Choose a classic canoe-shaped pastry if you mainly want to serve a filled pastry, but don’t assume it is Fairtrade-certified unless the product says so. If verifiable Fairtrade cocoa matters more to you than the pastry itself, Verkade biscuits or chocolate containing cocoa are an alternative: according to Fairtrade Netherlands, all the cocoa in them is Fairtrade. For either option, check the allergens on the packaging of the product you serve.
You want to be able to verify where the cocoa comes from. According to Fairtrade Netherlands, all the cocoa in Verkade biscuits and chocolate bars is Fairtrade; that statement does not confirm that a supermarket’s canoe-shaped pastries are Fairtrade.
You’re looking for a filled pastry to serve with coffee or tea. Jumbo lists a butter pastry with almond paste; Albert Heijn, PLUS and ALDI also stock canoe-shaped pastries.
You want to know which guests can eat the product you choose. Jumbo’s product information lists wheat, milk, soya, egg and almond among the allergens in its butter canoe pastry; check the packaging of the product you serve.
First decide whether you specifically want to serve canoe-shaped pastries or whether verifiable Fairtrade cocoa is the priority. Then check the packaging for allergens and make sure you have enough for everyone.
Choose these: if you want to serve a filled pastry with coffee or tea.
Consider: check for a Fairtrade statement on the exact pastry; its shape or the shop selling it is no proof of that claim.
Choose these: if Fairtrade cocoa matters more than the shape and filling of a canoe-shaped pastry.
Consider: Fairtrade Netherlands confirms the cocoa claim for these Verkade products, not for canoe-shaped pastries from other brands.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Verifiable Fairtrade cocoa | Look for a Fairtrade statement that applies to the product you choose or the cocoa it contains; don’t infer this from the shop’s brand. | If Fairtrade matters to me, I want to be able to verify the claim for the treat I serve. Around 40% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Classic canoe-shaped pastry | Check the product description and buy enough packs for your guests. Jumbo lists five servings in its 275 g pack. | With coffee or tea, I specifically want to serve a filled pastry, not a chocolate bar or another biscuit. Around 30% of consumers prioritise this classic treat. |
| Allergens | Check the current packaging for both the ingredients and the ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements. | If guests avoid certain allergens, I want to know which treats are suitable for them before serving. This is the main concern for around 30% of consumers. |
A canoe-shaped pastry is not automatically a Fairtrade product. Fairtrade Netherlands’ statement about the cocoa in Verkade biscuits and chocolate bars does not also apply to pastries from other brands.
Check that the packaging or product page for the exact variety carries a Fairtrade statement. If this is essential, consider a Verkade biscuit or chocolate bar containing cocoa instead.
Jumbo lists wheat, milk, soya, egg and almond among the allergens in its butter canoe pastry. This means that variety is not suitable for every guest who needs to avoid allergens.
Check the packaging before serving, and if necessary offer a separate alternative whose ingredients and allergens you have also checked.
Albert Heijn says that ingredients, nutritional values and allergy information can change. So a product page you viewed earlier is not enough to confirm what is in a pack you buy later.
Check the packaging of the variety you actually buy for the garden party.
Jumbo lists Butter Canoe Pastries 275 g as butter pastries with almond paste.
Albert Heijn lists AH Butter Canoe Pastries 270 g in its biscuit range.
PLUS lists Butter Canoe Pastries 275 g in its biscuit range.
ALDI Netherlands lists Heerlijck Banket Canoe Pastries 330 g as pastries shaped like canoes.
Verkade is an alternative if Fairtrade cocoa matters more than serving a traditional canoe-shaped pastry.
No. A biscuit’s shape or the name of the shop does not confirm Fairtrade certification. Check that the statement applies to the exact pastry you want to buy.
For this variety, Jumbo lists almond, egg, gluten, milk, nuts, soya and wheat as allergens present. The product information also says that other cereals and nuts may be present, so check the full allergen statement on the pack you serve.
Use the number of servings on the packaging as a guide: Jumbo lists five servings for its Butter Canoe Pastries 275 g. Buy enough packs for your guests and keep a checked alternative separate for anyone who cannot eat these pastries.
Yes. A Verkade biscuit or chocolate bar containing cocoa can be an alternative to canoe-shaped pastries: according to Fairtrade Netherlands, all the cocoa in these Verkade products is Fairtrade. Also check the ingredients and allergens in the product you choose.
