The Brand That Might Be Behind Trader Joe's Mochi Ice Cream

On the list of popular Trader Joe's desserts that are worth the hype, TJ's mochi ice cream gets us every time. These beloved Japanese rice cakes stuffed full of sweet, creamy ice cream are a delicious bite that satiates our sweet tooth without feeling cloying or heavy. One of the leading Trader Joe's mistakes is not venturing beyond your normal shopping list to try the exciting new product offerings, so if you haven't yet picked up a box of mochi ice cream, we have to wonder what you're waiting for. We also have one burning question about this delightful dessert — who makes it? The internet seems to think it knows.

It's no secret that Trader Joe's outsources the manufacturing of its private-label products to some big brands, and, while it's only a matter of speculation at this time, social media site Reddit thinks it has cracked the code on the maker of the mochi ice cream. As per customer comparisons, the size, shape, and available flavors of Trader Joe's mochi ice cream are all in line with the popular mochi ice cream brand Bubbies. For instance, Trader Joe's put out a blood orange mochi ice cream as a rather unique seasonal flavor, while Bubbies offers a blood orange product that appears darn near identical. Given that Bubbies mochi ice cream is selling for over seven bucks a box at Publix as of this writing and a comparable package goes for $4.99 at Trader Joe's, this is (potentially) exciting news, indeed.

While Trader Joe's is prone to discontinue some of its popular products for a good reason, its mochi ice cream is going strong. Trader Joe's customers appreciate this treat, which they say is the perfect snack. On the same Reddit post where the Bubbies connection was speculated, commenters gushed about the deliciousness of the mochi. "Vanilla mochi... I have to keep them out of the house. So good," one happy customer confessed. When the aforementioned blood orange mochi ice cream was released, another Redditor was thoroughly happy with the new flavor: "The cashier said these taste like a creamsicle and she was right — just more tart. My favorite mochi flavor now." Over on Daily Waffle, another review of blood orange mochi ice cream spoke of surpassing expectations: "So would I buy Trader Joe's Blood Orange Mochi ice cream again? Definitely. I didn't expect to like it as much as I did! This one is worth picking up."

Does Bubbies, which was founded in Hawaii by a New Yorker who named his mochi after his grandmother, actually make Trader Joe's ice cream products? We may never know unless TJ's decides to spill the beans. That doesn't mean, however, that we can't take full advantage of a great price on a great product that has undeniable comparisons to a more expensive version. That's just what the internet is doing with Trader Joe's mochi ice cream.