Which option is right for you?

Coffee drinkers looking for a classic biscuit

You want to serve a digestive with your coffee and perhaps use the same type of biscuit for a cheesecake base.

Bakers and cheesecake makers

First, choose the flavour of your base: a classic digestive or a biscuit with a distinct caramelised note. The pack size also matters for your recipe.

Shoppers looking for more fibre or a gluten-free option

You compare the fibre content and ingredients, or look for an explicit gluten-free label. If you have an allergy requirement, always check the current packaging.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, decide whether you’re mainly looking for a biscuit to enjoy with coffee, an ingredient for a cake or a product with specific ingredients. Then compare the packaging and nutritional information of the options that meet your needs.

What to consider What to check Who is this important to?
Classic digestive Check the pack size and ingredients if you also want to use the same biscuit for a cheesecake base. If I’m serving biscuits with coffee and want to use them for a cheesecake base too, I look for a classic flavour that won’t overpower the recipe. This is the priority for around 33% of consumers.
Wholemeal and fibre Compare the proportion of wholemeal wheat flour and the fibre and sugars per 100 g. If you’re mainly looking for a wholemeal option, you’ll want to compare the fibre content without overlooking the rest of the nutritional information. This is the deciding factor for around 25% of consumers.
Gluten and allergens Check for a gluten-free label, if relevant, and read the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging. If I need to avoid gluten, a clear gluten-free label matters more than my flavour preference. This labelling requirement takes priority for around 17% of consumers.
Caramelised flavour Choose deliberately between a digestive and a biscuit with a caramelised flavour, especially if you’re using it in a recipe. For coffee or cake, sometimes I want the biscuit to add a distinctive flavour. A pronounced caramelised flavour is the deciding factor for around 25% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming all digestives are gluten-free

    The standard digestives described from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and McVitie's contain wheat. The name ‘digestive’ says nothing about whether a biscuit is suitable for a gluten-free diet.

    If needed, choose a product explicitly labelled gluten-free and read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging before use.

  • Assuming wholemeal means low in sugar

    The wholemeal digestives described from Albert Heijn and Jumbo contain more fibre than the classic versions mentioned, but according to their product information they contain 20 g and 19.3 g of sugars per 100 g respectively.

    Compare fibre, sugars and salt per 100 g, and check the allergen information too. The word ‘wholemeal’ is no substitute for making those comparisons.

  • Thinking Biscoff is the same type of biscuit

    Lotus Bakeries describes Biscoff as a crunchy biscuit with a caramelised flavour. It has a different flavour from a classic digestive, especially when you’re using the biscuit for a cheesecake base.

    Choose Biscoff if you’re looking for that distinctive flavour; choose a digestive if that particular type of biscuit needs to be the base of your recipe.

Brands to consider

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn describes a classic AH Digestive and an AH Digestive wholemeal, made with wheat flour and both sold in 400 g packs.

  • The wholemeal option lists 37% wholemeal wheat flour and 6 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • Both options contain wheat. The wholemeal option lists 20 g of sugars per 100 g; check the current packaging.

Jumbo

Jumbo describes a Crunchy Digestive and a Wholemeal Digestive, each sold in a 400 g pack.

  • The wholemeal option lists 37.3% wholemeal wheat flour and 5.8 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • Both options mentioned list wheat and gluten; also check the pack for information about possible traces.

McVitie's

McVitie's Digestives Original is a classic digestive, sold in a 400 g pack.

  • The option described contains 3.7 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • The ingredients include wheat; according to the product information, the biscuit may contain milk.

Schär

Schär Digestive Landtaler is a separate digestive option, sold in a 150 g pack.

  • The product information explicitly labels this option gluten-free and wheat-free.
  • The product contains soya and may contain egg and lupin. Check the current packaging for allergen information.

Lotus Biscoff

Lotus Bakeries describes Biscoff as a biscuit with a caramelised flavour, to enjoy with coffee or use as an ingredient.

  • A good choice when you want that distinctive flavour with coffee or in a recipe.
  • Biscoff is not a digestive, so don’t assume it has the same nutritional or allergen properties as digestives.

Biscotto / ALDI

ALDI describes Biscotto Digestive Biscuits as a 400 g pack containing around 27 biscuits.

  • The stated pack size is useful if you’re planning to serve biscuits or prepare a recipe.
  • Check the current packaging for ingredients and allergen information.

A classic digestive at Joybuy

This digestive is a good fit if you’re looking for a classic biscuit to enjoy with coffee or use as an ingredient in a cheesecake base. Check the packaging against your own requirements for ingredients and allergens.

McVitie's Digestive Original 400 g

McVitie's Digestive Original 400 g

A classic digestive to enjoy with coffee or use as the base for a cheesecake.

400 g pack; the option described contains 3.7 g of fibre per 100 g. Contains wheat and may contain milk: if you have an allergy requirement, check the current label.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Are standard digestive biscuits gluten-free?

No, the standard digestives described from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and McVitie's contain wheat. If you need a gluten-free option, choose a product with an explicit gluten-free label, such as the Schär Digestive Landtaler described here, and check the current packaging.

Where can I check allergens before using biscuits?

Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the current packaging. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that allergens in prepacked foods must be clearly listed in the ingredients. Also look for any warnings about the possible presence of other allergens.

What does ‘wholemeal’ tell me about a digestive’s nutritional value?

Wholemeal doesn’t tell you everything about the nutritional value. The wholemeal options mentioned from Albert Heijn and Jumbo contain more fibre than the classic versions described, but they also contain sugars and salt. Compare the nutritional information per 100 g if those values matter to your choice.

How should I store an opened pack of digestives?

Seal the pack well after opening and store the biscuits in a cool, dry place. Albert Heijn recommends an airtight tin, Jumbo advises storing them in a dark place, and McVitie's recommends a cool, dry place.