If you’re looking for a rich dark chocolate flavour
You want a biscuit with a clear chocolate flavour while you study. A stated chocolate content can help you assess what’s in it, but it doesn’t tell you on its own how bitter the biscuit tastes.
Who is this relevant to?
If you want to keep your snack portion in check
You want to decide in advance how many biscuits to set aside. The weight and number of biscuits in the stated portion can help; a portion from one brand won’t necessarily be the same as one from another.
If you read labels carefully
You compare nutrition information or need to check ingredients and allergens. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that the allergens that must be declared on pre-packed foods have to be clearly shown on the label.
What should you look for when choosing?
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who might find this important? |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate flavour | Check the stated proportion of chocolate or chocolate pieces, and look separately for a cocoa percentage if that matters to your flavour choice. | If I’m looking for a pronounced dark chocolate flavour while studying, I don’t want to rely on the word ‘dark’ alone; this flavour consideration comes first for an estimated 45% of consumers. |
| Portion | Check the weight per portion and how many biscuits it includes. | I want to set aside a few biscuits and close the rest of the pack, so I can keep my snack break to a set amount; portion control is the first consideration for around 33% of consumers. |
| Label | Compare sugars, saturated fat, fibre and salt per 100 g; check the current ingredients and allergen information. | If I need to watch ingredients or allergens, I want to be able to read that information before buying; this label check matters most to an estimated 22% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
-
Confusing the chocolate content with the cocoa percentage
According to Albert Heijn’s product information, LU Scholiertje puur contains 48% dark chocolate; Jumbo states that its Chocolate Cookies contain 40% dark chocolate pieces. These percentages describe components of the biscuit, not how much cocoa the chocolate contains or how bitter either biscuit tastes.
Look for a separate cocoa percentage if it will determine your choice. Otherwise, compare the ingredient lists without assuming that a higher chocolate content means a stronger flavour.
-
Judging the nutritional value by the front of the pack
A description such as ‘dark’ or ‘6 grains’ isn’t a substitute for the nutrition table. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing products per 100 g; then consider the amount you’ll actually eat.
Turn the pack over and compare sugars, saturated fat, fibre and salt, among other things. Also check how many grams the stated portion contains.
-
Relying on a webshop filter to check allergens
A filter doesn’t show all the information on the packaging. If you need to avoid an allergen, check the ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ statement for the specific biscuit too.
Check the current label before eating the product, and don’t rely solely on a product page you viewed earlier.
-
Assuming a shop’s range is always the same
A biscuit you’ve seen online may not be available in the same shop every time you shop. Lidl Netherlands states that products in its range are available while stocks last.
Check availability when you shop, and read the packaging of the product you’re buying.
Brands and shops to explore
Lotus Biscoff
Speculoos varieties to explore alongside biscuits with dark chocolate.
- Lotus Bakeries states that Biscoff with dark chocolate contains 22% chocolate.
- The separate 6-grain variety states that it contains 52% grains and 4.7 g of fibre per 100 g, but it isn’t a dark chocolate biscuit. The chocolate content of the other variety isn’t a cocoa percentage.
Albert Heijn
A shop range where you can browse different types of chocolate biscuits and brands.
- The range includes LU Scholiertje puur and McVitie’s Digestives dark chocolate, among other products.
- Compare products individually and check the packaging when you buy for the latest ingredients, nutrition information and allergen details.
Jumbo
A own-brand range that includes Chocolate Cookies with Dark Chocolate Pieces.
- Jumbo states that this specific biscuit contains 40% dark chocolate pieces.
- The product information also lists 32 g of sugars and 14.2 g of saturated fat per 100 g. These values don’t apply to other Jumbo biscuits.
Lidl
A shop range to explore if you want to buy biscuits in person.
- You can check the packaging of a specific product in store before choosing.
- Lidl Netherlands states that products in its range are available while stocks last and that images may differ.
ALDI
A shop range that includes Biscotto chocolate biscuits.
- ALDI describes this pack as containing 20 butter biscuits, individually wrapped in pairs.
- The biscuits described contain dark, white and milk chocolate, so they aren’t suitable if you’re looking for biscuits made with dark chocolate only.
Dark chocolate flavour biscuits on Joybuy
These biscuits are described as having a dark chocolate flavour. Don’t take that to mean they have a confirmed high cocoa content; for a study snack, also check the weight and nutrition information on the packaging.
Image unavailable
Franzzi Premium dark chocolate flavour biscuits, 70 g
An option if you’re looking for dark chocolate flavour biscuits for a study session.
Check the cocoa percentage if it will determine your flavour choice. If you want to set aside a portion, check how many biscuits are in each pack and read the current nutrition information.
Image unavailable
quduoduo Chunky Cookies with dark chocolate flavour, 72 g
An option if you’re looking for a pack of dark chocolate flavour biscuits to divide into portions yourself.
The pack weighs 72 g; don’t base your snack portion on the pack weight alone. Also check the cocoa percentage if the amount of cocoa is important to you.
Image unavailable
Franzzi Mellow dark chocolate flavour biscuits, 115 g
An option if you want to set aside dark chocolate flavour biscuits while you study.
The product information states 0.0 g of sugars, but the ingredients list includes sugar and glucose-fructose syrup. So check the nutrition information on the current packaging before comparing sugar values; to keep portions in check, also check how many biscuits are in each pack.
Frequently asked questions
Does ‘dark’ on a biscuit pack mean it has a high cocoa content?
No, you’ll need a separate statement of the cocoa percentage to know that. Albert Heijn states that LU Scholiertje puur contains 48% dark chocolate, Jumbo says its Chocolate Cookies contain 40% dark chocolate pieces, and Lotus Bakeries lists 22% chocolate for Biscoff with dark chocolate. These are proportions of the biscuit, not cocoa percentages that can be directly compared.
How can I keep my study snack portion in check?
Check how many grams and biscuits are in the stated portion, then set aside the amount you want to eat in advance. Albert Heijn lists a 25 g portion of LU Scholiertje puur as two biscuits; Jumbo gives 18.75 g per portion for its Chocolate Cookies. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also recommends comparing nutrition information per 100 g.
What should I check on the label if allergens are important?
Read the current ingredients list, allergen information and any warnings such as ‘may contain’ on the packaging of the specific product. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that 14 allergens must be declared on the labels of pre-packed foods.
How should I store an opened pack of biscuits?
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging of the biscuits you’ve bought. Reseal an opened pack as instructed, so you don’t leave the remaining biscuits open beside your study space.