Choose cocktail nuts as a savoury extra with your lunch, starting with the flavour you fancy, such as cocktail, paprika, BBQ, cheese or chilli. Then choose a pack size that suits taking them with you or portioning them out, and check the label for the exact variety. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre does not include cocktail nuts in the Wheel of Five, so don’t automatically treat them as the basis of your everyday lunch.
You’re looking for a savoury extra with your lunch and want to choose between flavours such as cocktail, paprika, BBQ, cheese or chilli, without needing one all-round winner. Duyvis and various supermarket brands offer these flavour options.
You want to take a bag with you or divide it up over several working days. In that case, the net weight and how to store an opened pack are worth considering. Duyvis lists several pack sizes for Cocktail; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises storing nuts in a tightly sealed container in a dry place.
You want to check the ingredients and allergens, and decide what role the snack will play in your lunch. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre distinguishes cocktail nuts from unsalted nuts, which are included in the Wheel of Five. Also check the information on the packaging of the exact variety.
Start with the flavour, then decide whether you want to take the bag with you or portion it out. Finally, consider the role the snack will play in your lunch and check the label.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who should consider this? |
|---|---|---|
| Flavour | Check the full flavour name; it doesn’t provide a standard measure of how hot the product is. | If I’m looking for a savoury extra, I want to choose a flavour that suits my preferences. Around 31% of consumers prioritise flavour. |
| Pack size | Check the net weight and decide how much you want to take with you or portion out. | If I’m taking the snack to work or dividing it up for several occasions, I pay attention to how much is in the bag. Around 25% of consumers prioritise taking snacks with them and portioning them out. |
| Its place in your lunch | Decide whether you want a savoury extra or the basis of your lunch; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre does not include cocktail nuts in the Wheel of Five. | When I’m putting together a quick lunch, I want to know what role the snack will play. Around 25% of consumers prioritise the make-up of their lunch. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list, any allergens highlighted on the label and any precautionary warnings for the exact variety. | If I need to take personal dietary requirements into account, I check the packaging rather than relying on the flavour name. Around 19% of consumers prioritise whether the product is suitable based on its label. |
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre includes unsalted nuts in the Wheel of Five, but not cocktail nuts. The two categories are therefore not interchangeable when putting together your lunch.
Decide whether you want a savoury extra or the basis of your lunch, and assess the exact variety separately.
The varieties mentioned come in packs with different net weights. The weight on the bag doesn’t tell you how much to eat with one lunch.
Decide how much to eat separately from the pack size. A larger opened bag also needs to be stored properly: keep nuts tightly sealed and dry, as advised by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
A flavour name doesn’t tell you which allergens a product contains. PLUS’s vegetarian label applies to the specific BBQ Paprika variety and, on its own, says nothing about other dietary requirements.
Check the current packaging for the exact variety, including the ingredients list, any highlighted allergens and any precautionary warnings.
These brand references can help you compare flavours and packaging information; a listing doesn’t indicate whether a product is available at a particular shop.
Duyvis lists several flavoured Borrelnootjes ranges, including Cocktail, Provencale, Oriental, cheese and chilli.
Albert Heijn lists its own-brand variety with paprika flavour.
Jumbo lists products including BBQ Paprika Smaak Borrelnoten.
PLUS lists Borrelnoot BBQ Paprika in a 300 g bag.
ALDI lists cocktail nuts under the product brand name TRADER JOE'S.
Lidl lists cocktail nuts in its range.
These Joybuy products include spicy, paprika and BBQ paprika flavours; one option is a mix of nuts and snacks rather than cocktail nuts alone.
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An option if you’re after a spicy flavour for a savoury snack.
The product name lists 220 g; the description mentions pepper and chilli powder and advises keeping the pack closed after opening.
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An option if you’re after a paprika flavour and want to portion the pack out yourself.
The product information mentions a double crunchy coating and a Mexican flavour. Contains peanuts and wheat/gluten; may contain milk, nuts, soya and mustard. The description warns that young children may choke on nuts and should eat them under supervision.
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An option if you’re after a BBQ paprika flavour for a savoury snack.
The product description lists 40% peanuts and a double coating. Contains peanuts and wheat/gluten; may contain milk, nuts, soya and mustard.
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An option if you’re after BBQ paprika and want to take out as much as you need from the bag.
The product description lists 48% peanuts and spices including paprika, and advises keeping the pack tightly closed after opening. Contains peanuts, milk and wheat; may contain traces of other nuts.
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An option if you’re after paprika with sweet chilli and want a mix rather than cocktail nuts alone.
The product description lists a 240 g mix of seasoned nuts, peanuts and snacks, with eight 30 g servings. Contains peanuts and gluten; may contain other nuts.
Think of cocktail nuts as a savoury extra, not automatically as the basis of your lunch. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre doesn’t include cocktail nuts in the Wheel of Five, while unsalted nuts are included.
No. 125 g is the net weight of a Duyvis Cocktail pack, not a recommended serving. Decide how much you want to eat separately from the pack size.
Store nuts in a tightly sealed container in a dry place, and also follow the storage instructions on the packaging of the exact variety. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises storing nuts in a tightly sealed container in a dry place.
Check the ingredients list and any allergens highlighted on it; this information applies to the specific pack. The European Union sets out the food labelling rules. The NVWA states that it will oversee new rules on warnings about the unintended presence of allergens from 1 January 2026. This does not prove that a specific variety is suitable for your allergy.
