Looking for a biscuit with a pronounced cocoa flavour for your weekly shop? Check whether the chocolate’s cocoa percentage is stated: the word ‘dark’ and the proportion of chocolate coating won’t answer that question. Also compare the pack weight, number of servings and storage advice with how you plan to enjoy it during the week. Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information on the pack every time you buy.
You want to know how much cocoa the chocolate contains, rather than relying on the word ‘dark’. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre defines dark chocolate as chocolate containing at least 35% cocoa; that still doesn’t tell you how the whole biscuit will taste.
You’re looking for a pack that will see you through your coffee or tea breaks during the week. The weight, stated number of servings and storage advice can help you work out whether you’ll finish the pack after opening it.
Before you buy, check the ingredients and allergen information on the specific pack. Wheat, milk and soya may be relevant allergens in dark chocolate biscuits; the word ‘dark’ doesn’t mean they’re absent.
If you need to avoid an allergen, start with the label on the pack you’re planning to buy. Then compare the stated cocoa content and pack size with what you’re looking for in your weekly shop.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Cocoa and chocolate coating | Look for an explicitly stated cocoa percentage for the chocolate. Distinguish this from the proportion of chocolate in the biscuit as a whole. | I want to be able to assess the cocoa content of a biscuit, even if that means choosing a smaller pack. This is the top priority for around 42% of consumers. |
| Pack size and servings | Check the net weight, any stated serving information and the storage advice after opening. | My pack should suit several coffee or tea breaks, without me opening more than I’d usually finish. This is the main consideration for around 33% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and nutritional information | Read the latest allergen information and, if you wish, compare sugars and saturated fat per 100 g and per serving. | Before choosing a biscuit, I need to be able to check which ingredients and allergens it contains. This label check is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
A percentage on the front of the pack may refer to the proportion of dark chocolate in the biscuit, not the cocoa percentage of that chocolate. For example, Albert Heijn states that AH Zaans huisje pure chocolade contains 63% dark chocolate by product weight.
To check the cocoa content, look for a separate statement of the cocoa or cocoa solids. If there isn’t one, don’t assume the biscuit has an intense cocoa flavour.
Wheat, milk or soya may be listed as ingredients or allergens in the Albert Heijn and Jumbo product examples. ‘Dark’ describes the chocolate and doesn’t rule out these ingredients in the biscuit.
Check the latest ingredients, allergen information and any ‘may contain’ statement on every pack.
The label doesn’t tell you how much sugar or saturated fat a biscuit contains per 100 g or per serving. A high proportion of dark chocolate doesn’t answer that question either.
Read the nutritional information for the options you’re considering and compare like with like.
Compare specific biscuit varieties: pack weight, chocolate coating and biscuit type can vary within the same brand.
The own-label range includes both a smaller biscuit with a high proportion of dark chocolate and a larger pack of sugar-coated biscuits.
The own-label range includes several types of dark chocolate biscuits, including digestives.
A speculoos biscuit with a dark chocolate coating offers a different flavour from a biscuit chosen mainly for its cocoa content.
A brand worth comparing with own-label biscuits, as long as you check the exact variety.
This pack of dark chocolate digestives is an option if you want to have biscuits at home for several occasions during the week. Use the pack weight and the latest label to decide whether this variety suits how you’ll enjoy it and your ingredient preferences.
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For anyone looking to add dark chocolate digestives to their weekly shop. The pack contains 266 g; check the pack for ingredients, allergens and any cocoa information that may affect your choice.
No, that description doesn’t tell you how much cocoa the chocolate in the biscuit contains. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre defines dark chocolate as chocolate containing at least 35% cocoa; a statement such as ‘63% dark chocolate’ may instead refer to the proportion of chocolate in the biscuit as a whole. Look for a separate cocoa percentage to check the cocoa content.
Follow the storage advice on the packaging and seal the pack securely after opening. The Albert Heijn and Jumbo product examples described recommend storing the biscuits in a cool, dark and dry place; check the instructions on your pack.
Yes, these ingredients may be found in dark chocolate biscuits. Check the ingredients and allergen information on the latest pack, including any ‘may contain’ warnings. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergens must be clearly stated on the labels of prepacked foods.
No, the word ‘dark’ doesn’t indicate these nutritional values. Compare the stated sugars and saturated fat per 100 g; use the per-serving information if you want to see what the stated serving size contains.
