SheFinds editors independently select which products to write about, but in some cases may receive commission, free product or social media promotion in support of this coverage.
If there’s one thing Trader Joe’s is good at, it’s releasing seasonal and limited-edition dishes that go insanely popular. The downside? They sell out, they’re only available for a short period of time, and sometimes we never see them again. Such was the case with the seasonal Portuguese Custard Tarts—but not any longer, the popular tarts are back!
In an episode released by the retailer’s “Inside Trader Joe’s” podcast, Tara Miller, TJ’s VP of Marketing, confirmed their return. For spring, a “seasonal treat coming back in the frozen category is the Portuguese Custard Tarts,” she said. “And I can hear people, like, peeling out of their driveways immediately to go get these.”
READ MORE: 4 Tasty And Affordable Appetizers You Should Buy At Trader Joe’s For Easter Before They’re Gone
View this post on Instagram
What Are Portuguese Custard Tarts?
Also called Pastéis de Nata, the dish originates from Portugal and is made of a crispy puff pastry crust filled with egg custard. TJ’s version is directly imported from a bakery in Portugal and features the same flaky crust and custard middle, but preparation is much easier. The popular chain recommends baking the tarts for 20 minutes in the oven, 15 in the air fryer, or 55 seconds to cook one Tart in the microwave.
Tasty flavor and easy preparation make our hearts sing, but the best part about this frozen snack? They’re only $2.99, and that’s for a pack of four.
READ MORE: Trader Joe’s Just Brought Back This Ice Cream Flavor And Fans Say It’s The ‘Best Ice Cream Ever’
Fans React To Trader Joe’s Portuguese Custard Tarts
Well, are people actually ‘peeling out of their driveways’ as Miller says? We’re not sure about that, but fans sure are getting excited on the Internet. The popular TJ’s fan account @traderjoesobsessed, which has over a 600k following, is quite literally obsessing over the treats, and even rated them a 10/10.
View this post on Instagram
In the comments sections, fans sounded off in agreement. “Omg, have been waiting for them to come back!!!!,” wrote a commenter. Another fan gave the tarts an “11/10” and one fan even declared them “The best Trader Joe’s dessert EVER.”
Shoppers aware of the origins of the sweet dessert are happy to see an authentic version of the dessert on the market as well. “Best Pasteis de Nata I have found outside of Portugal,” wrote one reply. “They’re one of the best TJ items. So authentic!” replied another.
READ MORE: Trader Joe’s Just Teased 6 Exciting New Products—We Hope We Can Try Soon!
When Does Trader Joe’s Sell Portuguese Custard Tarts?
As many fans know, the Portuguese Custard Tarts seem to arrive like a thief in the night—unexpected and quick to vanish. Because Trader Joe’s considers these a seasonal item, they can only be bought in the springtime (if they keep bringing them back, that is). Luckily, they are back this year, but you’ll want to act fast to get your hands on them. TJ’s website admits that these “practically fly out of our freezers.” But why, why can’t we have them longer? Well, Miller and Mary Ann Tuzon, a category manager for frozen foods at Trader Joe’s, finally answered the question.
“We try to carry it for a good amount of time so that many customers can enjoy it. And it gives us an opportunity to do various types of desserts and ice creams throughout the year that, you know, scream like, Oh, here’s a good one, I better get it now,” said Tuzon on TJ’s spring podcast episode. “And, you know, it’s here for just a limited time, but then they get excited for that next item that’s coming down the pipeline.” This is true—Trader Joe’s constantly releases new seasonal products, and we definitely wouldn’t want to lose those, like Gingerbread Ice Cream and Apple Pumpkin Hand Pies.
“If we carried that every day, we wouldn’t have space in our store to introduce that other thing that’s gonna come a few months from now,” added Miller.
Too bad! It seems fans would surely love to purchase these year-round, but in a way, their lack of abundance makes them all the more enticing and exciting to see come around each year. Here’s to hoping we see them again next spring! But for now, head out to TJ’s before the freezers get raided.
