Choose taaitaai if you want a chewy biscuit with aniseed and spices for your Christmas table; a dark colour doesn’t tell you how much cocoa it contains. If cocoa is essential for you, check the ingredients for cocoa mass or cocoa powder and consider a different type of biscuit: the ingredient lists for the standard versions reviewed from Albert Heijn, Bolletje, Jumbo and PLUS don’t mention either.
If you’re after a darker, more grown-up flavour, decide whether you mean aniseed and spices or cocoa. The ingredient lists for the taaitaai products reviewed from Albert Heijn, Bolletje, Jumbo and PLUS mention aniseed or spices, but not cocoa mass or cocoa powder.
If you’re catering for several guests, the quantity, biscuit size and allergen information all matter. Albert Heijn lists a 350 g pack; Jumbo, PLUS and ALDI list 500 g versions. Check which version is actually available before you do your Christmas shopping.
If your guests need to avoid certain ingredients, the current packaging is what matters. The versions reviewed list ingredients including wheat and rye; Albert Heijn and PLUS also mention milk protein. Check for any warnings about cross-contamination too.
When choosing taaitaai for your Christmas table, first decide whether cocoa is a must-have or whether you’re looking for a spiced flavour. Then compare the pack size and check the label with your guests in mind.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Cocoa or a spiced flavour | If you want cocoa, look for cocoa mass or cocoa powder in the ingredients; don’t judge by the colour or the word dark. | If cocoa is the deciding factor for me, I don’t want to buy an aniseed biscuit thinking it will taste of chocolate. This flavour requirement comes first for around 38% of consumers. |
| Quantity and size | Compare the net weight and check whether mini biscuits or shaped biscuits will suit the number of guests. Check the shop or delivery option shortly before buying. | For a sharing plate, I want to choose a quantity and size that suit my guests; around 37% of consumers give this the highest priority. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients, highlighted allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the current packaging. | If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to be able to check the label before serving the biscuits. This check comes first for around 25% of consumers. |
A dark colour doesn’t confirm the cocoa content. The ingredient lists for the standard versions reviewed from Albert Heijn, Bolletje, Jumbo and PLUS mention aniseed or spices, but not cocoa mass or cocoa powder.
If cocoa is essential to your choice, look for it explicitly in the ingredients list. If it isn’t there, consider a different type of biscuit.
Ingredients and warnings can vary between products or change over time. The taaitaai products reviewed contain wheat and rye; Albert Heijn and PLUS also mention milk protein.
Read the current packaging before buying, and check it again before serving the biscuits to guests.
PLUS includes taaitaai in its Sinterklaas range, and the Netherlands Nutrition Centre also associates the biscuit with Sinterklaas. So an earlier product listing doesn’t tell you which version you’ll be able to buy for Christmas.
Check your local shop or its online ordering page shortly before you shop, and choose an alternative for the biscuit plate in advance if needed.
Albert Heijn lists its own-brand 350 g taaitaai with star anise and notes that this version is only available in store.
Jumbo lists Sint Taai Taai Figuurtjes in a 500 g pack and also publishes a recipe for homemade taaitaai.
PLUS lists a 500 g bag of Taai taai sint en piet as part of its Sinterklaas range.
ALDI describes a 500 g version of taaitaai as shaped biscuits with an aniseed flavour.
Dirk lists 1 de Beste Mini taai taai in a 500 g pack in its search results.
No, colour alone doesn’t tell you how much cocoa it contains. The ingredient lists for the standard versions reviewed from Albert Heijn, Bolletje, Jumbo and PLUS don’t mention cocoa mass or cocoa powder. Check the ingredients if cocoa is a requirement for you.
Check the allergen information and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the current packaging of the taaitaai you’ve chosen. The versions reviewed list wheat and rye; Albert Heijn and PLUS also mention milk protein. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information must appear on the label of prepacked products.
You can, as long as the best-before date and storage instructions on the pack suit when you plan to serve it. Follow the instructions for storing it after opening too; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre notes that biscuits can lose quality if stored for a long time.
Don’t assume it will be. PLUS includes taaitaai in its Sinterklaas range, and the Netherlands Nutrition Centre also links the biscuit with Sinterklaas. Check the range at the shop where you plan to buy it shortly before doing your Christmas shopping.
