, its appeal.
The Breakdown
Would I Recommend It: Never.
Would I Buy It Again: At gunpoint…maybe.
Final Synopsis: Think very sweet, corn relish rather than salsa.
Trader Joe’s Corn and Chile Salsa – Nutrition Facts
Eating At Joes 
Agree to disagree. As a tomato hater, I love it! It’s awesome in chili too.
Hmm… chili I could see working, but wouldn’t a normal, unsweetened corn salsa work even better?
Most cili sauces have sugar already in them. I use plain crushed tomatoes instead, I’m guessing the salsa sweetens it up?
So it’s actually sweet corn relish masquerading as “salsa.” To each his own…they should have just labeled it “sweet corn relish,” it must have its fans.
I buy this almost every time I’m at TJs. We use it on the frozen Tilapia they sell. I like the spices in it. I would NOT eat it on a chip though. I feel like maybe they should sell it as corn “relish” instead of corn “salsa’. Spot on about it being sweet, though. A little goes a long way.
Very true, relish would have been a much better word. Trying it with tilapia certainly sounds intriguing…
The reason why it sells so well because you can mix it with anything! I always get rave reviews and recipe requests when I mix it with chopped cucumbers, chopped cherry tomatoes, feta cheeses and black beans….SOOO good!
I love this mixed with a chopped avocado or two. This seems to cut the sweetness a bit. Can mix in a can of drained black beans as well. I don’t eat it plain, but so easy to use in so many ways. Yes, it should be called sweet corn relish.
I love this salsa! It is delicious! Maybe I have a bit of a sweet tooth sometimes…
Mix a bottle with cream cheese and serve with tortilla chips….Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂
You’ve present a cutely-worded, “hit piece” type of commentary. You are entitled to your opinion — but I do not agree with your assessment. This is a relish that I use sparingly with my tuna salad recipe. And in a really neat tomato soup recipe that I picked up at TJ’s in-store sample bar. This corn and chili salsa is made with real sugar (not that nasty corn syrup stuff) and it really has few calories and a low sodium content. (And many of their store-brand products are uniquely low sodium.) And will add that Trader Joe’s has a great selection of store-brand staples like milk, yogurt, olive oil, bread, eggs, etc. that bring me back on a regular basis. And while I’m not a “foodie snob” I live in Berkeley where I have easy access to some of the best and most interesting food retailers.
This salsa has become a huge hit! I mix it with a can of black beans (strained) and 2 cups of cooked quinoa. It is always one of the first things to go anytime I bring it to a get together with friends.
My family loves this salsa, and I don’t find it anywhere near as sweet as described here. We usually have it on enchiladas that have a bit of spice to them. My daughter will eat the salsa straight up, but I personally wouldn’t opt to have it with tortilla chips.