14 Trader Joe's Valentine's Day Gift Ideas For The Foodie In Your Life

One Trader Joe's secret you might wish you knew is that this grocery store is actually Ground Zero for magnificent, foodie-approved Valentine's Day treats. Sure, chocolate is absolutely ripe with the symbolism of the holiday – and, rest assured, TJ's has you covered on chocolate treats — but we're willing to bet that, for the home chef in your life, bonbons aren't the be-all and end-all. Sometimes, the sweetest thing you can get your sweetheart is a rich, slightly stinky hunk of delicious cheese or even hot sauce that will set their mouth ablaze. We personally find a savory snack mix to be an excellent medium to convey romance, especially if it's packed in a bag and taken on a leisurely, hand-in-hand walk or used as the starter course for an intimate al fresco picnic. 

You may not be able to buy love, but Trader Joe's is proving that Valentine's Day goodies also need not cost a fortune. Astoundingly, every one of our suggestions on this list currently clocks in at under $15, making them perfect for a budget celebration or as components of a larger gift basket full of gourmet goodies. As ever, check with your local store for availability before braving the crowds to accumulate treats for your beloved. There's a reason why popular Trader Joe's items are frequently sold out, and it generally isn't a good idea to fixate overmuch on just one item. Note that all prices are accurate as of this writing.

You can create your own homemade vanilla extract with just two ingredients, but, trust us, it won't hold a candle to this vanilla bean paste. In our experience, it's a hack to upgrade almost any baked sweet, and will delight the home baker in your life. In this case, "Bourbon" refers to the Bourbon Islands of the Indian Ocean, not the spirit. Swapping paste for extract is easy-peasy, since the "paste" is viscous. If you get lucky, your paramour might make you some heart-shaped cookies using this. Currently, you can purchase Bourbon Vanilla Bean Paste for $4.99.

Dubai chocolate may be the confectionary trend taking the world by storm, but, for our V-Day gifting, give us something simpler — but equally decadent. These indulgent bites of chocolate-draped sweetness don't contain actual honeycomb, but, rather, a candy made of sugar, honey, and baking soda. Air pockets in the resulting product mimic the cells of honeycomb. These treats are so much more buzzy than a cardboard heart filled with plasticky "chocolate," and we think your honey will bee entranced. Milk Chocolate Covered Honeycomb Candy is available for $4.49. 

The worst store-bought pasta sauce may be akin to ketchup water, but this three-pack of traditional Italian sauces is sure to delight. Nothing says lovin' like a spaghetti dinner, à la "Lady and the Tramp." Put on some Sinatra, light a candle or two ... baby, you're golden! The manufacturer of this sauce trio also grows the tomatoes themselves, making each bottle a labor of love, perfectly fitting for gifting to somebody who stirs your heart. You can purchase the Italian Tomato Pasta Sauce Trio for $9.99. 

There are many types of chocolate, all with different uses, and we admire the Trader Joe's commitment to cocoa displayed via these bon bon cookies. Dark chocolate mousse atop cookies is draped luxuriantly in Belgian dark chocolate and sprinkled with cocoa nibs, amounting to a bite even more satisfying than bougie truffles. Even better, you won't get scalped on the cost the way that candy companies do when you rove the aisles looking for Valentine's bonbons. We're biased cookie-holics, but this wins, hands down. The Dark Chocolate Covered Bon Bon Cookies are currently priced at $3.49. 

Trader Joe's wine is known for being cheap, and this bottle of almond wine is no exception. Still, we can't help but feel that it's a worthy Valentine's Day offering. Sugary marzipan (made from almonds) was historically considered a gift fit for kings, and this effervescent sip puts us in mind of that underrated sweet treat. Almond wine is fermented from grapes, like regular wine, but with almond flavoring added for nuttiness and warmth — great for toasting to your love. Purchase Almond Creek Almond Flavored Sparkling Wine for $7.99. 

If your Valentine is a teetotaler, that doesn't have to mean that a celebratory quaff is off the table. This sparkling tea, imported from Germany, is a carbonated mix of green, oolong, and white tea leaves that will quench your thirst (and craving for nose-tickling fizz) without the buzz. Some Debbie Downers might call it bad etiquette to clink wine glasses, but we say that you should live it up. Bring this bottle along next time you play hooky from work and spend a day on the town. The Non-Alcoholic Blanc Sparkling Tea is just $8.99 as of writing. 

