Coffee drinkers looking for a sweet biscuit
Would you like something sweet to enjoy with your coffee and cake, without adding any toppings? Compare digestives and crispbread as two different types of product, not as names for the same thing.
Who is each option best suited to?
Fans of a crunchy base you can add toppings to
If you want to choose the flavour yourself with sweet or savoury toppings, consider wholegrain rye crispbread or a thinner variety. Check that the option you choose goes well with your toppings.
Shoppers comparing labels
If you’re comparing fibre, sugars, salt or allergens, check the information on the specific packaging. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists rye and wheat as gluten-containing grains; the word ‘wholegrain’ does not mean a product is gluten-free.
What should you look for when choosing?
Crispbread
Choose this if: you want a dry, crunchy base and prefer to choose the flavour with your toppings.
Bear in mind: plain crispbread won’t give you the same sweet-biscuit experience; rye and wheat varieties contain gluten.
Digestive biscuit
Choose this if: you want a sweet biscuit that’s ready to serve with coffee.
Bear in mind: a digestive isn’t a substitute for crispbread that you can add toppings to. Compare the ingredients and nutritional information for the variety you buy.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Mainly for |
|---|---|---|
| Sweet flavour or toppings | Check the product type, ingredients and sugars per 100 g. | I want to be able to have a sweet biscuit with my coffee without first choosing toppings. That biscuit experience is the top priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Wholegrain base and fibre | Compare the grain in the ingredients list, as well as fibre and salt per 100 g. | If I want to put something on a crispbread, I mainly look for a wholegrain base and want to be able to compare nutritional values. That’s the main priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Gluten and other allergens | Read the allergen information and, where relevant, check for information about possible cross-contamination. | If I have a dietary requirement or allergy, I first need to know whether I can eat this variety; flavour comes second. For around 15% of consumers, this is the first thing they consider. |
| Pack size | Compare the weight and number of pieces, as well as the ingredients in the variety you’ve chosen. | If I want to keep crispbread at home more often, the most important thing is whether the pack suits how I use it. Around 23% of consumers prioritise this practical consideration. |
Common mistakes
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Buying crispbread when you’re expecting a sweet digestive
Both can be crunchy, but a digestive is a biscuit, while crispbread is generally a base for toppings. The type of product therefore plays a part in what you’ll have with your coffee.
Before comparing products, decide whether you want a biscuit that’s ready to eat or crispbread you can add toppings to.
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Relying on ‘wholegrain’ or ‘high in fibre’ as the whole story
Information about grains or fibre doesn’t tell you how much sugar or salt the variety contains, or whether it contains any other allergens.
Read the ingredients and compare the nutritional information per 100 g. Also check the serving size if you want to know what you’ll actually be eating.
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Assuming rye crispbread is gluten-free
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, rye and wheat contain gluten. So the name ‘crispbread’ doesn’t tell you whether a product is suitable for a gluten-free diet.
If you need to eat gluten-free, look for an explicit gluten-free label and check the ingredients and packaging information about possible cross-contamination.
Brands to compare
Wasa
Wasa offers, among other options, wholegrain rye crispbread and a thin Lightweight variety.
- Albert Heijn lists three ingredients for Wasa Wholegrain: wholemeal rye flour, yeast and salt. The product information gives a fibre content of 20 g per 100 g.
- The rye variety contains gluten; according to the product information, Wasa Lightweight also contains milk. Check the packaging for the variety you choose.
Ryvita
A brand to consider if you’re looking for dry rye crispbread.
- Ryvita lists wholemeal rye flour, rye flour and salt as ingredients in its Original Crispbread.
- Original Crispbread contains rye, so it isn’t suitable for a gluten-free diet. Check the exact variety when you buy it.
Albert Heijn
The supermarket’s own brand offers wholegrain crispbread to compare with branded varieties.
- For AH Wholegrain Crispbread, Albert Heijn lists wholemeal wheat flour and wholemeal rye flour in the ingredients.
- The listed ingredients also include wheat gluten. Always check the packaging for allergens and nutritional values.
Jumbo
At Jumbo, you can compare crispbread and digestives as separate product types.
- Jumbo categorises its Crunchy Digestive Biscuit as a biscuit, making it easier to distinguish a sweet biscuit from crispbread you can add toppings to.
- Don’t assume that a digestive and a variety of crispbread have the same ingredients or nutritional values.
ALDI / Goud Gebakken
Goud Gebakken offers a wholegrain crispbread variety for shoppers comparing supermarket own brands.
- ALDI lists Goud Gebakken Wholegrain Crispbread as a pack of 25 pieces weighing 375 g.
- Check the packaging label for the ingredients, nutritional information and allergens in this variety.
Crispbread for a coffee break with toppings
These Joybuy products are crispbread varieties for anyone looking for a crunchy base to enjoy with their coffee. Choose the variety that suits you and, especially if you have dietary requirements or allergies, check the packaging. None of these products is a digestive biscuit.
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Wasa Lightweight crispbread, 300 g
A good option if you want a thin base to top with sweet or savoury ingredients.
Check the packaging if you have questions about gluten, milk or sesame.
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Wasa Sourdough Rye crispbread, 235 g
For anyone looking for rye crispbread and wanting to choose their own toppings for a coffee break.
Rye contains gluten; also check the packaging for any other relevant allergens.
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Wasa High-Fiber crispbread, 300 g
For anyone who wants to compare the nutritional information for different varieties of crunchy crispbread.
Read the values per 100 g and check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging, including gluten-containing grains and sesame.
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Bolletje Whole Grain crispbread, 265 g
A wholegrain crispbread base for anyone who likes to choose their own toppings for a coffee break.
Check the packaging for gluten-containing grains, sesame and information about possible cross-contamination.
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Wasa Wholegrain crispbread, 260 g
For anyone looking for a wholegrain rye base to top with sweet or savoury ingredients.
The product description lists wholegrain rye, yeast and salt. Rye contains gluten; also read the allergen information on the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Is crispbread the same as a digestive to have with coffee?
No. Choose crispbread if you want a crunchy base for toppings, and a digestive biscuit if you’re looking for a sweet biscuit. Jumbo categorises its digestive biscuits as biscuits, while Wasa Wholegrain is rye crispbread.
Does ‘digestive’ mean the biscuit helps with digestion?
No, you can’t infer that from the name. For McVitie’s Milk Chocolate Digestives, Jumbo states that the biscuit’s ingredients do not contain any substances that aid digestion.
Can I eat ordinary rye crispbread if I need to follow a gluten-free diet?
No. Ordinary rye crispbread isn’t gluten-free: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, rye contains gluten. Look for a product explicitly labelled gluten-free and also check the packaging for information about possible cross-contamination.
How can I keep crispbread crunchy after opening?
Seal the opened pack securely or store the crispbread in an airtight tin. Albert Heijn recommends the latter for its crispbread; also follow the storage instructions on the packaging of the product you buy.