Who should choose which option?

Home bakers who want to coat kruidnoten

To make chocolate-covered kruidnoten, you’ll need chocolate that can be melted for the coating. In Albert Heijn’s recipe, the kruidnoten are left to cool before being dipped in melted chocolate.

Shoppers who require Fairtrade

Check the Fairtrade statement on the chocolate product you actually choose. According to Fairtrade International, cocoa may be handled using a mass balance system. This doesn’t mean that all the physical cocoa is kept separate.

Sprits fans looking for a biscuit or an ingredient

You can enjoy a chocolate sprits as a biscuit, or roughly chop it to add to a recipe with melted chocolate, as in a Fairtrade Netherlands recipe. You’ll still need separate chocolate to coat kruidnoten.

What should you look for when choosing?

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Fairtrade statement Look for the FAIRTRADE Mark or an explicit Fairtrade cocoa statement on the packaging you choose. If mass balance is used, read the explanation of traceability too. If Fairtrade is the deciding factor for me, I want to be able to spot it on the bar or sprits variety I’m buying. For around 36% of consumers, a verifiable Fairtrade statement is the top priority.
Chocolate coating Choose chocolate that the instructions say is suitable for melting in your recipe; a sprits biscuit isn’t a base for a coating. I want to dip my cooled kruidnoten in chocolate, so I need something other than a ready-made biscuit. For around 29% of consumers, suitability as a coating is the main concern.
Ingredients and allergens Read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the exact variety, even if you’ve already checked an online description. If I need to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know what’s in this particular pack. For around 21% of consumers, ingredients and allergens matter most.
Sprits as a biscuit Decide whether you’re looking for a ready-to-eat biscuit or something to roughly chop and add to a recipe. If Fairtrade matters here too, check the statement for the specific variety. I’m looking for a biscuit texture to serve on its own or mix into a recipe, not something to coat kruidnoten with. For around 14% of consumers, choosing sprits is the top priority.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing another sustainability certification with Fairtrade

    Jumbo states that its Spritsen met Pure Chocolade biscuits contain Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa. That’s not the same as a Fairtrade statement.

    If Fairtrade is a condition of your purchase, check for the logo or an explicit Fairtrade cocoa statement on the exact packaging.

  • Buying sprits to make a chocolate coating

    In Albert Heijn’s recipe, cooled kruidnoten are dipped in melted chocolate. Sprits is a finished biscuit and can’t take the place of the chocolate coating.

    Choose chocolate for the coating. Only buy sprits if you also want to serve a biscuit or add pieces to another recipe.

  • Relying on an old product range page

    A brand or product listing doesn’t tell you which variety is currently in store or what the latest packaging says.

    Before buying, compare the current product information with the certification, ingredients and allergens shown on the packaging.

  • Assuming allergens from the product name alone

    The Verkade Originals Nobo Sprits Melkchocolade described by Jumbo contains milk, wheat and soya, and may contain nuts and sesame. Another sprits variety may have different ingredients.

    If you have an allergy, always read the allergen information on the exact pack you’re planning to buy.

Brands to consider as a starting point

A Fairtrade statement for a brand doesn’t automatically apply to every chocolate bar or sprits biscuit from that brand. Check the variety you’re choosing, and decide first whether you want chocolate for a coating or a biscuit.

Verkade

Jumbo describes Verkade Originals Nobo Sprits Melkchocolade as a sprits biscuit with milk chocolate and Fairtrade cocoa using mass balance.

  • The Fairtrade cocoa statement applies to this specific sprits variety.
  • It’s still a biscuit, not a chocolate coating. Check the current packaging, including the allergen information, before you buy.

Albert Heijn

Fairtrade Netherlands cites AH Biologische chocolate as an example of Fairtrade-certified products. An Albert Heijn recipe uses separate plain chocolate to coat kruidnoten.

  • The recipe shows how meltable chocolate is used to make chocolate-covered kruidnoten.
  • Check the Fairtrade statement on the chocolate variety you choose; the recipe itself doesn’t specify which one to buy.

PLUS

Fairtrade Netherlands describes the cocoa in PLUS own-brand products as Fairtrade-certified.

  • This statement can be a useful starting point when looking for chocolate or biscuits made with Fairtrade cocoa.
  • Check both the statement and the product type on the packaging you choose: chocolate sprits won’t replace chocolate for melting.

Lidl

Lidl Netherlands says its seasonal chocolate around occasions such as Sinterklaas is Fairtrade-certified.

  • Seasonal chocolate may be worth considering if you’re looking for chocolate for kruidnoten at that time of year.
  • Lidl also mentions other certifications for some of its other own-brand cocoa. Check the current certification and usage instructions for each product.

ALDI

Fairtrade Netherlands previously mentioned a Bio Fairtrade chocolate bar at ALDI.

  • A chocolate bar is a different product from sprits when you want to make a coating.
  • For a bar you’re choosing now, check both the Fairtrade statement and the instructions for using it in your recipe.

Chocolate for baking at Joybuy

This bar is a good option if you’re looking for Fairtrade chocolate for a baking recipe. If you want to use it to coat kruidnoten, first check that the instructions suit the way you plan to melt and work with it.

Tony's Chocolonely Pure 70% Dark Chocolate, 180 g

Tony's Chocolonely Pure 70% Dark Chocolate, 180 g

If you’re looking for Fairtrade chocolate for a baking recipe, the product description mentions Fairtrade and baking.

The bar weighs 180 g. If you’re using it to coat kruidnoten, check the instructions for melting and working with it, and read the current label if you have allergies.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is Rainforest Alliance cocoa the same as Fairtrade cocoa?

No, they are different certification schemes. Jumbo states that its Spritsen met Pure Chocolade biscuits contain Rainforest Alliance cocoa, while its Verkade Originals Nobo Sprits Melkchocolade contains Fairtrade cocoa. If Fairtrade is a must for you, look for the Fairtrade statement on the exact variety.

What does mass balance mean for Fairtrade cocoa?

According to Fairtrade International, under mass balance, Fairtrade and non-Fairtrade cocoa volumes may be mixed during processing, while equivalent Fairtrade volumes are tracked through the supply chain. This means the cocoa in your chocolate coating isn’t necessarily kept physically separate.

Can I use chocolate sprits to coat kruidnoten?

Not as a substitute for melted chocolate: sprits is a biscuit. In Albert Heijn’s chocolate-covered kruidnoten recipe, cooled kruidnoten are dipped in melted chocolate. Roughly chopped sprits is better suited as an addition to another recipe.

Which allergens should I check in chocolate sprits?

Read the allergen information on the exact packaging. The Verkade Originals Nobo Sprits Melkchocolade described by Jumbo contains milk, wheat and soya, and may contain nuts and sesame; don’t assume the same applies to other varieties. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that allergens must be listed on food labels.