“I Tried Trader Joe’s New Vegan Sour Cream And Here’s What I Thought”

You probably already know that Trader Joe's is one of the best places to shop for vegan food, including their own brand of meat and dairy alternatives. We have conducted several vegan taste tests that prove Trader Joe's is a great plant-based resource, and nearly every week the cult-favorite retailer reinforces this reputation with the launch of a new vegan product. This year alone, Trader Joe's has debuted Vegan Nacho Dip, Vegan Spinach & Cashew Ravioli, Vegan Buffalo Dip, and Non-Dairy Oat Milk Ice Cream Sandwiches.

This week, the newest dairy-free launch at Trader Joe's is their new Vegan Sour Cream Alternative. While Tofutti's Better Than Sour Cream is one of the most well-known dairy-free sour creams on the market, TJ's is looking to disrupt the vegan sour cream space with its own plant-based version, following closely on the heels of bringing out its newest reformulation of vegan cream cheese.

Trader Joe's Vegan Sour Cream Alternative features a coconut oil base, and is made with corn and potato starch, white vinegar, and carob gum.

The Vegan Sour Cream at Trader Joe's sells for $3.49 for a 12-ounce container which contains about 12 one-ounce servings.

The coconut oil makes for an incredibly rich texture. While traditional dairy sour creams are often a bit watery, this vegan alternative retains its shape and is richer than the classic condiment.

After my first taste, I was surprised that this wasn't a tofu-based sour cream. To me, the Trader Joe's Vegan Sour Cream Alternative has a tofu-like flavor, similar to the Tofutti product , which is incredibly rich, and works well when mixed into dishes or served as a condiment, such as a dollop over some vegetarian chili.

On its own, this TJ's vegan sour cream has an uninspiring and lingering after-taste that is slightly bitter, rather than tangy as the original dairy is. But when I added it to my Black Bean and Corn Salad, the Trader Joe's Vegan Sour Cream Alternative mixed in delightfully and provided a creamy boost, and I barely noticed the aftertaste.

It should be noted that although the taste of the TJ Vegan Sour Cream Alternative isn't my absolute favorite, it still ranks high in terms of all of the vegan sour creams that I've sampled.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this Trader Joe's Vegan Sour Cream Alternative, provided it isn't the star of your recipe. Because of its high coconut content, it isn't the most heart-healthy option, since it's relatively high in saturated fat, but then again, if you're reaching for a sour cream alternative, you're probably not seeking a health food.

Because it's a new product, TJ's Vegan Sour Cream is slowly trickling into locations nationwide. While there's a good chance that your neighborhood Trader Joe's will have it, it's always a good idea to call ahead and check first. In the store, it will be located in the refrigerated section with the other dairy sour creams.

For the best vegan products to purchase at Trader Joe's visit our handy guide to the retailer's top plant-based offerings.

For more taste tests and to find the best plant-based products, visit The Beet's Beet Meters columns, where we rank dairy-free and meatless alternatives for health and taste.

Fast-food restaurants have finally got the memo that their customer base isn’t just coming through for a burger, fried chicken, or a beef taco. Many now have plant-based foods and are coming up with creative, delicious ways to get more greens on the menu. Here are the 6 best fast-food chains with plant-based options on the menu.

Turns out there’s a lot more to rely on than a salad if you’re eating plant-based. Burger King has the Impossible Whopper featuring a meatless patty as well as a few secretly vegan options such as the French Toast Sticks and Hashbrowns.

Known for its mini square-shaped sliders, this hamburger chain jumped on the plant-based bandwagon at some participating locations. You can find an Impossible Slider on some White Castle menus.

This was the first national Mexican fast-food chain to offer Beyond Meat at the company’s 580 restaurants across the country. Del Taco has the Beyond Avocado Taco on the menu along with the Epic Beyond Original Mex Burrito and Avocado Veggie Bowl.

Another brand synonymous with beef burgers, Carl’s Jr. offers several plant-based options for veggie and plant lover such as Beyond Famous Star Burger and Guacamole Thickburger.

This fast-food restaurant may have been one of the first you frequented while transitioning to plant-based eating. That’s because Taco Bell has eight million vegetarian combinations and sells 350 million vegetarian items a year through menu substitutions or ordering off their vegetarian menu. In fact, they were the first quick-service restaurant to offer American Vegetarian Association (AVA) certified food options.

From the time it started offering breakfast sandwiches in 2006, the coffee conglomerate became a competitor in the fast-food space. You can get your favorite hot and cold beverages made with almond, coconut or oat milk but there are also plant-based food options available such as the Baja Black Bean Veggie Wrap, bagel with vegan cream cheese and Impossible Breakfast Sandwich.