Hosts planning a festive coffee break
You’re looking for biscuits to serve with coffee or tea and want to know whether a pack contains enough for your guests.
Who are you buying for?
Shoppers keeping an eye on fibre
You’re comparing wholemeal ingredients and fibre per 100 g, without assuming that a biscuit’s name says anything about its health benefits.
Hosts who need to consider allergens
Gluten or other allergens may be a concern for one of your guests. Always check the current packaging of the exact variety you plan to serve.
What should you look for?
First, decide what matters most for your Christmas shopping: a biscuit to enjoy with coffee, nutritional information, a guest’s dietary requirements or the quantity you need.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is it important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Flavour and serving | Choose between a classic digestive and a variety with a more distinctive flavour, such as chocolate. Check how many biscuits are in each pack too. | When I put biscuits out with Christmas coffee, I mainly want to choose a variety that suits the occasion and is easy to share. This is the top consideration for around 37% of consumers. |
| Fibre and ingredients | Compare the ingredients and stated fibre per 100 g for the exact varieties you’re considering. | I want to be able to take wholemeal ingredients and fibre into account, rather than relying on the name ‘digestive’. This nutritional information is the top priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Gluten and other allergens | Check the ingredients, allergens and any warnings on the current packaging. If needed, look for an explicit gluten-free label. | If a guest needs a gluten-free product or has to avoid other allergens, I need to be able to check the exact variety. This is the main concern for around 18% of consumers. |
| Pack size and availability | Check the net weight, how many packs you need and where your chosen variety is available. | When I’m catering for a larger group, I want to bring enough biscuits and avoid running short just before the guests arrive. Around 18% of consumers prioritise this practical consideration. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘digestive’ promises a particular nutritional value
The product name doesn’t tell you how much fibre a specific biscuit contains.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and the ingredients of the varieties you’re considering instead of relying on the name.
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Assuming you know the allergens from the type of biscuit
A classic digestive may contain wheat, and other allergens may also be relevant in a gluten-free variety. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority stresses the importance of clear allergen information on labels.
Before buying and serving, check the ingredients list and warnings on the current packaging of the exact variety.
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Assuming a supermarket variety will always be available
Lidl states that its 400 g Digestives naturel are available in-store only. So, if you need the biscuits at a particular time, it’s worth checking whether your chosen variety is available.
Check in good time where you can buy the variety and how many packs you’ll need for your guests.
Brands to consider
Not every product mentioned is a digestive, so check the exact type of biscuit and variety when comparing options.
Lotus Biscoff
A caramelised-flavour biscuit for anyone looking for something different from a classic digestive to enjoy with coffee.
- Lotus Bakeries describes Biscoff as crunchy and suitable to enjoy with coffee.
- Biscoff isn’t the same as a digestive. Check the ingredients and allergens for your chosen variety separately.
Albert Heijn
A supermarket with listings for AH Digestive and AH Digestive volkoren met tarwebloem.
- The two product names give you a starting point for comparing a standard and a wholemeal variety.
- Albert Heijn notes that product information may change and recommends checking the packaging.
Jumbo
A supermarket with listings for Jumbo Digestive Volkoren, 400 g, and Schär Digestive Landtaler Glutenvrij, 3 × 50 g.
- These listings show different types of digestive, including a Schär variety explicitly labelled gluten-free.
- The claims for one variety don’t automatically apply to another, so check each product’s own label.
Biscotto bij ALDI
A supermarket own brand to consider if you’re looking for a standard pack of digestives.
- ALDI describes Biscotto Digestive Biscuits as wheat biscuits in a 400 g pack containing around 27 biscuits.
- Check in-store availability and the information on the pack of the variety you buy.
Sondey bij Lidl
A supermarket own brand with a listing for Digestives naturel.
- Lidl lists Digestives naturel in a 400 g pack.
- Lidl states that this variety is available in-store only. Check the current packaging for ingredients and allergens.
Digestives to enjoy with coffee or tea
These Joybuy products include a classic digestive and two chocolate varieties. Choose the flavour you’d like to serve, and check the exact packaging for your guests. This selection doesn’t include a gluten-free variety.
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McVities Digestive Original, 400 g
A classic digestive to serve with coffee or tea, in a 400 g pack. Joybuy’s product information lists wheat in the ingredients and states that the product may also contain milk. Check the current label if this is relevant for a guest.
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McVitie's Digestives Milk Chocolate, 266 g
A milk chocolate digestive for anyone who’d like to serve a chocolate variety with coffee or tea. The pack contains 266 g. Check the current packaging for allergen information.
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McVitie's Digestives with Dark Chocolate, 266 g
A digestive with dark chocolate if you’d like to serve that flavour. The pack contains 266 g. Check the current packaging if ingredients or allergens are a consideration for your guests.
Frequently asked questions
Does the name ‘digestive’ tell you anything about the fibre content?
No, the name doesn’t tell you how much fibre a specific biscuit contains. Check the nutritional information per 100 g and the ingredients of the variety you want to buy. Don’t draw conclusions about its nutritional value from the product name alone.
How do I choose a gluten-free digestive for a Christmas guest?
Choose a variety explicitly labelled gluten-free and check the current label on that exact pack. Check for any other allergens that may be relevant to your guest too: ‘gluten-free’ doesn’t mean a product is free from all allergens.
Should I still check for allergens when ordering online?
Yes, even if you order online, check the packaging before serving the biscuits. Product information may change, which is why Albert Heijn also recommends checking the packaging.
How should I store digestives before my Christmas get-together?
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging of your chosen variety. For McVitie's Digestive Original, Joybuy’s product information recommends storing it in a cool, dry place and resealing the pack after opening.