Choose a digestive if you’re looking for a larger pack to enjoy at home, or a portion-packed butter biscuit if you want to take biscuits with you individually. The term ‘dark’ doesn’t tell you how much cocoa solids the chocolate contains. So check the exact percentage, the allergens in your chosen variety and whether it’s currently available to order.
If you want to know what ‘dark’ means for a biscuit, look separately at the proportion of dark chocolate in the biscuit and any stated percentage of cocoa solids. One percentage doesn’t automatically tell you anything about the other.
A larger pack could be a good choice if you regularly enjoy biscuits with coffee or tea. If you want to take biscuits with you, a pack divided into smaller portions may be more practical.
The product title alone isn’t enough to tell you whether a biscuit is suitable for you. Check the ingredients, listed allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings for the exact variety you’ve chosen.
First, decide whether you’re mainly looking for a particular chocolate flavour, suitable ingredients or a convenient pack size. Before you check out, also make sure the variety you’ve chosen can be ordered to your address.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate and cocoa | Distinguish between the proportion of dark chocolate in the biscuit and the percentage of cocoa solids in that chocolate. | If I’m looking for a pronounced dark chocolate flavour, I want to be able to check what a stated percentage refers to. For around 45% of consumers, being able to check the chocolate flavour is the top priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | For the exact variety, read the ingredients, allergens and any ‘may contain’ warning. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, I want to check the contents before ordering. Around 33% of consumers put this first. |
| Pack size and availability | Compare the pack size and how the biscuits are portioned, then check the basket and delivery status for your address. | For home, I want to know how many biscuits I’ll receive, while for on the go I may prefer smaller portions. For around 22% of consumers, this, together with current availability, is the top priority. |
A percentage of dark chocolate tells you how much chocolate is in the whole biscuit, not the percentage of cocoa solids in that chocolate. For example, Jumbo lists 30% dark chocolate for its Digestive Biscuit Dark Chocolate. That isn’t a cocoa percentage.
If the cocoa content is a deciding factor, look for an explicit statement about cocoa solids in the product information or on the packaging.
The Jumbo, McVitie's and LU biscuits reviewed list wheat or gluten, milk and soya. Other warnings vary by variety, so the name ‘dark chocolate’ doesn’t tell you everything about the ingredients.
Before ordering, read the information for the exact variety and check the packaging again when it arrives. Albert Heijn notes that product information can change, while the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority emphasises the importance of allergen information on the label.
A product page may remain online even when an item is no longer available to order. For example, one reviewed page for AH sugared dark chocolate biscuits stated ‘Discontinued’.
Before completing your order, check the current status in your basket and whether delivery is available to your address.
This own-label range includes a digestive topped with dark chocolate. It’s one to consider if you’re looking for a larger pack to enjoy at home.
A brand to consider if you’re specifically looking for a digestive topped with dark chocolate.
LU Scholiertje is a butter biscuit with dark chocolate, ideal if you want to take biscuits with you in portions of two.
The own-label range is another place to look for dark chocolate biscuits, as long as you check the status of the specific item.
No. ‘Dark’ alone doesn’t indicate a particular percentage of cocoa solids. A statement such as 30% dark chocolate describes the proportion of chocolate in the biscuit. To check the cocoa content, look for a separate statement in the product information or on the packaging.
Check the ingredients, allergens and any ‘may contain’ warning for the exact variety. The Jumbo, McVitie's and LU biscuits described list wheat or gluten, milk and soya, but other warnings vary. Check the packaging you receive as well.
Follow the storage instructions on your biscuit packaging. The Jumbo product information reviewed advises sealing its Digestive well after opening and storing it in a dark place. McVitie's says to store the variety described in a cool, dry place.
No. Check the order status in your basket and whether delivery is available to your address. One reviewed page for AH sugared dark chocolate biscuits still showed the item, but stated ‘Discontinued’.
