Gamers looking for a pronounced cocoa flavour
If you want to know how dark the chocolate is, look for a stated minimum cocoa percentage. The word ‘dark’ and the proportion of chocolate in the biscuit won’t tell you that on their own.
Who is this for?
Gamers who want a crunchy biscuit to grab or share
For a longer gaming session, the biscuit shape, portion information and storage instructions may all matter. A biscuit with a chocolate coating and a cookie with chocolate chips are different options.
Shoppers checking ingredients and allergens
The examples discussed here include ingredients such as wheat, milk and soya. Check the packaging for the version you choose, including any warnings about possible cross-contamination.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether the stated cocoa intensity, biscuit shape, ingredients or portion size matters most to you. Then compare only the product information relevant to that choice: a cocoa percentage is not the same as the proportion of chocolate in the whole biscuit.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Cocoa flavour | Look for a stated minimum cocoa percentage. Don’t confuse this with the proportion of dark chocolate or chocolate chips in the biscuit. | I want a clearly stated dark chocolate flavour, not just the word ‘dark’ on the packaging. For around 36% of consumers, cocoa intensity comes first. |
| Texture and sharing | Compare a biscuit with a chocolate coating and a cookie with chips. Also check the portion information and storage instructions. | When gaming, I want to be able to grab or share a biscuit without having to prepare anything first. Around 29% of consumers prioritise the biscuit shape and how easy it is to share. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients list and any warning about possible cross-contamination on the packaging. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, the label matters more than the flavour description. For around 21% of consumers, this is their first concern when buying. |
| Portion size and nutritional information | Compare the nutritional values per 100 g, and also check the information per portion, if provided. | For a long session, I want to decide in advance how many biscuits to set out. Around 14% of consumers focus on portion size and nutritional information. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘dark’ means a stated cocoa percentage
According to Albert Heijn, AH Zaans huisje contains 63% dark chocolate. That’s the proportion of chocolate in the biscuit, not necessarily the cocoa percentage of that chocolate.
If cocoa intensity is your main criterion, look for a separate cocoa percentage.
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Assuming you know the allergens from the type of chocolate
Biscuits with dark chocolate can also contain wheat, milk or soya. Ingredients and warnings can vary between versions.
Before eating, check the physical packaging of the product you’ve bought.
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Judging by the dark flavour alone
A dark flavour doesn’t tell you the nutritional value or portion size of a biscuit. The Dutch Nutrition Centre points out that chocolate also contains saturated fat and energy.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and decide how many you want to set out.
Brands compared
Albert Heijn
The own-brand range includes biscuits with different proportions of dark chocolate to compare.
- According to Albert Heijn, AH Zaans huisje pure chocolade is made with butter biscuits and 63% dark chocolate.
- That proportion isn’t a stated cocoa percentage. Also check the current packaging for allergen information.
Jumbo
The own-brand range includes a cookie with dark chocolate chips as an alternative to a coated biscuit.
- Jumbo states that its Chocolate Cookies contain 40% dark chocolate chips, with 12 portions per pack.
- The proportion of chips doesn’t tell you the minimum cocoa percentage of the chocolate. Also check the packaging for allergen warnings.
McVitie's
Digestives Pure Chocolade combines a wheat biscuit with a layer of dark chocolate.
- The product information at Jumbo states that it contains 30% dark chocolate and 4,3 g of fibre per 100 g.
- The percentage describes the chocolate coating, not the minimum cocoa percentage. The product contains wheat, milk and soya.
Lotus Biscoff
A speculoos biscuit with dark chocolate for anyone looking for this type of biscuit rather than a digestive or cookie.
- Lotus Bakeries Nederland describes the dark chocolate version; the product information states that it contains 22% chocolate.
- That isn’t a minimum cocoa percentage. Check the packaging for ingredients including wheat, milk and soya.
Verkade
The range varies in its types of chocolate and biscuits, so the exact version matters.
- The range includes options such as Chocolate Chip Melk & Puur.
- According to Verkade, Verkade Choco Biscuit Karamelsmaakvulling is coated in milk chocolate, so it isn’t suitable if you’re looking for dark chocolate.
Biscuits at Joybuy
These biscuits can work in different ways as a gaming snack: a digestive with dark chocolate or cookies with a dark chocolate flavour. For the cookies, the flavour description alone doesn’t confirm that the chocolate component is dark chocolate.
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McVitie's Digestives with Dark Chocolate, 266 g
A digestive for anyone who wants to grab a biscuit with dark chocolate while gaming.
The pack contains 266 g. If cocoa intensity is important to you, check whether the packaging states a minimum cocoa percentage. Also check the allergens before eating.
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quduoduo Chunky Cookies Dark Chocolate Flavour, 72 g
A chunky cookie for anyone who cares more about the biscuit style than a stated cocoa percentage.
The pack contains 72 g. ‘Dark Chocolate Flavour’ describes the taste and doesn’t confirm that the chocolate component is dark chocolate. Check the packaging if that matters to your choice.
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Franzzi Dark Chocolate Flavour Cookies, 70 g
A cookie labelled with a dark chocolate flavour for a gaming snack.
The pack contains 70 g. The flavour description doesn’t state a minimum cocoa percentage or the proportion of dark chocolate. Check the packaging if you want to choose specifically on that basis.
Frequently asked questions
Does a biscuit with dark chocolate automatically have a high cocoa percentage?
No. A stated proportion of dark chocolate tells you how much of the biscuit is made up of that chocolate; it doesn’t automatically tell you how much cocoa the chocolate contains. To find that out, look for a stated cocoa percentage on the packaging.
Which allergens should I check in chocolate biscuits?
Always check the current packaging for the version you choose. The examples discussed here include wheat, milk and soya; some product information also mentions the possible presence of other allergens. So read both the ingredients list and any cross-contamination warnings.
How should I store chocolate biscuits once opened?
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging. The Digestives discussed here should be stored in a cool, dry place. Reseal an opened pack if the label instructs you to do so.
Does a dark chocolate flavour tell you anything about nutritional value?
No, the flavour description is no substitute for nutritional information. Compare the values per 100 g across products and check the information per portion to see how much you plan to eat.