Trader Joe's Fans Are Freaking Out Over The Return Of This Fall Ice Cream

Pumpkin spice might be an early 21st-century flavor trend thanks to Starbucks and its now-ubiquitous Pumpkin Spice Latte, but pumpkins have been associated with the fall for almost as long as there have been settlers. However, as Time reveals, pumpkin wasn't always a hit – in fact, in colonial America, it was seen as something people had when there was nothing better to eat. 

It wasn't until the mid-19th century when people started looking at pumpkins with a certain amount of longing and nostalgia, and the gourd took center stage in the fall, which coincidentally when they are at their peak and ready for harvest (via P. Allen Smith). Today, pumpkin flavoring not only appears in your favorite seasonal latte but also in cookies, pies, cheesecakes, and – thanks to Trader Joe's – as a super-premium ice cream flavor.

Per Trader Joe's website, the chain's seasonal pumpkin ice cream flavor delivers on its pumpkin promise by packing about 20% pumpkin puree into the premium ice cream and amps it up with nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. A serving of pumpkin ice cream, which comes in at ⅔ cup, delivers 290 calories per serving with 13 grams of fat, 41 grams of carbs, and 4 grams of protein.

In September 2020, the Instagram account Trader Joe's Food Reviews gave the limited-time flavor 9.5 out of 10, saying, "This is one of Trader Joe's best ice creams! It says super premium on the quart, and it lives up to that." So perhaps unsurprisingly, people freaked out about it coming back this year. The Instagram account Trader Joe's List announced the flavor's return, exclaiming, "IT'S BACK! Pumpkin Spice ice cream." The poser went on to declare, "I can't wait to pack my freezer with this!" And with the ice cream selling for an affordable $3.99, they might be able to pack their freezer pretty cheaply.

Other users digitally screamed for pumpkin ice cream, with someone rating it a 10 out of 10 this year. One user wrote, "Omg this is so good," and another could only manage heart-eyed emojis joined by the words "gimme gimme gimme." While some people had already revealed that they started stocking up on the product, one bummed-out commenter said that their local Trader Joe's never seems to have the new items when the account announces them. Another person remarked that their TJ's has been seeing significant shortages. So if you love pumpkin season, you might want to pounce on the chance to try this.