A traveller with a small edible gift
You want to give someone a treat at the station or during the journey that they can enjoy straight away. A box of individually wrapped chocolates is a good fit, provided the recipient can eat the ingredients.
Which option is right for you?
A group looking to share a treat on the go
You’re looking for portions to hand out to fellow passengers. Individual wrappers make this easier, but they also create waste. NS house rules say this should go in the bin.
A chocolate sprinkles buyer with breakfast at their destination
You’re taking chocolate sprinkles to have with bread, yoghurt, porridge or pastries. That’s a different occasion from giving someone a ready-to-eat treat on the train.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether the chocolate product needs to be ready to eat or share. If you’re mainly looking for a box of chocolates as a gift, check what’s inside and how it’s presented, too; don’t assume the chocolates are individually wrapped.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Ready to eat | Check whether you can give and eat the product without bread or cutlery. | If I’m giving someone a small thank-you treat on the go, I want them to be able to enjoy it straight away. Around 42% of consumers prioritise a ready-to-eat gift or snack. |
| Sharing and portions | Compare the number of individually wrapped pieces with the number of people you want to share them with. | It’s easier to share with fellow passengers when I know how many individual portions I have with me. For around 33% of consumers, ease of sharing comes first. |
| Chocolate sprinkles for a mealtime | Check whether bread, yoghurt, porridge or another suitable base will be available. | I take chocolate sprinkles for breakfast at my destination, not as a standalone chocolate gift. That’s the main reason for choosing them for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Treating chocolate sprinkles as a ready-to-eat snack
The De Ruijter and Venz chocolate sprinkles reviewed here are intended as a spread or topping. Without something to sprinkle them on, they’re not suitable in the same way as a piece of chocolate from a box.
Choose a ready-to-eat product if you want the recipient to enjoy it during the journey. Take chocolate sprinkles when you have something to serve them with.
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Choosing an assortment without checking the allergens
A box containing different types of chocolate won’t necessarily suit every recipient. The merci boxes reviewed here contain ingredients including milk, soya, almonds and hazelnuts.
Before buying, read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact product. If you don’t know about any allergies, don’t choose based on the brand or image alone.
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Taking more portions than your group needs
According to Jumbo’s product information, the 250 g merci Assorti Doos contains twenty individually wrapped pieces; the 400 g Luxe Geschenkdoos contains 32. A larger box mainly means more portions to carry.
Count how many people you want to treat, then choose the right number of portions. Put used wrappers in the bin, in line with NS house rules.
Individual wrappers also mean more packaging to clear up during your journey.
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Leaving chocolate in the sun or in a warm bag
The product information for the chocolate products and sprinkles reviewed here advises keeping them cool and dry or protecting them from heat. This matters when you’re waiting on a platform, too.
Keep the packaging closed and protect the product from direct sunlight and heat. Check the storage advice for the product you buy.
Brands to consider
merci
According to Jumbo’s product information, the 250 g Assorti Doos and 400 g Luxe Geschenkdoos reviewed here are boxes of chocolates containing twenty and 32 individually wrapped pieces respectively.
- Individual pieces make it easy to count portions for a gift or a sharing occasion.
- Both versions reviewed contain almonds, hazelnuts, lactose, milk and soya, and may contain egg, nuts and peanuts. Protect the chocolate from heat.
Lindt
The 200 g Lindor Gemengde bonbons reviewed here are an assortment of chocolates, not chocolate sprinkles or a box of chocolate bars.
- The assortment reviewed includes different varieties of chocolate.
- The product information lists milk, soya, barley, hazelnuts, nuts and lactose as allergens. Check the packaging if individual portions matter to you.
De Ruijter
The dark chocolate sprinkles reviewed here are intended as a spread or topping for bread, yoghurt and porridge, among other things, rather than as a ready-to-eat box of chocolates.
- A good fit for a planned mealtime when bread or another base is available.
- The version reviewed contains milk and soya. The product information advises storing it in a cool, dry place, away from sunlight and sources of heat.
