Choose a dark chocolate biscuit for your afternoon coffee based on the flavour you prefer, the portion size and how comfortable it is to eat. A small butter biscuit, a digestive and chocolate speculoos are all different options. Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and check the current label for allergens. If someone has difficulty chewing or swallowing, a crunchy biscuit may not be suitable. The proportion of chocolate in a biscuit is not the cocoa percentage of that chocolate, so only choose one specifically for its high cocoa content if the percentage is stated.
If you want a biscuit with dark rather than milk chocolate, check the type of chocolate in the product description. Look for any cocoa percentage separately on the label: the stated proportion of chocolate in a biscuit won’t tell you this.
A biscuit with coffee can be a treat. Compare the sugar, saturated fat and fibre per 100 g, then decide what portion you’d like to serve. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre highlights the importance of getting enough nutrients as part of an overall diet for older people.
If you’re buying for someone who has difficulty chewing or swallowing, first consider whether a crunchy biscuit is suitable. If they have an allergy, check the current label: the varieties reviewed list allergens including wheat or gluten, milk and soya. If someone is losing weight unintentionally or may be malnourished, it’s more important to speak to their GP than to choose a different type of biscuit yourself, according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
First decide which chocolate flavour and portion size you’re looking for. Then compare the nutritional information per 100 g, and consider eating comfort and allergens separately.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who will find this most important? |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate flavour | Check whether dark chocolate is listed. If the cocoa percentage affects your choice, look for it separately on the label. | With my afternoon coffee, I want a biscuit with a distinct dark chocolate flavour, without confusing the proportion of chocolate in the biscuit with the cocoa percentage. For around 33% of consumers, this flavour profile comes first. |
| Portion size and nutritional value | Compare sugars, saturated fat and fibre per 100 g, then use the portion information to help you decide what to serve. | When I serve a biscuit, I want the portion to fit my eating habits and to compare products on a like-for-like basis. For around 25% of consumers, this is the most important consideration. |
| Eating comfort | Look out for descriptions such as crunchy or crisp. If someone has difficulty swallowing or is losing weight unintentionally, seek appropriate professional advice. | If chewing or swallowing is difficult, I don’t want to choose a crunchy biscuit without thinking. Eating comfort is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Allergens and packaging | Read the ingredients, allergens and any warnings on the current label, and check how the biscuits are packaged. | When I put biscuits out for others, I need to be able to check what’s in them and how I can serve them. For around 17% of consumers, this information comes first. |
For the Albert Heijn and Jumbo biscuits, 63% refers to the proportion of chocolate in the whole product, not the cocoa percentage of the chocolate. A variety made with dark chocolate may also contain milk.
Read the ingredients and allergens on the current label, and look for a stated cocoa percentage if that’s what you want to base your choice on.
For the McVitie's Dark Chocolate Digestives reviewed, Jumbo states that the ingredients contain no substances that promote digestion. So the product name isn’t a reason to expect this effect.
If you want to compare biscuits, check the stated fibre per 100 g without assuming that the biscuit will have a particular effect.
The biscuits reviewed are described as crunchy or crisp. This may be a concern if someone has difficulty chewing or swallowing.
If someone has difficulty swallowing, speak to a healthcare professional about what’s suitable. If they’re losing weight unintentionally or may be malnourished, contact their GP, as advised by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
Portion sizes vary between products. Albert Heijn and Jumbo give a portion size of 14 g for the biscuits reviewed; this information alone doesn’t make the nutritional values directly comparable with those of other biscuits.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g first, then decide how many you’d like to serve with coffee.
These product ranges offer different types of biscuits to enjoy with coffee. Check the type of chocolate, ingredients and nutritional information for each variety; a brand name alone won’t tell you enough.
According to Albert Heijn, AH Zaans Huisje Dark Chocolate is a 125 g butter biscuit with 63% dark chocolate in the product.
According to Jumbo, Jumbo Dark Chocolate Biscuits contains nine crunchy biscuits in a 125 g pack, with chocolate making up 63% of the product.
The McVitie's Dark Chocolate Digestives described by Jumbo are wheat biscuits coated with dark chocolate.
Lotus Biscoff offers a crunchy speculoos biscuit with dark chocolate for anyone looking for a caramelised speculoos flavour above all.
Lidl describes Sondey as a range of cookies and biscuits, including vegan options.
The Biscotto product described by ALDI Netherlands is a mix of butter biscuits with dark, white and milk chocolate.
If you’re looking for a dark chocolate digestive to enjoy with your afternoon coffee, you’ll find a pack of McVitie's below. Check the current label to see whether the ingredients, nutritional values and chocolate flavour suit your preferences.
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An option to consider if you’d like to serve a dark chocolate digestive with your afternoon coffee. The pack contains 266 g. Check the label for allergens, nutritional information and any stated cocoa percentage for the chocolate.
No. For the Albert Heijn and Jumbo biscuits reviewed, 63% refers to the proportion of dark chocolate in the whole product. If the amount of cocoa is important to you, look for a separate cocoa percentage on the current label.
No. Think of a biscuit with coffee as a treat, not a replacement for a balanced meal. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre highlights the importance of getting enough nutrients as part of an overall diet for older people, and notes that snacks can be high in energy but low in nutrients.
Don’t automatically choose a crunchy biscuit: the varieties reviewed are described as crunchy or crisp. Speak to a healthcare professional about swallowing difficulties. If someone is losing weight unintentionally or may be malnourished, contact their GP, as advised by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
Yes. This is particularly important if you have an allergy or intolerance: check the current label on the pack. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains what information must appear on prepacked foods. For your biscuit, make sure you check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information.