Using a high-cacao chocolate bar instead of chips in your cookies is considered a pro move — to that end, may we recommend this exquisite dark chocolate bar? Obviously, your giftee doesn't have to bake with it, as this will make for delightful nibbling all on its own. We've already mentioned that grown-up Valentines deserve grown-up treats, and there are few indulgences in the world more mature than quality dark chocolate. Even the pretty wrapper screams "gift me to someone special." You can buy the Organic Dark Chocolate Bar 73% Cacao for $2.69. 

Preserved fruits are another sentimental gift with a long history; in days of antiquity, they were a clever way of making seasonal fruit last all year. California isn't just home to Foodie's favorite burritos; it's also the source of these scrumptious apricots, which are known for being firmer and not quite as cloying as other varieties. They're still sweet, just with a balanced note of mouth-puckering tartness that your Valentine will appreciate. The "extra choice" refers to their superb quality, which makes them also extra fit for giving. Purchase Extra Choice California Apricots for $4.99. 

What could possibly epitomize a flawless Valentine's Day gift in one shaker better than pink salt with a spicy aftertaste? Plain Jane, always-useful kosher salt may be Ina Garten's go-to, but we think your lovemuffin will find this salt a lot more versatile than it initially appears. (Worth its salt, even!) A few of Trader Joe's recs include salting the rim of your cocktail glass or garnishing pasta, but we'd dare to sprinkle a bit on some brownies. The Spicy Pink Salt with Crushed Red Chili Pepper is currently available for $1.99. 

We previously compared Aldi and Trader Joe's for affordable charcuterie and decided that, for variety, you couldn't beat TJ's. Your favorite host(ess) with the most(ess) will appreciate being gifted this intensely-flavorful can of mixed nuts spiked with the pungent scent and taste of rosemary. Almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, and pecans make for a bountiful spread. Or, if they don't want to share, your beloved can do their best squirrel impression and munch this treat solo, fist by fist ... since love means never saying you're sorry (or sharing). You can buy the Nuts About Rosemary Mix for $7.99. 

If you know the signs that you are buying real olive oil, you're aware there's a lot of fakers out there. Crafted from a mélange of three Sicilian olives, this EVOO promises the peppery savor and verdant notes of the authentic stuff, making it perfect for dipping, drizzling, or even sipping, if you follow Mediterranean tradition. Good olive oil is such a kitchen workhorse that this is as much a practical gift as a sentimental one, showing your darling that you care about every meal. The highly-regarded Sicilian Selezione Extra Virgin Olive Oil is available at $10.99. 

Remind your pookie that they're the Big Cheese in your heart by giving the gift of gouda this Valentine's Day. Don't laugh, because Kaamté Gouda isn't just any humdrum queso. It's a farmstead cheese made from happy Dutch cows, and you'll taste the difference. Your Valentine can shave off bits to eat with wine and crackers, or run it through a cheese grater for a superb patty melt, since we all know shredded cheese belongs on sandwiches. Trust us, it's not cheesy to gift this exceptional wedge. Purchase Kaamté Gouda Style Cheese for $13.49. 

When you want to gift a spicy condiment with more foodie cred than your quotidian Tabasco, turn to a South African chile sauce. Bird's Eye peppers are hotter and have a nicer flavor than run-of-the-mill chiles, and we hear that this sauce is especially lovely with chicken dishes. Roast chicken is the perfect accompaniment to Champagne, meaning we can hazard a guess how your next sweethearts' feast will go. Or simply enjoy this sauce with wings and beer over "Netflix and chill" ... we won't judge! Currently, the Bird's Eye Chile Hot Sauce is going for $2.99. 

The Hawaiian barbecue plate isn't the only exceptional food to come out of the 50th state; not by a long shot. The Aloha State also gave us furikake mix, which Trader Joe's remixed to include such snacky ingredients as seaweed flakes, mochi crisps, wasabi peas, and other crunchies all tossed in a blend of garlic, mushroom, and onion powder. If your Valentine likes a little nibble while reading a book, buying them a couple bags of this unique nosh will let them know that you notice the small things. Purchase the Trader Joe's Furikake Snack Mix for $3.99.