Choose a box of chocolates if you want to hand out something sweet during a snack night or take a thoughtful gift with you. Individually wrapped chocolates are handy for this. Choose crushed aniseed sprinkles if you’re looking for an aniseed flavour and a topping for things such as crispbread or yoghurt, rather than a substitute for a box of chocolates. Whichever you choose, check the label if anyone attending has allergies.
If you want to put out or hand round something sweet without any preparation, a box of individually wrapped chocolates is a better fit than loose sprinkles. The merci assortments described by Albert Heijn and Jumbo are examples of this type of packaging.
If you’re looking for a topping for crispbread, yoghurt or cakes, crushed aniseed sprinkles are a good match. Albert Heijn and Jumbo describe the De Ruijter variety reviewed as crushed, sugar-coated aniseed.
If you’re buying for a group, ask which allergens you need to take into account and read the label on the pack you choose. The ingredients and allergens listed differ between the De Ruijter and merci varieties reviewed.
Choose this if: you want to take chocolates with you or offer them to guests straight away. The merci boxes described by Albert Heijn and Jumbo contain individually wrapped bars.
Bear in mind: an assortment may contain several allergens that matter to you. Check the label on the specific variety you choose.
Choose this if: you want an aniseed topping for things such as crispbread, yoghurt or cakes.
Bear in mind: you’ll need something to sprinkle them on; the De Ruijter variety reviewed contains wheat.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sharing straight away or taking with you | Check whether the chocolates are individually wrapped and how many pieces are in the pack you’ve chosen. | If I want to offer guests something without any preparation, easy sharing is my top priority. Around 40% of consumers say sharing convenience comes first. |
| Aniseed flavour and use as a topping | Decide whether you’re looking for a topping for crispbread, yoghurt or cakes, rather than ready-to-eat chocolates. | If I want to add an aniseed flavour to a dish, I’m looking for sprinkles, not a chocolate assortment. This is the main consideration for around 30% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Check both the ingredients and any warnings about the possible presence of allergens on the pack you choose. | When I’m buying for people with food allergies, I want to assess which pack is suitable first. This check is the top priority for around 30% of consumers. |
You could end up with an aniseed topping when what you wanted was chocolates that guests can help themselves to.
Before you buy, decide whether you need a topping for a dish or a ready-to-share chocolate assortment.
The merci varieties reviewed list ingredients including milk, nuts and soya; wheat is a consideration with the De Ruijter sprinkles reviewed. The information that applies depends on the exact pack.
Ask the group in advance which allergens are relevant, then check the label on the product you’re actually buying.
A pack you’ve seen before may no longer be available. The 196 g Celebrations sharing pack reviewed was listed as unavailable at Jumbo.
Check the product listing just before you buy. If you choose a different assortment, check its ingredients and packaging information again.
The 270 g pack of Gestampte Muisjes reviewed is an aniseed topping for things such as bread, crispbread and decoration.
The assortment boxes described by Jumbo and Albert Heijn contain individually wrapped chocolate bars.
The 196 g sharing pack reviewed is an example of mixed chocolates to offer a group.
These products suit anyone looking for chocolates to share during a snack night or take along as a thoughtful gift. If you’re looking for an aniseed topping instead, crushed aniseed sprinkles are a different type of product.
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A chocolate gift pack to take with you or share with others.
Contents: 288 g. Before buying, check whether the bars are individually wrapped if you want each guest to be able to take their own portion. Check the latest allergen information for your guests.
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A chocolate assortment for anyone who wants to offer guests a selection of chocolates.
Contents: 143 g. Check the pack you choose to see how many pieces it contains and whether they’re individually wrapped. Check the label if allergens are a concern.
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A smaller chocolate collection to take along as a thoughtful gift.
Contents: 125 g. If you want to hand out the chocolates to several guests individually, check how many pieces there are and how each one is wrapped. Also read the allergen information for this variety.
No. Crushed aniseed sprinkles are a sugar-coated aniseed topping for things such as crispbread or yoghurt; you can serve a box of chocolates without anything to sprinkle them on. Choose based on what you want to serve during your snack night.
Always check the exact pack: the De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes reviewed contains wheat, while the merci assortments reviewed list ingredients including milk, hazelnuts, almonds and soya. Also check for information about the possible presence of other allergens, and don’t rely on the label for a different variety.
Store the crushed aniseed sprinkles reviewed in a dry place and protect the chocolate gift box reviewed from heat. Follow the storage advice on the pack you’ve bought, including after opening.
Check availability just before you buy. The 196 g Celebrations sharing pack reviewed was listed as unavailable at Jumbo; that doesn’t apply to other packs. If you choose an alternative, compare the packaging and allergens again.
