If you’re looking for a distinctly dark chocolate sprinkle to have with your afternoon coffee, start by checking variants labelled as containing at least 50% cocoa solids. That figure alone, however, doesn’t determine how the flavour will taste to you. If sugar content is a bigger concern, compare the nutritional information per 100 g as well as the amount you use. For a variant with a low stated sugar content, check the ingredients too: Céréal Puur Minder Suikers contains polyols and carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
You don’t want to rely on the word ‘dark’ alone when choosing sprinkles for your afternoon coffee. A stated cocoa percentage helps you tell the difference between, for example, a standard variant with at least 32% cocoa solids and one with at least 50%.
You compare the stated sugar content per 100 g and think about how much chocolate sprinkle you use at a time. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, older people are a diverse group, so a choice based on just one nutritional value won’t necessarily suit everyone.
You’re looking for a pack that suits how often your household eats chocolate sprinkles. As well as the pack size, storage information and the best-before date are worth checking.
Decide what matters most for your coffee break: the stated cocoa content, sugar and portion size, or a pack that suits how you use it. Whatever you choose, check the allergen information too.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Cocoa flavour | Look for the cocoa solids percentage on the pack; compare the sugar content per 100 g too. | I’m mainly looking for a distinctly dark cocoa flavour with my coffee and don’t want to rely on the word ‘dark’ alone. This flavour is likely to be the top priority for around 50% of consumers. |
| Sugar and portion size | Compare the sugar and any polyol content per 100 g, and think about how much you use. | Even if I only use a little, I still want to know what’s in my chocolate sprinkles and whether a variant with sweeteners suits my preferences. Sugar and portion size are likely to be the first consideration for around 40% of consumers. |
| Pack size | Check the net weight, best-before date and storage instructions. | We use chocolate sprinkles regularly at home, so I want to choose a pack we can finish while the quality is still good. For an estimated 10% of consumers, choosing the right pack size is the top priority. |
Product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo states that De Ruijter and Venz standard dark chocolate sprinkles contain at least 32% cocoa solids, compared with at least 52% for De Ruijter Specials Intens Puur. The name ‘dark’ doesn’t make this difference clear.
If it matters to your choice, compare the stated cocoa percentage on the specific packs.
Albert Heijn lists 43 g of sugars per 100 g for AH Puur Minder Suiker. Céréal Puur Minder Suikers lists 7.7 g of sugars and 40 g of polyols per 100 g, and carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
As well as the sugar content, check the ingredients and nutritional information per 100 g, and bear in mind how much you use.
The variants described list milk or soya among their ingredients. Some products also warn that they may contain milk proteins or lactose.
Check the current ingredients and allergen information every time you buy a new pack, even if you already know the brand.
Jumbo, Lidl Nederland and ALDI Nederland list dark chocolate sprinkles in 600 g packs. That size won’t necessarily suit a household that only uses chocolate sprinkles occasionally.
Check the pack size, best-before date and storage instructions before choosing a larger pack.
If you take a long time to finish the pack, you could end up with leftover sprinkles that have started to lose their quality.
Cocoa content, sugar and ingredients can vary between products from the same brand. Compare specific products rather than just brand names.
The standard Puur 390 g and Specials Intens Puur 200 g offer two variants with different specifications for your coffee break.
Venz Puur is a standard dark chocolate sprinkle in a 400 g pack.
The own-brand range includes standard dark chocolate sprinkles and AH Puur Minder Suiker.
Céréal Puur Minder Suikers is a variant sweetened with sweeteners, so it’s worth considering its ingredients separately.
The own-brand range includes dark chocolate sprinkles in several pack sizes.
Both of these retailers list a 600 g pack of dark chocolate sprinkles.
This standard dark chocolate sprinkle suits anyone looking for a 390 g pack for their coffee break who doesn’t require at least 50% cocoa solids.
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A standard dark chocolate sprinkle for anyone who likes to choose a small amount to have with their coffee.
Check the cocoa solids percentage on the specific pack rather than relying on the word ‘dark’. Albert Heijn states that De Ruijter Specials Intens Puur contains at least 52% cocoa solids and AH Puur Minder Suiker at least 50%; the product information for standard De Ruijter Puur and Venz Puur states at least 32%.
No. The stated sugar content alone doesn’t determine which chocolate sprinkles fit someone’s diet. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, older people have different circumstances and nutritional needs. Check the ingredients and portion size too: Céréal Puur Minder Suikers contains maltitols and carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Use an amount that suits your coffee break and follow the storage instructions on the pack. Check the best-before date too, especially if you’re taking a long time to finish a larger pack.
Read the ingredients list and allergen information for the variant you’re buying. The products described here list milk or soya among their ingredients; some also warn that they may contain milk proteins or lactose. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that allergens must be clearly stated on the label.
