Fans of a pronounced cocoa flavour
Do you mainly want dark chocolate with your coffee, where you can check the cocoa content? Look for a product with a stated cocoa percentage, rather than relying on the word ‘dark’ alone.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Fans of classic kano biscuits
Are you looking for a biscuit filled with almond paste to enjoy with coffee or tea, without needing it to contain dark chocolate? A traditional kano biscuit is more likely to be what you have in mind.
Shoppers who compare labels
Are ingredients, allergens or nutritional information important to your choice? Check the current packaging for the exact variety you want to buy, including the information per 100 g and per serving, if provided.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want a kano biscuit filled with almond paste or whether a verifiable cocoa content matters more. Then check the ingredients and the exact variety available to buy.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Cocoa flavour and cocoa content | Look for the cocoa percentage of the exact product; the word ‘dark’ alone doesn’t tell you the percentage. | If I mainly want a pronounced dark chocolate flavour with my coffee, I want to be able to check the cocoa content. This is the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Almond paste and filling | Check what the kano biscuit is filled with and whether butter or almond is listed in the ingredients. | For me, a filled biscuit is an essential part of a coffee break; a chocolate bar doesn’t have the same texture. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this need. |
| Allergens and nutritional information | Read the current ingredients, allergen and nutritional information, including sugars and saturated fat per 100 g. | When ingredients or nutritional values determine my choice, I want to be able to assess the variety I’ve chosen before buying. This is the main consideration for around 27% of consumers. |
| Availability and packaging | Check the current range and pack contents for the exact variety you’re looking for. | I want to be able to buy a biscuit to enjoy with coffee that’s available now, without ending up with a different filling or type of chocolate. This practical need is the top priority for around 20% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘dark’ means a high cocoa content
A dark-sounding name or packaging doesn’t tell you how much cocoa a product contains. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that the terms ‘bitter’ and ‘extra bitter’ don’t indicate a fixed cocoa percentage either.
Compare products by checking the cocoa percentage stated on the packaging for the exact variety.
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Mistaking a milk chocolate kano biscuit for dark chocolate
According to the product information on Albert Heijn’s website, Hellema Koffie Kano's Caramel is a biscuit with caramel paste and milk chocolate. It’s not the same as a dark chocolate bar with a stated cocoa percentage.
Choose this kano biscuit if you’re after a biscuit with caramel and milk chocolate; if you want a high cocoa content, check the percentage on a separate chocolate product.
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Guessing allergens from the product name
Ingredients and allergens can vary between kano biscuit varieties. The products described here include ingredients such as wheat, soya, milk, egg and almond.
Before eating, check the allergen information on the current packaging, even if you’ve bought a different variety before.
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Assuming a product page means the item is in stock
Being able to find a product page doesn’t necessarily mean you can order that particular kano biscuit now. The Albert Heijn pages consulted for several varieties stated that they had been removed from the range.
Just before buying, check the status of the exact variety with the retailer you plan to order from.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
The own-brand kano biscuits described here are filled biscuits with almond paste, including a butter variety.
- Albert Heijn states that AH Kano's roomboter contains 40% almond paste filling and AH BASIC Kano's contains 46% almond paste filling.
- These product descriptions don’t provide grounds for attributing a high cocoa content to these varieties. Check the current range too.
Hellema
Koffie Kano's Caramel is a biscuit with caramel paste and milk chocolate, as described on Albert Heijn’s product page.
- An option to consider if you’re looking for a biscuit with caramel and milk chocolate to enjoy with your coffee.
- Milk chocolate doesn’t mean it’s dark chocolate or has a high cocoa content; check current availability too.
Gulden Krakeling
The speculaas kano biscuit described here combines spiced biscuit pastry with almond paste and an almond decoration.
- Albert Heijn states that this variety contains 38% almond paste filling.
- The speculaas variety doesn’t meet the needs of anyone looking for a stated high cocoa content; check the current range.
Verkade
Extra Puur is relevant here as a separate chocolate bar, not as a kano biscuit.
- Verkade states that Extra Puur contains 71% cocoa, so you can assess the cocoa content of this bar.
- A chocolate bar doesn’t have the almond paste filling and biscuit texture of a kano biscuit.
Related Joybuy products
Matching products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Does ‘dark’ mean a kano biscuit contains lots of cocoa?
No, the name alone doesn’t tell you the cocoa percentage. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that the terms ‘bitter’ and ‘extra bitter’ don’t indicate a fixed percentage either, so check the information for the exact variety on the packaging.
Which allergens should I check in kano biscuits?
Check the allergens listed on the packaging for the variety you’ve chosen. The kano biscuits described here include ingredients such as wheat, soya, milk, egg and almond, but ingredients vary between products.
How should I store kano biscuits after buying them?
Follow the storage advice on the packaging of the kano biscuits you buy. For the own-brand varieties described here, Albert Heijn recommends storing them in a cool, dark, dry place and keeping them in a sealed tin once opened. The product page also says that the butter variety isn’t suitable for home freezing.
Does a higher cocoa percentage tell you anything about the nutritional value?
A cocoa percentage tells you how much cocoa a chocolate product contains, but it doesn’t replace the nutrition table. To help you choose, compare information such as sugars and saturated fat on the packaging of the exact products.