Trader Joe’s Green Cheese Chile Tamales

May 10, 2006 | Reviewer: Amy

Trader Joe's Green Cheese chile Tamales

Price: $1.99
Serving: 1 tamale, 5 oz.
Calories: 280
Fat: 23%, 15g
Sodium: 27%, 640mg
Protein: 8g
Fiber: 20%, 5g

Nutritionally
Taste-wise

Trader Joe says: Handcrafted cheese and green chile tamales wrapped in corn husks

Amy says: I made a HUGE mistake before consuming this meal. While leaning over Abi’s shoulder I noticed the amount of fat in the product. My jaw dropped and then my head exploded when Abi informed me that the 15 grams of fat is in one, ONE pinche tamale!!! And the sodium is through the roof too! Dios mio!! I was ready to plop down and eat both of the tamales, but upon revealing the true nature of this beastly tamale I had to re-think my game plan.

The fat discovery likely played a large role in my lack of excitement for the tamales. I dare say that it made the tamale a bit sour at first bit. Yeah, dig the psychosomatic bit. About halfway through the first tamale I realized two things: 1) I was starting to enjoy the taste of the tamale, and 2) that there was no way I could eat the second tamale. This lightened my mood quite a bit and improved the flavor of the meal. I also took it upon myself to drizzle some (spill a ridiculous amount of) Trader Jose’s Mexican Sauce on the side of the plate. This ‘Mexican Sauce’ added to the tastiness of the lunch, but not so much to the fat content. The tamale was pretty tasty, filled with a generous serving of cheese and little bits of green chiles. The corn mush was not too mushy, but not too dry and each tamale held up in the microwave, aside from the cheese spilling out the ends. However, overall I would say that the taste of this meal does not make up for the outrageous fat and sodium content.

I learned an important life lesson today: I should either read the nutrition facts before buying the product or not buy it at all.

comments

5 Responses to “Trader Joe’s Green Cheese Chile Tamales”

tina on May 10th, 2006

So, I guess I’m glad I don’t really care for tamales, given the fat and sodium content. Though I’m sure I consume plenty of stuff that is similarly laden with unhealthy substances that make them taste so good. Shop the perimeter of the store they say….

tina
cybele on May 12th, 2006

I like the chicken and cheese ones, but I’ve been opting for the frozen chicken burritos lately. They’re still high in sodium, but much better in just about every other way. (But I haven’t read the label lately.) I usually only need one of the tamales or burritos as a full meal.
Andrea on January 30th, 2007

The fat content is true but these tamales are a nice, quick dinner if you want something tasty and “special”. Cook some veggies and serve. Fat is okay in moderation, people!
find the nail polish in this picture « water boils on March 2nd, 2007

[…] store brand Archer Farms. It is one of my guilty pleasures. It tastes very similar to the ones at Trader Joe’s and it is cheaper. In fact, I am suspecting that they use the same suppliers for most of their […]
suzette martinez on December 22nd, 2007

Just finished making my 3% sodium tamale’s. Yup, that’s right, 3% sodium per tamale. Health conscious food for a healthy family.

I can provide large orders if you want to sell them in your store.