ALDI’s July 2025 New Items Taste Test

Based on the Aldi July Taste Test results, here’s a detailed breakdown of the products reviewed to help you decide whether to buy them. The taste test covers a variety of Aldi products, including savory and sweet items, with candid opinions on flavor, texture, and overall value. Below, I’ve summarized the key findings for each product, including recommendations, to guide your purchasing decision.

Savory Products

1. Vegan Butter Chickpeas and Vegetables (Microwavable, Indian-inspired)

   • Description: A vegan microwavable meal with chickpeas and vegetables, marketed as a butter chicken alternative.
   • Taste and Texture: Disappointing, described as bland, flavorless mush with a hint of frozen watery spinach. It lacks the rich flavor of traditional butter chicken and has an unappealing aftertaste.
   • Nutrition: 250 calories for the entire pouch, which isn’t high, but the 9g of fat feels indulgent for the lack of flavor.
   • Verdict: Not recommended. Reviewers found it underwhelming and suggested better Indian meal options at Trader Joe’s (e.g., paneer packets).
   • Buy or Skip?: Skip. Unless you’re desperate for a low-effort office lunch and don’t mind bland flavors, there are better alternatives.

2. Specially Selected Garlic Provola (Wood-Fired Flatbread)

   • Description: A flatbread topped with cheesy garlic sauce and cheese, possibly gluten-free or vegan-friendly (though not explicitly confirmed).
   • Taste and Texture: Delicious with a flavorful cheesy garlic sauce, but the crust is dry, especially away from the sauce. It has a pleasant sourdough-like chew and a hint of rosemary.
   • Suggestions: Can be enhanced with marinara, fresh basil, balsamic drizzle, or additional veggies for a party appetizer.
   • Verdict: Highly recommended, despite the dry crust. Reviewers loved the flavor and versatility.
   • Buy or Skip?: Buy, especially if you enjoy garlicky flatbreads and are willing to doctor it up for better texture.

3. Mama Cozzi’s Flatbread Pepperoni and Mozzarella (Refrigerated)

   • Description: A thin-crust flatbread pizza with pepperoni and mozzarella, found in the refrigerated section.
   • Taste and Texture: Tastes like a slightly better version of Totino’s pizza, with good pepperoni distribution to the edges. Thin but not cracker-like, it’s solid but not mind-blowing.
   • Suggestions: Would pair well with Frank’s Red Hot or ranch dressing for dipping.
   • Verdict: Decent and reliable, especially for pizza lovers who enjoy a no-crust style.
   • Buy or Skip?: Buy if you’re looking for an affordable, quick pizza option that’s kid-friendly and customizable.

4. Mama Cozzi’s Spinach and Feta Pizza

   • Description: A pizza with spinach, feta, and a creamy white garlic sauce.
   • Taste and Texture: Disappointing due to a bitter and sour creamy white garlic sauce, which overshadows the decent spinach and feta. The sauce was the main issue, described as “absolutely terrible” when isolated.
   • Verdict: Not recommended due to the unpleasant sauce.
   • Buy or Skip?: Skip. The sauce ruins an otherwise promising combination.

5. Mama Cozzi’s Cheese Stuffed Crust Nacho Cheese Chicken Pizza

   • Description: A pizza with queso-flavored cheese stuffed in the crust, described as a bold, unconventional flavor.
   • Taste and Texture: Polarizing—some reviewers loved the gooey, stretchy nacho cheese and found it fun, while others found it off-putting, likening it to “armpit” flavor due to a slight cumin taste. The double cheese texture was overwhelming for some.
   • Suggestions: Could be elevated with taco-inspired toppings like pickled jalapeños, black olives, sour cream, shredded lettuce, and onions.
   • Verdict: Worth trying if you’re adventurous and enjoy bold flavors, but it’s not for everyone.
   • Buy or Skip?: Buy if you’re curious about unique pizza flavors and don’t mind a strong queso taste; otherwise, skip.

6. Lobster Cake

   • Description: A frozen lobster cake with a mushy, orange interior.
   • Taste and Texture: Not bad but not great, with a bell pepper-like flavor and overly mushy texture. It’s not fishy, but the consistency is off-putting, and lobster isn’t prominent despite being the top ingredient.
   • Suggestions: Could be improved by smashing it down, frying it for crispness, and serving it on a sandwich or as a Benedict-style dish with eggs.
   • Verdict: Not worth purchasing unless you’re desperate to try it and willing to modify it significantly.
   • Buy or Skip?: Skip. The mushy texture and lack of distinct lobster flavor make it a pass.