Venz
The chocolate sprinkles and vanilla-flavoured sprinkles reviewed here are intended as a spread or topping for bread, yoghurt, porridge or pastries, for example.
- An option if you specifically want to take vanilla-flavoured sprinkles for a later mealtime.
- The version reviewed contains milk, soya and wheat; check the packaging if you need to avoid these ingredients.
Chocolate products for sharing compared
This curated ranking looks at the portions and packaging described for sharing on a train. It isn’t the result of an independent product test: according to Jumbo, the two merci boxes contain individually wrapped pieces, while you’ll need to check the packaging of the Lindor chocolates mentioned if you want to hand out individual portions.
| Position | Product | Features | Things to consider | Retailer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | merci Chocolade Assorti Doos 250 g | 250 g; twenty individually wrapped pieces of chocolate. | According to Jumbo, the twenty pieces are individually wrapped. This means you can count how many portions to take before sharing a small treat. | Jumbo |
| 2 | merci Chocolade Luxe Geschenkdoos Assorti 400 g | 400 g; 32 individually wrapped pieces of chocolate. | Jumbo lists 32 individual pieces. That gives you more portions for a larger group, but also a bigger box to carry. | Jumbo |
| 3 | Lindt Lindor Gemengde bonbons 200 g | 200 g; an assortment of chocolates. | A different type of gift from the merci boxes mentioned above. Check whether the chocolates are individually wrapped if you want to hand them out separately. | Joybuy |
Chocolate snacks for your journey on Joybuy
These products are ready-to-eat chocolate snacks for a journey or a sharing occasion. They’re not a substitute for the chocolate sprinkles discussed above, which are intended as a spread, and they’re not all boxes of chocolates. Choose the format that suits how you want to give or eat the product.
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Smarties Milk Chocolate Tubes, 6 × 34 g
An option if you want to take several tubes of ready-to-eat chocolate snacks with you. The pack contains six tubes of 34 g; check the ingredients and whether an opened tube will be convenient to carry on your journey.
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Milka Choco Wafer Milk, 180 g
A chocolate wafer for anyone looking for a snack to enjoy on the go without bread or other toppings. The pack is 180 g; check the current packaging for portion sizes, allergens and the best-before date.
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Lu Scholiertje Milk Chocolate Biscuits, 150 g
A good choice if you’d rather take chocolate biscuits than a box of chocolates. The pack is 150 g; before sharing, check the portion packaging and allergens on the label.
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Nestle Kitkat Itoen Matcha & Chocolate, 9 stuks, 104,4 g
An option if you’d like to take matcha and chocolate as a ready-to-eat snack. The pack lists nine pieces and 104,4 g; check the best-before date, allergens and whether the individual pieces are wrapped.
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Toblerone Chocolate Bar Milk Almond Nougat, 100 g
A chocolate bar for anyone who wants to take a ready-to-eat treat rather than chocolate sprinkles. It’s a 100 g bar with almond nougat; check the allergens and choose a different format if you want to hand out individual portions.
Frequently asked questions
Can I hand out chocolate on an NS train journey?
If you’re sharing chocolate, be considerate of other passengers and clear up the packaging afterwards. NS house rules say that rubbish belongs in the bin; keep the wrappers with you until you can throw them away.
Which allergens should I check in a box of chocolates?
Check the allergen information on the exact box you’re buying. The merci boxes reviewed contain almonds, hazelnuts, lactose, milk and soya, and may contain egg, nuts and peanuts; the Lindor chocolates reviewed list milk, soya, barley and hazelnuts, among other allergens.
How should I carry chocolate on a hot day?
Keep the packaging closed and protect it from direct sunlight and heat. Also check the storage advice on your product’s label, especially if you’re waiting on a platform for a while.
Can chocolate sprinkles replace a box of chocolates as a gift?
Chocolate sprinkles can make a good gift if the recipient wants to have them with bread, yoghurt or porridge, for example. If you want something that can be eaten straight away or handed out individually during the train journey, a ready-to-eat chocolate product is more practical.