Who are these tips for?

Carbohydrate-conscious snackers

You want to join in, but first you’d like to know how many total carbohydrates are in your weighed portion. Looking only at ‘of which sugars’ won’t give you the full picture.

Hosts serving from a sharing bag

You’re buying for a group and want to work out how many portions the bag will serve, without treating the whole bag as a single snack.

Shoppers who want to store leftovers

You’d rather open a suitable amount and check that the exact pack is clearly resealable, as well as following its storage instructions.

What should you look for when buying?

First, compare the carbohydrates in your weighed portion. Then choose a pack size that suits your group and check how to store any leftovers.

The percentages below show the main buying priority for consumers purchasing cocktail nuts for a gathering where diabetes is taken into account.

What to consider What to check Who this matters to
Total carbohydrates Check the carbohydrates per 100 g and calculate the amount for your weighed portion. If you want to match your portion to its total carbohydrates, use the nutrition table and the weight of your portion. This calculation comes first for around 29% of consumers.
Pack size and resealing Check the net weight, portion size and whether this particular pack can be resealed. If you’re serving several guests, you’ll want to know how many portions the bag contains and how to seal it again afterwards. Around 29% of consumers prioritise easy portioning and storage.
Full nutritional profile Compare values such as salt and energy on the same basis; ‘mild’ is not a nutritional value. If you want to consider the wider nutritional profile as well as carbohydrates, check the values on the label. This is the main buying priority for around 18% of consumers.
Allergens Check the ingredients and the ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements for the exact variant. If you or a guest has a food allergy, check the information on the pack before serving the snack. This check comes first for around 12% of consumers.
Quantity per order Check how many bags are included in the order and how many grams each bag contains. If you only want to buy enough for the group you’re expecting, check both the contents of each bag and the number of bags. Around 12% of consumers prioritise buying the right total quantity.

Common mistakes

  • Comparing only the ‘of which sugars’ figure

    The sugar value is not the same as the total amount of carbohydrates in your portion.

    Use the ‘carbohydrates’ figure and calculate the amount based on the weight you actually weigh out.

  • Assuming a large bag is the right portion size

    The net weight of a bag and the amount you serve are two different things.

    Plan how much to serve in advance and store any leftovers according to the instructions on the pack.

    A larger bag means more portioning and storage.

  • Assuming variants with the same name are identical

    The 250 g and 300 g versions of AH Borrelnoten cocktail are separate variants; resealability is stated for the 250 g pack.

    Check the exact pack size and packaging features rather than relying on the product name alone.

Brands to compare

Duyvis

Duyvis lists Cocktail-borrelnootjes in 125 g, 275 g, 500 g and 1000 g packs.

  • The range of pack sizes may suit different quantities for a gathering.
  • Choose your portion based on the nutritional information for the exact pack; the pack size says nothing about whether it is suitable for people with diabetes.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists AH Borrelnoten cocktail as separate 250 g and 300 g variants.

  • The product information for the 250 g variant says that the pack is easy to reseal.
  • The variants reviewed list 42 g of carbohydrates per 100 g; don’t assume the 300 g variant is resealable. The ingredients information includes peanuts, wheat and milk.

Jumbo

Jumbo Cocktail Borrelnoten Voordeelverpakking contains 500 g; the product information lists 20 label portions of 25 g.

  • The product page gives nutritional values per 100 g and per 25 g portion.
  • A label portion is not personalised nutritional advice. The product information lists peanuts and wheat, and says the product may contain nuts.

PLUS

PLUS Borrelnoten Mild is listed as a 300 g variant.

  • The product information gives nutritional values and allergen information for this variant.
  • The listed amount is 42.3 g of carbohydrates per 100 g; ‘mild’ does not mean the product is low in carbohydrates. The ingredients and allergen information also includes milk and celery.

ALDI

ALDI Nederland lists 300 g packs of TRADER JOE'S Borrelnoten cocktail and 300 g variants with bacon and cheese, poesta or paprika flavour.

  • The flavours and pack sizes listed give you specific variants to compare on the label.
  • Check the nutritional and allergen information for the exact flavour variant; the product name does not make a general claim about suitability for people with diabetes.

Lidl

Lidl Nederland lists cocktail nuts as a product category.

  • The category is worth considering alongside other cocktail nuts.
  • Check the nutritional values, ingredients and allergens on the specific pack.

Joybuy product selection

This selection features macadamia nuts as a separate alternative alongside cocktail nuts, not cocktail nuts themselves.

BE&CHEERY Premium Macadamia Nuts 500G

BE&CHEERY Premium Macadamia Nuts 500G

An option if you’d like to serve a separate nut product alongside cocktail nuts. Check the nutrition table on the pack and calculate the amount for your portion.

The pack contains 500 g. The storage instructions say to consume the product immediately after opening, so it may not be the best choice if you want to keep leftovers.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

How do you calculate the carbohydrates in your portion?

Multiply the carbohydrates per 100 g by the weight of your weighed portion, then divide by 100. Jumbo Cocktail Borrelnoten lists 42.0 g per 100 g and 10.5 g per 25 g portion; this label portion is not universal advice for people with diabetes.

Why isn’t ‘of which sugars’ enough?

Total carbohydrates include more than just sugars. For a general example of 25 g of cocktail nuts, the Voedingscentrum lists 10.9 g of carbohydrates, of which 2 g are sugars.

How many portions can you get from a sharing bag?

Divide the net weight by the portion weight you’re using as an example. At 25 g per portion, 250 g makes ten portions, 500 g makes twenty portions and 1000 g makes forty portions. This is a stock calculation, not advice on how much to eat.

How should you store the rest of an opened bag?

Follow the instructions on the exact pack. For the AH Borrelnoten cocktail reviewed, Albert Heijn advises closing the pack securely and storing it somewhere cool, dark and dry. For the 1 kg pack of Duyvis Cocktail-borrelnootjes, HANOS advises storing an opened bag in an airtight, light-proof container.

Where can you check allergens for a group gathering?

Read the ingredients list and the ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements on the exact pack. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergens must be clearly stated on the label; the European information source says allergens must stand out in the ingredients list.

Are cocktail nuts the same as unsalted nuts?

No. The Voedingscentrum distinguishes cocktail nuts from unsalted nuts and does not include cocktail nuts in its Wheel of Five. So don’t treat coated cocktail nuts as the same type of product.