I’m actually not that big a fan of peppermint. I associate minty flavored items with toothpaste and mouthwash or chewing gum. It’s not really a flavor I enjoy eating.

HOWEVER… I adore Trader Joe’s Peppermint Joe-joes! First of all, I love that they are NOT made with high fructose corn syrup or hydrogenated oils. But then you add in the peppermint with the chocolate and it’s so yummy-licious! And then this year I discovered CHOCOLATE COVERED peppermint Joes-joes! Thank goodness the box they come in is smaller so I feel guilty having more than one at a time, not that I could and believe me, I have tried! The chocolate is so rich and thick and it’s covered with lovely little bits of peppermint! Of course, now they are all gone from my Trader Joe’s and basically the warehouse too!

I also bought a canister of the Peppermint Hot Chocolate. I have yet to try it. I originally was going to open it for Christmas but seeing how there are no more chocolate covered peppermint joes-joes, I will save my canister for January.

I also tried the peppermint whoopie pies. Complete mistake! First of all, I don’t like whoopie pies. I have not tasted a whoopie pie that I enjoy. Don’t get me wrong, they look very tasty but the cake part and the filling part, bleah. I have not found a flavor or texture that I like yet! In spite of all this, I still went ahead and purchased the peppermint whoopie pies. I inhale the chocolatey pepperminty goodness. Mmmmm my mind thinks, this should be good! I sink my teeth into that first bite. The chocolate flavor I can taste and smell at the time. And then the cake hits my tongue. UGH!! this weird wannabe cake or maybe brownie artificial ickness taste profile emerges!! I spit it out. Ok, let me try the filling next. It smells so pepperminty and I love most frostings. I gingerly swipe some frosting filling with my tongue. Hmmm, it’s pepperminty but that’s the only nice thing I can say about it. Needless to say, I will NOT be purchasing the whoopie pies again! But chocolate peppermint joes-joes? You will be dancing in head as I sleep until next Christmas!