Choose a biscuit with a clearly stated dark chocolate content if you want chocolate to take centre stage at your Friday afternoon drinks; individually wrapped portions are more convenient if ease of serving is your priority. The chocolate content of a biscuit is not the same as the cocoa percentage of the chocolate itself. If any guests have allergies, always check the label on the exact pack too: ‘dark’ does not automatically mean free from milk or soya.
Want more than a thin coating of chocolate on your biscuit? Compare the type of chocolate and the proportion of the whole product that is chocolate. This won’t tell you how much cocoa the chocolate itself contains.
When you’re catering for a group, the number of biscuits and the packaging make a difference. Individually wrapped portions are handy for serving; with a larger pack, you’ll also need to think about how to store the rest once it’s open.
If guests need to avoid certain ingredients, the allergen information on the exact pack matters more than the words ‘dark chocolate’ on the front. Check for any ‘may contain’ statements too.
First decide whether chocolate flavour, ease of serving or allergen checks will be the main factor in your purchase. Then compare the exact products: ‘dark chocolate flavour’, ‘dark chocolate’ and a stated cocoa percentage don’t all mean the same thing.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate flavour | Check the type of chocolate and how much of the biscuit is chocolate. If the cocoa percentage is what matters to you, look for it to be stated separately. | If I’m mainly looking for a pronounced chocolate flavour, I don’t want to confuse the chocolate content with the cocoa percentage. For around 40% of consumers, flavour is the most important factor. |
| Serving and packaging | Compare the net weight, number of biscuits and any individually wrapped portions. Check the storage instructions for after opening too. | When I’m putting biscuits out for a group, I want to know roughly how many I can serve. Packaging is the main consideration for around 30% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current pack, including any ‘may contain’ statements. | If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to check the exact product before serving it. Allergen checks are the top priority for around 30% of consumers. |
Several of the dark chocolate biscuits discussed contain milk, soya or wheat. So the type of chocolate is no substitute for checking the allergens.
Before serving, read the label on the pack you’ve bought and, if needed, provide a suitable alternative separately.
Jumbo states that Chocolade Biscuits Puur contains 63% chocolate by weight. This figure doesn’t tell you how much cocoa is in that chocolate.
If you want to choose based on cocoa content, use only a separately stated cocoa percentage. Otherwise, compare the type of chocolate and the ingredients without trying to infer its cocoa content.
Published ingredient information doesn’t necessarily mean you can still buy that exact product. The pages consulted for AH Gesuikerde Biscuits Pure Chocolade and Jumbo Puur Choco Break Biscuits marked those products as no longer available in the range.
Check availability shortly before buying. If you choose a different product, read its label again rather than relying on the ingredients listed for the previous one.
Jumbo provides product information for several dark chocolate biscuits. Compare the exact product, not just the own-brand label.
The product information for AH Gesuikerde Biscuits Pure Chocolade offers a useful point of comparison for ingredients and pack size.
Lotus Biscoff with dark chocolate combines speculoos biscuits and chocolate in a pack of 7 × 3 biscuits.
ALDI’s Biscotto pack is a selection of mixed chocolate biscuits, not a pack containing dark chocolate biscuits only.
When choosing a specific Lidl biscuit based on its ingredients and allergens, start with the label.
These Franzzi biscuits are described as having a dark chocolate flavour. That doesn’t confirm a high cocoa content; compare the pack sizes and check the label if the chocolate ingredients or allergens will determine your choice.
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An option if you’re looking for biscuits with a dark chocolate flavour and want to compare a 70 g pack. The flavour description doesn’t confirm a particular chocolate or cocoa percentage; check the label if that’s important to you.
If any guests need to avoid allergens, check the current ingredients list, particularly for wheat, milk and egg.
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An option if you’re looking for biscuits with a dark chocolate flavour and want to compare a 115 g pack. If you’re buying for a group, check separately how many biscuits are in the pack; the flavour description doesn’t tell you the cocoa percentage.
For allergen information, check the current label, particularly for wheat, soya and milk.
No. The Lotus dark chocolate product discussed lists milk ingredients, as do the Jumbo and Albert Heijn biscuits discussed. If you have an allergy, check the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack.
No. Jumbo uses 63% to describe the proportion of chocolate in its Chocolade Biscuits Puur as a whole. You’ll need a separate statement to find out the cocoa content of the chocolate.
Use the product page to help you decide, but check the label on the pack you’ve bought before serving. Albert Heijn says that ingredients and allergy information may change.
Follow the storage advice on the pack of your biscuits. For its Chocolade Biscuits Puur, Jumbo recommends a cool, dry place and, if storing them for longer after opening, an airtight biscuit tin.
Check the pack of the exact product or ask Lidl for product information. For ingredients, allergens and nutritional information on food products, Lidl refers customers to the packaging or its customer service team.
