Like millions of other Americans, I get my groceries at Trader Joe’s. In fact, I frequent the grocery chain at least once per week, and once declared I’d think twice about moving to a new place if they didn’t have a nearby Trader Joe’s. Along with the free samples, competitive prices, and friendly crew members, one of the perks of shopping there is the consistent rollout of fresh, new products. But sometimes there’s a kicker—the products you fall in love with are seasonal.

Such is the case with the Black Garlic Cream Cheese Spread, which made its debut in early 2024 and left customers anticipating its long-awaited return. Finally—it’s back after a 1-year absence! Made with black garlic, it’s a thick, versatile schmear with a distinctly umami flavor and a subtle hint of sweetness. I picked up a tub of this garlicky goodness last week, and as a garlic lover, I have some thoughts. Here’s why I think you shouldn’t miss out on this seasonal, limited grocery item.

This Seasonal Product Is Here for the Spring

The chain’s new arrivals for spring include some beloved re-releases, including the Black Garlic Cream Cheese Spread. Trader Joe’s releases various flavors of cream cheese throughout the year, such as the Peaches + Cream Cream Cheese Spread in summer. Garlic enthusiasts have had to wait an entire year to get their hands on this flavor again. So, don’t wait to pick this up while you still can. It’s located in the refrigerated cheese case at Trader Joe’s, next to the other spreadable cheese products.

It Has Strong Garlic Notes, But It’s Also Complex

It’s right there in the name—this is a garlic-flavored cream cheese. But this isn’t your typical garlic and herb cream cheese. It’s made with black garlic—a type of aged garlic. Black garlic is made by placing garlic bulbs in a moist, temperature-controlled environment for several weeks, yielding changes in color and flavor. Like the name suggests, the aged garlic cloves have a brown-black hue. Aging them also gives the garlic cloves a deeper flavor.

I’m a garlic lover, but even I was shocked by how strong the garlic flavor is. You can’t miss the smell of garlic, and you can even see visible specks of black garlic swirled into the spread. Then I checked the ingredients—it contains fermented black garlic, dried garlic, and garlic powder. That’s three forms of garlic! But I’m not complaining. If anything, I’m impressed. So often, garlic-flavored products have just a hint of the spice, but not this one. If you belong to the “needs more garlic” camp, I think you’ll approve. And my garlic-loving husband (who ate more of this than I did) agrees.

Garlic flavor aside, a big selling point of this spread is its umami flavor. Umami is the fifth basic taste, and it’s Japanese for “delicious savory taste.” It’s mainly associated with meaty, brothy foods but can also be found in mushrooms and miso. Though garlic is thought to be a pungent, savory spice, aging it brings out its natural sweetness. Plus, since the black garlic is fermented, it has a tanginess to it too. Altogether, the spread has a complex flavor profile—it’s not just garlicky but also umami-rich, subtly sweet, and tangy.

This Spread Can Be Used at Any Meal

The obvious way to use this cream cheese spread is on a toasted bagel—maybe even with a shake of the top-rated Everything But The Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend. But it’s not just a condiment for your breakfast. You can use this in snacks, lunches, and dinners. Here’s how:

• Dip crackers or sliced veggies in it
• Spread it onto sandwiches instead of mayonnaise
• Add it to pasta sauces or stuffed pasta shells
• Top your baked potatoes with it instead of using sour cream
• Add it to eggs or omelettes

Final verdict? I would—and will—repurchase the Black Garlic Cream Cheese Spread. It’s a product you’d probably buy on a whim, which is likely why it’s seasonal and not a mainstay, but that gives us even more to look forward to every spring!