Families focused mainly on sugar
When sharing coffee and snacks, they compare the listed sugars per 100 g and per biscuit rather than relying solely on a phrase on the front of the pack.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Larger households looking to portion out biscuits
Individually wrapped biscuits can be practical when you have lots of separate occasions to serve them. Hoppe presents Speculows as this kind of coffee biscuit; pack size and number of biscuits are separate considerations.
Families who need to check ingredients
Allergens, a vegan diet or sensitivity to sweeteners can all affect which biscuit is suitable. For the Céréal variant we looked at, Jumbo lists wheat, almonds, egg, milk, soya and barley, among other ingredients. Hoppe describes Speculows as vegan, but it also contains wheat and gluten.
What should you look for when choosing?
First compare the nutritional information and ingredients for the specific biscuit. Then consider which pack size suits the number of occasions you’ll be serving them at home.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars listed | Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and check the serving size; look at energy and fat separately. | If I mainly want less sugar, I need to be able to compare the nutritional values of the biscuits themselves. Around 42% of consumers say sugar content is their first-choice criterion. |
| Stock and portions | Check the pack weight, the number of biscuits and whether they are individually wrapped. | For lots of coffee or snack breaks, I want to be able to buy enough biscuits and easily portion them out each time. For around 33% of consumers, portioning and keeping a supply practical matters most. |
| Ingredients | Read the current allergen information and check which sweeteners are used; don’t infer dietary suitability from the sugar content. | If not everyone at home can or wants to eat the same ingredients, the biscuit needs to meet those requirements first. Checking the ingredients is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
-
Assuming a large pack means less sugar
Albert Heijn and Lidl show standard 600 g packs of speculaas. These can be handy for stocking up, but pack size tells you nothing about the sugars per 100 g.
Check the nutritional information for the specific pack before comparing its size and number of biscuits.
-
Thinking ‘sugar-free’ means you can serve as much as you like
For the Céréal Speculoos we looked at, Jumbo lists 29 g of polyols per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that a high intake of polyols can cause flatulence and diarrhoea.
Before buying for the whole household, also read the information about polyols, portions and allergens on the current packaging.
-
Judging by the title of a baking recipe
Jumbo’s ‘Sugar-free speculaas’ recipe lists maple syrup as an ingredient. So the recipe title alone doesn’t tell you the nutritional values of the biscuits once baked.
Check all the ingredients and work out the sugars per portion before treating homemade speculaas as a lower-sugar alternative.
Brands compared
Céréal
The Speculoos with almond pieces we looked at is marketed as having a low listed sugar content. Jumbo shows a 110 g pack containing ten biscuits.
- Jumbo lists 0.4 g of sugars per 100 g for this variant.
- The same product information lists 29 g of polyols and 404 kcal per 100 g, as well as several allergens.
Hoppe
Hoppe describes Speculows as a vegan speculoos coffee biscuit, individually wrapped for separate occasions.
- According to Hoppe, Speculows contains 30% less sugars than a comparable coffee biscuit.
- Hoppe still lists 23.9 g of sugars per 100 g; the biscuit contains wheat and gluten.
Lotus Biscoff
The standard Lotus Speculoos we looked at serves as a reference for stocking up for a family, not as a proven lower-sugar option.
- Albert Heijn also shows a variant with individually wrapped biscuits for lots of serving occasions.
- For the standard Speculoos we looked at, Albert Heijn lists 38 g of sugars per 100 g.
Albert Heijn
The range shown offers different ways to shop: standard speculaas in larger packs and Céréal Speculoos in the sugar-conscious biscuit category.
- Albert Heijn shows AH Bakkers speculaas in a 600 g pack, among other options, for those choosing by pack size.
- A product’s place in the range doesn’t show that AH own-brand speculaas contains less sugar; check the nutritional information for each product.
Related products on Joybuy
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Does ‘30% less sugars’ mean Hoppe Speculows is sugar-free?
No. According to Hoppe, Speculows contains 30% less sugars than a comparable coffee biscuit, but the manufacturer lists 23.9 g of sugars per 100 g. So check the nutritional information alongside the claim.
Is Céréal Speculoos with no sugars also low in calories?
That doesn’t follow from the sugar content. For the variant we looked at, Jumbo lists 0.4 g of sugars, but also 404 kcal and 20 g of fat per 100 g. Compare these values separately if they matter to your choice.
Which allergens are listed for the Céréal Speculoos we looked at?
The product information from Jumbo lists almonds, wheat, barley, egg, milk and soya, among other ingredients. Check the current packaging for the exact variant when you buy it.
What should I look out for when it comes to polyols in speculoos?
Check the amount of polyols and the warning on the packaging. Jumbo lists 29 g of polyols per 100 g for the Céréal variant we looked at; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that a high intake of polyols can cause flatulence and diarrhoea.
Can I use ‘sugar-free’ or ‘less sugar’ on the packaging as my only criterion?
No. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that nutrition claims must be accurate and are subject to European rules, but a claim doesn’t replace the nutritional information. Also compare sugars per 100 g, portions and ingredients for the specific biscuit.