Okay, cheese lovers, drop what you’re doing. Trader Joe’s just quietly slid a brand-new block onto the cheese case, and it might be the most “why didn’t anyone think of this sooner” find of August. It’s called The Sheepish Pesto, and it’s exactly what it sounds like: a semi-firm sheep’s milk cheese from Spain, swirled through with garlicky, nutty pesto until the whole block turns a gorgeous shade of green. At $6.49 for a 5.3-ounce wedge, it’s a serious upgrade for anyone who’s been stuck buying the same block of Manchego on repeat.
What Makes This Cheese Worth the Hype
Sheep’s milk cheese already has a fan base for being a little sweeter and tangier than cow’s milk versions, but The Sheepish Pesto takes it somewhere new. The pesto infusion brings basil, garlic, and pine nut flavor straight into the cheese itself, so you get umami, herby, garlicky notes in every bite without dirtying a single spoon. Shoppers who’ve already tracked it down are saying it tastes like someone stuffed a charcuterie board’s best appetizer into a single block.
“It’s basically a cheese board and an appetizer platter rolled into one $6.49 block — genuinely one of the smartest new items TJ’s has dropped all month.”
And here’s the part that should light a fire under you: this is a limited-time item. Trader Joe’s loves to do this — bring in a small-batch import, let it build a cult following, and then pull it before anyone’s ready to say goodbye. If The Sheepish Pesto follows the pattern of past limited runs, it won’t stick around past the end of the season.
How to Actually Use It
The obvious move is a charcuterie board — slice it thin, fan it out next to some crusty bread and cured meats, and let the green swirls do the visual heavy lifting. But don’t stop there. Crumble it over roasted tomatoes and creamy polenta for an easy weeknight dinner, melt it into a grilled cheese for a garlicky twist on a classic, or toss cubes of it into a pasta salad in place of mozzarella. It’s rich enough that a little goes a long way, which makes that $6.49 price tag stretch even further.
If you’ve already been stocking up on other new TJ’s drops this month, this cheese slots right in. It pairs shockingly well with the Ham & Swiss Croissant Pockets for a savory breakfast spread, and if you want to round out a full spread of this month’s new arrivals, check our running list of everything new at Trader Joe’s this summer. Got a sweet tooth too? The Raspberry Filled Donuts that dropped alongside it make a surprisingly great dessert pairing after a cheese-and-crackers dinner.
Don’t Wait on This One
Limited-time cheeses at Trader Joe’s have a track record of vanishing fast, whether because of small import batches or because shoppers clear the shelves before restocks catch up. If you spot The Sheepish Pesto on your next run, grab more than one block — it freezes reasonably well if you’re worried about missing out later, and at under $7, it’s an easy add to any cart.
Have you tried The Sheepish Pesto yet? Let us know in the comments how you’re using it, and keep checking back — we’re tracking every new Trader Joe’s drop as it hits shelves this month.
Photo credits: Hero image via Trader Joe’s / The Daily Meal. Secondary image via ARTIMENTE/Shutterstock, courtesy of The Daily Meal.