7. Spring Nuggets and Tempura Carrot Coins with Burman’s Chicken Dipping Sauce
   

   • Description: Spring-shaped chicken nuggets (e.g., duck, butterfly, bunny) and tempura carrot coins, paired with a dipping sauce meant to mimic Chick-fil-A’s Polynesian sauce.
   • Taste and Texture:
     • Nuggets: Taste like McDonald’s nuggets with a familiar, nostalgic “pink slime” texture. Solid and kid-friendly.
     • Carrot Coins: Bland with a canned carrot flavor and mushy texture, even after air-frying. Not a hit.
     • Dipping Sauce: A standout, described as a honey mustard-pickle-barbecue hybrid, similar to Chick-fil-A’s Polynesian sauce. Reviewers loved it.
   • Verdict: Nuggets are good, the sauce is excellent, but the carrot coins are skippable.
   • Buy or Skip?: Buy the nuggets and dipping sauce for a fun, kid-friendly meal; skip the carrot coins unless you love mushy textures and plan to pair them with a strong dip.

Sweet Products

1. Clancy’s Carrot Cake Flavored Kettle Corn

   • Description: Kettle corn with a carrot cake flavor and frosting drizzle.
   • Taste and Texture: Disappointing, described as sweet with no carrot cake flavor, reminiscent of a “Jo-Ann’s Fabric” smell or a plasticky Polly Pocket shoe. Lacks spices or depth.
   • Verdict: Not recommended due to its lack of flavor and unappealing profile.
   • Buy or Skip?: Skip. It fails to deliver on the carrot cake promise.

2. Seven Up Lemon Lime Cake

   • Description: A moist, glossy cake with a lemon-lime flavor inspired by Seven Up.
   • Taste and Texture: A hit, described as “spunky,” moist, and tangy with a distinct Seven Up taste. Very soft and flavorful.
   • Suggestions: Would pair well with fresh berries or be perfect for an “Easter tea picnic.”
   • Verdict: Highly recommended for its unique and delicious flavor.
   • Buy or Skip?: Buy, especially if you enjoy citrusy, moist cakes for casual gatherings.

3. Carrot Cake Loaf (Sliced)

   • Description: A pre-sliced carrot cake loaf with frosting and nuts.
   • Taste and Texture: Very moist, creamy, and sweet without being overwhelming. Comparable to homemade pandemic baking, with bits of carrot and good frosting.
   • Suggestions: Great as-is for frosting lovers, or toast it and add cream cheese for a twist.
   • Verdict: A strong contender, highly recommended for cake lovers.
   • Buy or Skip?: Buy, especially if you love carrot cake or want a versatile dessert.

4. Belgian Chocolate Easter Cookies

   • Description: Large egg- and bunny-shaped cookies with chocolate coating and nuts (on the egg version).
   • Taste and Texture: Underwhelming, with nice-quality chocolate but a dry, stale cookie base that lacks buttery flavor. The nuts are a nice touch but not enough to save it.
   • Suggestions: Better dunked in a drink like a London Fog to add flavor.
   • Verdict: Fine but not exciting; overshadowed by the cakes.
   • Buy or Skip?: Skip unless you need a basic cookie for a springtime event and plan to pair it with a beverage.

Top Picks and Recommendations

• Best Savory: Garlic Provola (flatbread) and Burman’s Chicken Dipping Sauce were the standout savory items, with the flatbread praised for its flavor and the sauce for its versatility.
• Best Sweet: Seven Up Lemon Lime Cake and Carrot Cake Loaf were the clear winners, loved for their moisture and unique flavors.
• Overall Advice: Aldi’s baking section (cakes) and select savory items (flatbread, nuggets, sauce) shine, but many products are hit-or-miss. Stick to the recommended items unless you’re adventurous or willing to modify dishes (e.g., adding toppings to pizzas or frying lobster cakes).

Should You Buy These Products?

• Buy if: You’re looking for affordable, unique items like the Seven Up Cake, Carrot Cake Loaf, Garlic Provola, or Burman’s Dipping Sauce. These are great for casual meals, snacks, or gatherings.
• Skip if: You’re sensitive to bland or mushy textures (e.g., Vegan Butter Chickpeas, Lobster Cake, Carrot Coins) or dislike experimental flavors (e.g., Nacho Cheese Pizza). Many items require customization to shine, so consider your willingness to tweak them.

For more Aldi product reviews or to explore similar hauls, the reviewers suggest checking their website for rankings and additional content on Aldi, Trader Joe’s, Costco, and Dollar Tree products. If you’re intrigued by any of these, the cakes and dipping sauce are your safest bets for a satisfying purchase.