Travellers looking for a chocolate coating
If a chocolate exterior matters more to you than almond paste, check the exact product description. Verkade describes Choco S'mores Kokos as coated in milk chocolate, but that doesn’t make it a kano pastry.
Which option is right for you?
Buyers of classic kano pastries
If you want to take a biscuit filled with almond paste with you, the pack size and stated number of portions are more useful for comparison. The Albert Heijn and Jumbo product pages both describe kano pastries filled with almond paste, but in different pack sizes.
Travellers who need to check ingredients
Before eating, check the current packaging for ingredients, allergens and any ‘may contain’ statements. Do this for both kano pastries and chocolate-coated alternatives, as their ingredients differ.
What should you consider when choosing?
Classic kano pastry with almond paste
Choose this if: you’re after a combination of biscuit and almond paste, and a chocolate coating isn’t essential.
Bear in mind: the descriptions of the kano pastries listed don’t confirm that they’re coated in chocolate.
Chocolate-coated biscuit
Choose this if: a clearly stated chocolate coating matters more to you than the kano shape.
Bear in mind: the biscuit and filling may be quite different. Verkade Choco S'mores Kokos, for example, contains biscuit and marshmallow instead of almond paste.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who should consider this? |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate coating | Look for an explicit description saying the biscuit is coated in chocolate; a chocolate topping isn’t the same thing. | I want chocolate all around my biscuit and the kano shape matters less to me. Around 31% of consumers prioritise this coating. |
| Portions and pack size | Compare the pack weight and stated number of portions with how much you want to take on your journey. | I want to decide in advance how many biscuits to take with me. Around 25% of consumers prioritise planning their portions. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the current packaging for the ingredients and both ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements. | I need to know whether the ingredients in this particular biscuit are suitable for me. This is the first thing around 25% of consumers consider. |
| Packaging for the journey | Check whether you can reseal an opened pack, or keep the packaging and leftovers with you until you find a bin. | I don’t want to leave loose wrappers or crumbs on the train after eating. This matters most to around 19% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Mistaking a kano pastry for a chocolate-coated biscuit
Albert Heijn, Jumbo, PLUS, Lidl and ALDI describe the kano pastries listed as biscuits filled with almond paste, not as chocolate-coated kano pastries. So if you mainly want a chocolate coating, these products aren’t confirmed to be what you’re looking for.
Check whether the product description explicitly mentions a coating. Otherwise, choose a classic kano pastry with almond paste instead.
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Relying on outdated allergen information
Ingredients and warnings can vary by product and packaging. A chocolate-coated alternative won’t necessarily have the same ingredients as a kano pastry, either.
Before eating, read the current packaging, including statements about ingredients the product contains or may contain.
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Not making room for wrappers and leftovers
NS asks passengers to put rubbish in a bin. So if you open a pack during your journey, you’ll need a way to keep the packaging and leftovers with you for a while.
If needed, take a small bag or resealable container with you until you find a bin.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn describes its 270 g roomboter kano pastries as biscuits filled with almond paste.
- The product information lists six 45 g portions, which can help you divide them up before setting off.
- The product description doesn’t confirm a chocolate coating; check the packaging for allergens, too.
Jumbo
Jumbo Kano's met Roomboter are classic kano pastries filled with almond paste, in a 275 g pack.
- Jumbo lists five portions, so you can compare the pack size with the number of people travelling.
- The variant described isn’t explicitly a chocolate-coated biscuit; check the latest allergen information.
PLUS
PLUS lists both its own 275 g roomboter kano pastries and 230 g Aviateur Kano's filled with almond paste.
- The two listings give you different pack sizes to compare.
- Neither description confirms a chocolate coating; check the ingredients for each variant.
Lidl / Sondey
Lidl describes Sondey Kano's as roomboter biscuits filled with almond paste, in a 325 g pack.
- The stated pack weight is useful if you want to take biscuits for several journeys.
- The description doesn’t mention a chocolate coating; check the packaging for ingredients and allergens.
ALDI / Heerlijck Banket
ALDI describes its 330 g Heerlijck Banket Kano's as pastries in the shape of a canoe.
- The pack size is useful if you want to divide the portions between several travellers in advance.
- The description doesn’t confirm a chocolate coating; check the current packaging for ingredients and allergens.
Verkade
Verkade offers biscuit alternatives for anyone who cares more about chocolate than a kano pastry filled with almond paste.
- Verkade describes Choco S'mores Kokos as coated in milk chocolate.
- Choco S'mores Kokos isn’t a kano pastry and contains marshmallow, among other ingredients; Verkade Tops has a chocolate topping rather than a full coating.
Chocolate biscuits as an alternative
These Joybuy products are a good fit if you’re after a biscuit with chocolate for your journey. They’re alternatives to classic kano pastries filled with almond paste, so check the shape, filling and packaging of each product.
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Lu Scholiertje Milk Chocolate Biscuits 150 g
A biscuit alternative for anyone who cares more about chocolate than almond paste; this isn’t a kano pastry. The pack contains 150 g. Before your journey, check the current portion packaging and allergen information.
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Kahve Dunyasi Gofrik Pistachio Paste Milk Chocolate 10 × 12,5 g
A chocolate and pistachio alternative for anyone who wants to divide up smaller portions; it isn’t a kano pastry filled with almond paste. The title lists ten 12,5 g portions. As it contains pistachio, check the current ingredients and allergen information on the packaging.
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Glico Pocky Cookie Bar Chocolate Flavor 47 g IN
A 47 g biscuit alternative for your journey, but not a kano pastry filled with almond paste. For this variant, check that the chocolate, packaging and allergen information match what you’re looking for.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if a kano pastry is chocolate-coated?
Look for an explicit mention of a chocolate coating in the product description, and check whether it’s also a kano pastry filled with almond paste. The kano pastries listed by Albert Heijn, Jumbo, PLUS, Lidl and ALDI are described as biscuits filled with almond paste. Verkade Choco S'mores Kokos is described as chocolate-coated, but it isn’t a kano pastry.
Which ingredients should I check before my train journey?
Check the ingredients and allergens for the specific product on its current packaging. For the kano pastries listed, wheat or gluten, milk, egg, soya and almond may be relevant. A chocolate alternative may contain different ingredients or carry different warnings about possible traces.
What should I do with the packaging on an NS train?
Put wrappers and other rubbish in a bin, as NS asks passengers to do in its house rules. Keep an opened pack and any leftovers with you until you can dispose of them.