Holiday gift-giver
You’re looking for chocolate to give as a present during the summer holidays. You want to know which flavours and packaging suit the occasion, and how to protect your gift from the heat.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Traveller looking for a snack
You want to take Dutch breakfast cake with you and are checking whether the portions, ingredients and packaging suit your journey.
Shopper checking for allergens
You’re buying for someone who needs to avoid certain ingredients. That’s why you check the allergen information on the current packaging of the exact variety you’ve chosen.
What should you look for when choosing?
Chocolate gift
Ideal for: a visit or a thank-you when you want to give someone a present.
Bear in mind: the storage instructions for your chosen box. Albert Heijn says its Merci gift box should be protected from heat.
Dutch breakfast cake
Ideal for: something to eat on the go, especially if you want to take individual portions with you.
Bear in mind: breakfast cake serves a different purpose from a chocolate gift box. Packaging and nutritional information vary by variety.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gift or snack | First, decide what you’ll use it for. For a gift, look at the contents and presentation; for a journey, check the portion packaging. | I want to take something to a visit and am looking for packaging suitable for giving as a present. For around 42% of consumers, suitability as a gift comes first. |
| Transport and storage | Read the storage instructions for your chosen chocolate and check that the packaging is suitable for your journey. | When travelling, I want to avoid making my purchase difficult to carry because of heat or an awkward size. Transport and storage are the main concern for around 33% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and nutritional information | Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional values per 100 g or per portion on the exact packaging. | When buying for myself or someone else, I want to know which ingredients and allergens the product contains first. This check is a priority for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Comparing a chocolate box and Dutch breakfast cake as if they were the same type of purchase
A gift box and a snack for the journey serve different purposes. An attractive box doesn’t necessarily make it suitable as a travel snack, and a handy portion doesn’t automatically make breakfast cake a suitable gift.
First decide whether you want to give something as a present or eat it yourself. Then compare products within that category.
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Overlooking the storage instructions for chocolate
Albert Heijn says the Merci gift box should be protected from heat. This is worth bearing in mind if you’re taking it with you on a warm journey.
Read the instructions on your chosen packaging and avoid carrying or storing it in a warm place for long periods.
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Trusting the brand name instead of checking the label
Ingredients, allergens and nutritional values can vary between varieties. According to the manufacturer, Peijnenburg’s plain variety contains rye flour and may contain milk, hazelnuts and almonds, among other ingredients.
Just before buying, check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging of the exact variety, even if you’ve already looked at the product online.
Brands and shops to explore
Peijnenburg
Peijnenburg is worth considering if you’re looking at Dutch breakfast cake for the journey.
- The manufacturer offers a plain variety with individually wrapped portions.
- According to Peijnenburg, this plain variety contains rye flour and may contain milk, hazelnuts, almonds and other cereals containing gluten. Check the label on your chosen packaging.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn is a shop where you can find both chocolate gifts and Dutch breakfast cake; these are separate product categories.
- The listed Merci gift box contains a selection of flavours and individually wrapped chocolates.
- Albert Heijn says product information may change. Check the ingredients and allergens on the current packaging.
Lidl
Lidl is a shop where you can browse varieties of Dutch breakfast cake, rather than a comparable chocolate box.
- Lidl’s product pages listed, among other things, luxury Dutch breakfast cake and sugar-free Dutch breakfast cake.
- The pages we looked at said these products were only available in store. Check current availability before you set off.
Related products on Joybuy
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
How do I take a chocolate box with me on a warm journey?
Follow the storage instructions on your chosen packaging and avoid prolonged exposure to heat. Albert Heijn specifically says its Merci gift box should be protected from heat; check the instructions separately for any other box.
Is the allergen information on a product page enough?
Use the product page to narrow down your options, but check the current packaging before you buy. Albert Heijn says information about ingredients and allergens may change.
Does Dutch breakfast cake with no added sugar have the same nutritional value as other breakfast cake?
You can’t tell from the name alone: compare the nutritional values of the exact varieties and the same portion size. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives 5,1 g of fibre per 30 g slice for Dutch breakfast cake with no added sugar, but that figure doesn’t apply to every individual variety.