Trader Joe's $3.99 Sparkling Apple Elderflower drew 655 upvotes — and a split over 'bland and bitterish'
Trader Joe's new $3.99 Sparkling Apple Elderflower puts 750 milliliters of non-alcoholic bubbly in a wine-bottle shape for the Thanksgiving table, and the 655-upvote Reddit thread splits between a Pinot Grigio comparison and a 'bland and bitterish' complaint.
The pick
Trader Joe's Sparkling Apple Elderflower Juice Beverage costs $3.99 for 25.36 fluid ounces, which is 750 milliliters. 1
The product page carries a Limited Time badge. The bottle sits with the chain's other bubbly juices, sodas and ciders. 1
The r/traderjoes post went up on the evening of October 28. By the following morning the thread held 655 upvotes, a 99.8% positive rate and 44 comments. 2
The Fearless Flyer dated November 2 lists the bottle at $3.99 per 750 milliliters, while supplies last. 3
Costco's loudest food thread of the week was Dot's Snack Mix, at 1,038 upvotes on November 2. The warehouse chain has sold that mix since April. 67
What's in the bottle
Trader Joe's says a supplier in Spain blends sweet apple juice concentrate with elderflower extract and carbonated water. 1
Natural flavors, citric acid and malic acid complete the ingredient list. 1
The label promises a cider-like apple base with "a touch of floral, pear-and-lychee-like notes" from the elderflower. 1
The numbers
The label calls the bottle about two servings, at 12 fluid ounces each. 1
One 12-ounce glass carries 70 calories, 16 grams of carbohydrate and 12 grams of sugar, with 0 grams of added sugars. 1
The full bottle works out to roughly 140 calories and 26 grams of sugar. 1
At $3.99, a 12-ounce pour costs $1.89, and a 5-ounce pour the size of a glass of bubbly costs about 79 cents.
What shoppers are saying
Most of the 44 comments came from shoppers who had yet to open a bottle and were describing what they planned to do with one. 2
Two shoppers described how it tastes, and their accounts pull apart. 2
"This was really tasty. It had a Pinot Grigio vibe to me, but non alcoholic. I would get it again for a special occasion," one wrote. 2
Asked about sweetness, that shopper added: "I didn't find it that sweet personally. You can taste the apple and elderflower but it's not like apple juice." 2
The other was blunt: "I didn't really like the flavor, not really appley enough it tasted somewhat 'bland' and bitterish to me?" 2
Shoppers who skip alcohol carried much of the thread's enthusiasm. "As someone who ho doesn't drink alcohol this looks awesome" drew 30 upvotes. 2
Another: "I will definitely be picking this up asap and saving for thanksgiving! We don't drink alcohol, and this sounds like the perfect fun bevvy." 2
One shopper reached for a comparison: "IKEA sells something similar year round and it was my favorite non-alc for when I was pregnant." 2
Others treat it as a base to build on: "Gonna mix this with some St Germain for double the elderflower, double the fun," and "Just needs a shot of clear tequila for it to be perfect lol." 2
One store's shelf sign called the flavor berry. A shopper flagged it, and a reply promised to pass the correction to the art team. 2
How to serve it
Trader Joe's suggests the bottle alongside "the richness of poultry and Stuffing." That pairing is what the wine-bottle shape is dressed for. 1
The Kitchn's reviewer described it as "perky, citrusy, aromatic," and wrote that it drinks well undiluted. 8
Her verdict: "I personally wouldn't be surprised if these get drained before your actual bubbly." 8
A bottle pours five 5-ounce glasses, or two 12-ounce servings by the label. 1
Buy it or skip it
Buy one if your table includes non-drinkers or kids and you want a bottle that looks at home beside the wine.
Buy two if eight people are coming and this is the alcohol-free pour: two bottles give ten wine-glass servings.
Skip it if you want a sweet all-apple cider. The elderflower pulls the flavor floral, and one shopper found the result thin and bitter.
One shopper who wants plain apple instead called a store about the chain's canned Sparkling Apple Juice. The answer was the first week of November. 2
Stock varies by store, and one shopper hoped it would reach their area. 2
Look for product code 084792, or check the Trader Joe's product page before you make the trip.
What else came off the same truck
- Freeze-Dried Queen Pineapple, $3.79 for 1.2 ounces. The week's second-biggest Trader Joe's thread drew 185 upvotes and 40 comments: "OMG these are sooooo goooooood!!!!!!!" 9
- Apple Cabbage Slaw Salad Kit, $4.49 for 13.25 ounces, a limited-time kit that Trader Joe's sells from September through January. Posted November 4 with 170 upvotes: "one of my new favorite salad kits." 1011
- Sticky Toffee Cheddar, $12 a pound, an English cheddar studded with raisins, dates and toffee pieces. 4
References
- 1Trader Joe's: Sparkling Apple Elderflower Juice Beverage
traderjoes.com
- 2
- 3Trader Joe's: Fearless Flyer Thanksgiving Guide
traderjoes.com
- 4
- 5
- 6r/Costco: Dot's Snack Mix is 10/10
reddit.com
- 7r/Costco: Dot's Snack Mix, April 2026
reddit.com
- 8The Kitchn: The Best New Trader Joe's November Items
thekitchn.com
- 9
- 10Trader Joe's: Apple Cabbage Slaw Salad Kit
traderjoes.com
- 11
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