Choose kano biscuits if you want to serve a filled biscuit with almond paste alongside your coffee. A plain digestive is a better choice if you’d prefer an unfilled biscuit with your coffee or cake. Then compare the serving size, nutritional information and allergens on the exact pack, as these vary between products.
A kano is a crisp biscuit filled with almond paste, as described by Heel Holland Bakt. AH Roomboter kano's are a specific example for anyone who would rather serve a filled biscuit with coffee than a plain biscuit.
If you don’t want a second filled biscuit alongside a slice of cake, a plain digestive is another type of biscuit to consider. Check the ingredients and nutritional information for each brand; the name alone won’t tell you what the biscuit is made from.
If you need to avoid certain ingredients, the label on the product you choose is more useful than the category name 'kano' or 'digestive'. For example, Albert Heijn lists different allergens for its AH Roomboter kano's and different dietary characteristics for AH Digestive.
A good choice if: you want to serve the biscuit with coffee as a filled treat in its own right. According to Albert Heijn, AH Roomboter kano's contain almond paste and almonds.
The trade-off: you’re adding another filled biscuit alongside the cake; the AH product mentioned also contains ingredients including egg, milk and almonds.
A good choice if: you’d prefer an unfilled wheat biscuit with your coffee or cake.
The trade-off: dietary characteristics vary by product. Albert Heijn describes AH Digestive as vegan and lactose-free, but this doesn’t automatically apply to other digestives.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Filling with coffee | Check whether the kano you’ve chosen contains almond paste and how large a serving is. | I want to serve a filled biscuit with my coffee, even when there’s no cake on the table. Around 33% of consumers would put this preference for a filled biscuit first. |
| A biscuit alongside cake | Check whether you’re choosing a plain version without almond-paste filling. | With a slice of cake, I’d rather have a simple biscuit than another filled one. This would be the deciding factor for around 25% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients list, allergen information and any warning about cross-contamination. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, whether the exact product is suitable matters more than the type of biscuit. Around 25% of consumers would say this is their main reason for choosing. |
| Servings and storage | Compare the total weight and serving size; after opening, follow the storage advice on the pack. | I’d buy a different amount for one coffee break than I would if I were stocking up for visitors. The pack size would be the main consideration for around 17% of consumers. |
The product name doesn’t mean the biscuit aids digestion. Jumbo also points this out for McVitie's Digestives Melkchocolade.
Check the ingredients list and nutritional information for the exact product to find out what you’re buying.
Albert Heijn lists ingredients including egg, milk, soya, wheat and almonds for AH Roomboter kano's. You can’t tell what it contains just from the word 'biscuit'.
Check the allergen information and any cross-contamination warning on the pack you’re buying.
Albert Heijn lists six 45 g servings for its butter kano biscuits and 27 15 g servings for AH Digestive. So one biscuit from one pack isn’t the same amount as one from the other.
Compare the total weight and serving size with the number of people you’re serving. Reseal the pack after opening, following the storage advice.
Albert Heijn warns that product ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change. So a product page you looked at earlier may not reflect the pack you’re buying now.
Check the current label just before using or buying the product, especially if a particular ingredient or allergen is a deciding factor for you.
Albert Heijn offers both AH Roomboter kano's and AH Digestive: two different types of biscuit to compare pack by pack.
Verkade Digestive Original is a wheat biscuit you can compare with plain versions from other brands.
Jumbo offers its own 275 g butter kano biscuit and McVitie's Digestives with milk chocolate.
PLUS offers butter kano biscuits as well as a separate digestive biscuit.
Lidl presents Sondey as a brand of biscuits and baked goods, and also offers a product called Digestives naturel.
This selection focuses on the digestive side of the comparison: a biscuit to consider with coffee or cake, rather than a kano filled with almond paste.
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A digestive to consider if you’d prefer a Digestive Original with coffee or cake instead of a kano. The pack contains 400 g; check the current ingredients and allergen information if your choice depends on your dietary requirements.
No. Don’t assume it has a particular effect from the product name. For McVitie's Digestives Melkchocolade, Jumbo says the biscuit doesn’t contain ingredients that aid digestion. Check the ingredients and nutritional information for the exact product.
No, it depends on the product. Albert Heijn describes AH Digestive as vegan and lactose-free, while Verkade Digestive Original may contain milk and McVitie's Digestives Melkchocolade contains milk. So check the label on the pack you’ve chosen.
Check the specific pack for all allergens that are relevant to you. Albert Heijn lists ingredients including egg, milk, soya, wheat and almonds for AH Roomboter kano's; the ingredients in other kano biscuits may differ.
Follow the storage advice on the pack and seal the biscuits securely after opening. Voedingscentrum advises keeping biscuits in a cool, dry, dark place in a well-sealed container.
According to Voedingscentrum, a 'best before' date relates to quality and doesn’t automatically mean a product is unsafe after that date. Check the packaging and assess the product by looking at it, smelling it and tasting it.
