The Seasonal Mustard Trader Joe's Fans Can't Get Enough Of

From quirky apple pie-flavored cheddar cheese to confounding chocolate lava gnocchi – Trader Joe's is practically the poster child for unique grocery store food products. This rotating variety is one of the many reasons why loyal fans love the grocery chain. But since many of the most idiosyncratic of its products are seasonal, shoppers have to jump on them as fast as they can to stock their pantries — especially with the most popular items. Take the one seasonal mustard Trader Joe's fans seem to be clamoring for — the brand's tangy, savory dill pickle mustard. 

So what exactly makes this particular product so sought-after? Well, the mustard includes real pickle pieces inside, plus a unique blend of spices that includes plenty of dill. And with a smooth and versatile mustard serving as the base, you can spread the condiment on just about anything. Plus, according to the Trader Joe's website, the recipe comes from a fifth-generation mustard maker, so it would appear to be the real deal.

Shoppers haven't soured on dill pickle mustard

Retailing for just $1.99, this beloved summer sauce is returning once again since fans continue to respond so positively to it. Upon the announcement of its return on Instagram, many users flocked to the comments singing its praises as a burger topping. "This needs to be permanent," one user commented. Another claimed that "this is awesome in deviled eggs, too." Others echoed similar sentiments, with one shopper admitting, "This is my all time favorite mustard."

Fans on Reddit expressed a similar appreciation for the product, with one person writing, "I'm so glad that TJ's created this concoction because I don't think I'll ever go back to using plain yellow mustard ever again." Another mustard fan on the platform urged fans to add it to a cheese sandwich. Even more lovers of the condiment begged for the seasonal product to become a permanent item on Twitter. However, if you're one of the many customers on that team, don't hold your breath. Most Trader Joe's seasonal products usually don't stick around for long.

Why your seasonal favorites aren't here to stay

Whether you're a fan of seasonal products like the summery dill pickle mustard or some winter-inspired peppermint pretzel slims, Trader Joe's doesn't plan on keeping your favorite item in stock forever — and that's by design. Seasonal products will remain seasonal at TJ's, no matter how popular an item gets. The reasoning? There simply isn't enough room on the shelves. As Harris Diamand, the Vice President of customer experience at 1WorldSync, told Winsight Grocery Business, "Trader Joe's is known for having a smaller selection of products than typical grocery stores, sometimes fewer than 2,000 products at a time. This is an intentional choice that the brand makes, as it spotlights its private label products that are procured directly from suppliers."

This is also how the chain can keep prices low. Occasionally seasonal products will become permanent, but it's a rare thing. In one episode from the Trader Joe's podcast, for example (yes, it exists), some of the chain's execs cited Trader Joe's seasonal frozen mashed potatoes which became a permanent product due to its popularity. So you never know. For all you know, your favorite dill pickle mustard might soon become available year-round.