May 24, 2021

I’ve had Portuguese custard tarts — better known as Pasteis de Nata — twice in my life. The tarts I had were fresh and tasty and I remember that if I could find a bakery to order them from, I would have them again.

Thus, when browsing — you guessed it — my favorite grocery store, Trader Joe’s, I spotted a box with the distinct image of Portuguese custard tarts! This product was imported from Portugal, so I figured it had to be an authentic product, especially if Trader Joe’s would include it on their shelves.

So for this week’s ingredient review, I’m sharing what I thought about Trader Joe’s Portuguese Custard Tarts.

Ingredient Review

Trader Joe’s Portuguese Custard Tarts Packaging | Score 7 of 10

I was going to give the packaging for Trader Joe’s Portuguese Custard Tarts a 10/10. I love the realistic photo for the cover of the packaging, which is different from some of the other product packaging we’ve seen at Trader Joe’s. It also gives consumers an idea of what the dessert is, if they’ve never had a Portuguese tart before.

I also like that the nutrition facts are broken down for one custard tart or the full serving of 4.

However, what made me change my mind about the packaging score, is that the custard tarts are loose in the cardboard packaging. So as I turned and moved the box, the contents were hitting into one another. Since this is a flaky tart, some of the edges of the tart broke and fell off while removing them from the box.

It would be good if the tarts were arranged in a holder, such as the mochi ice cream, that separated them from one another. The tarts had metal tins that made it easy for them to be removed from the box for baking, but they were otherwise loose to move around.

My additional thoughts about the packaging is that if you didn’t make all four tarts, it would be difficult to store the opened package since the box did not have a tab to fasten closed.

You could place the cardboard box in a Ziplock bag to prevent freezer burn, however, as a consumer I like to point out the user experience of a product design and how it may improve its packaging.

How much does Trader Joe’s Portuguese Custard Tarts Cost? | Score 10 of 10

I couldn’t find my paper receipt, but according to the online website, Trader Joe’s Portuguese Custard Tarts are $2.99. Which I think is a great price for the quality and size of these custard tarts.

Portuguese Custard Tarts Texture and Flavor | Score 10 of 10

The back of the package gives you options for baking the custard tarts in the oven, air fryer, or microwave, which I think is clever.

I baked my Portuguese custard tarts in the oven at 375°F (190°C) for 20-minutes. Then, I removed them from their metal tins, and served hot.

The warmed phyllo shell reminded me of Nadiya’s Raspberry Cheesecake Croissants. It was crisp, buttery, and light. Even with the good amount of custard to shell, the shell did not become soggy or too crisp on the bottom.

I was pleasantly surprised that the custard filling was not overly sweet. I find some frozen desserts that are custard based can taste eggy but that was not the case with these tarts.

Recommendation

I would buy Trader Joe’s Portuguese Custard Tarts again. They felt fancy and tasted fantastic for a frozen product that I baked without effort!

Do you have a favorite Trader Joe’s Dessert?

Leave a comment below and tell me about it! Or if you’re looking to make your own homemade desserts, browse my dessert recipes here.