For a tea-time treat, start by choosing the biscuit texture you enjoy: a crunchy cookie with chocolate chips, a biscuit topped with a chocolate bar, or a biscuit coated in chocolate. A stated percentage of dark chocolate tells you how much chocolate is in the biscuit, not the cocoa percentage of that chocolate. If the cocoa percentage is a deciding factor, check the current packaging and look at the ingredients and allergen information too.
When choosing a biscuit for tea, they want to distinguish between the amount of dark chocolate in the biscuit and the cocoa percentage of that chocolate. This distinction matters if a high cocoa percentage is a must-have.
They are choosing between a cookie with chocolate chips, a biscuit topped with a chocolate bar, and a biscuit coated in chocolate. Product descriptions from Jumbo Supermarkten and Albert Heijn show that these are different types of biscuit.
Before buying, they want to check the ingredients and allergens in the variant they have chosen, for example because milk, wheat or soya matters to them. The word ‘dark’ does not tell you whether these ingredients are present.
First decide whether the cocoa percentage is essential. Then compare the biscuit style and packaging, and check the current label on each option.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Cocoa profile | Look for an explicit cocoa percentage and distinguish it from the amount of dark chocolate in the biscuit as a whole. | I’m looking for a pronounced cocoa flavour with my tea and don’t want to rely on the word ‘dark’ alone. For around 36% of consumers, being able to check the cocoa profile comes first. |
| Biscuit texture | Compare chocolate chips, a chocolate bar or a chocolate coating, and check how much chocolate is stated for the variant you are considering. | With my tea, it makes a difference whether I want a substantial cookie or a biscuit with chocolate. Around 29% of consumers give the balance between biscuit and chocolate top priority. |
| Portions and serving | Check how many biscuits are in the pack, whether they are individually portioned, and how they should be stored after opening. | If I’m taking biscuits with me or putting them out for guests, I want to know how they are packaged. For around 21% of consumers, this practical convenience is the most important factor. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the current packaging for the ingredients, ‘contains’ statements and ‘may contain’ warnings. | If I need to avoid an ingredient, checking the label comes before my preferences for taste or packaging. Around 14% of consumers put label and allergen information first. |
Jumbo Supermarkten lists 40% dark chocolate chips in its Chocolate Cookies; Albert Heijn lists 48% dark chocolate in LU Scholiertje Puur. Both figures describe the amount in the product, not the cocoa percentage of the chocolate.
If the cocoa percentage is a deciding factor, look for it separately on the packaging. Use the stated amount of chocolate to compare the composition of the biscuits.
According to Jumbo Supermarkten, Jumbo Chocolate Cookie Bars contain 25% milk chocolate and 12% dark chocolate chips. So the word ‘dark’ in the product name does not describe all the chocolate in this variant.
Read the full description if you are specifically looking for a biscuit made with dark chocolate.
According to the product page at Albert Heijn, LU Scholiertje Puur also contains milk ingredients. The ingredients list for the Lotus Biscoff variant with Belgian chocolate also lists milk ingredients.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the exact packaging. Don’t assume a product is vegan or dairy-free based on the name of its chocolate.
Jumbo Supermarkten describes both a crunchy cookie with dark chocolate chips and a cookie bar combining dark chocolate chips with milk chocolate.
AH Sugared biscuits with dark chocolate are biscuits coated in chocolate and topped with decorative sugar.
According to the product page at Albert Heijn, LU Scholiertje Puur combines a butter biscuit with a dark chocolate bar.
According to Albert Heijn, the Speculoos Belgian chocolate variant is sold in packs of six, with three biscuits in each pack.
ALDI Nederland describes a Biscotto pack of butter biscuits with dark, white and milk chocolate.
These biscuits are a good match for tea time if you are looking for chocolate or a dark chocolate flavour. ‘Dark chocolate flavour’ and ‘chocolate’ do not, on their own, confirm a high cocoa percentage. Check the current packaging if that matters to you.
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A Scholiertje variant to consider if you’re looking for a chocolate biscuit to enjoy with tea. The pack contains 150 g; check the current label for the exact chocolate variant and ingredients.
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For anyone considering a biscuit with a dark chocolate flavour to enjoy with tea. ‘Dark chocolate flavoured’ describes the flavour; check the packaging to see whether a cocoa percentage is stated.
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A chunky cookie with a dark chocolate flavour for anyone who prefers this style of biscuit with tea. The pack contains 72 g; don’t assume the flavour description tells you how much dark chocolate it contains or its cocoa percentage.
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A mini biscuit with chocolate and matcha to consider if you’re looking for a small treat to enjoy with tea. The pack contains 12 pieces and weighs 60 g; check the ingredients and allergens for this exact variant before buying.
No. The word ‘dark’ and a stated amount of dark chocolate do not confirm the cocoa percentage. For example, Jumbo Supermarkten lists 40% dark chocolate chips in its Chocolate Cookies; this is the proportion of chips in the biscuit. If you want to choose based on cocoa percentage, look for it separately on the current packaging.
No, not based on the name alone. According to the product page at Albert Heijn, LU Scholiertje Puur contains milk ingredients. Check the ingredients and allergens on the exact packaging before deciding whether it is suitable for you.
Compare the ingredients, the amount of chocolate in the biscuit and any separately stated cocoa percentage. Also check allergens, portion size and nutritional information per 100 g if these matter to you. According to Voedingscentrum, common allergens are listed on food labels.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging you have chosen. For its Chocolate Cookies, Jumbo Supermarkten advises sealing the pack tightly after opening and eating the biscuits within a few days. For AH Sugared biscuits, Albert Heijn recommends storing them in a closed tin after opening.
