People who regularly share snacks outdoors
If you often share nuts with a group, look for a pack size that suits what you’ll actually serve. Jumbo lists a 500 g pack of cocktail nuts, while PLUS offers a 500 g bag of mixed nuts.
Who are these pack sizes suitable for?
Mindful nut snackers
If you want to eat nuts at different snack times, what’s in the mix may matter more than a seasoned coating. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre includes unsalted nuts in its Wheel of Five; also check the ingredients of the variety you choose.
Occasional outdoor entertainers
If you don’t often have drinks together or prefer to open less at a time, look for smaller packs and clear information about whether they can be resealed. Albert Heijn describes its 250 g cocktail nuts as easy to reseal; ALDI says the same about its 200 g Trader Joe's nut mix.
What should you look for in nuts for drinks on the patio?
First choose between seasoned cocktail nuts and a nut mix, then match the pack size to how much you’ll serve at once and how you’ll store the pack.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Pack size and use | Match the net weight to how often you share nuts and how much you usually serve. Compare products of the same type. | If I’m putting out nuts for several get-togethers, I want to choose an amount that suits how we use them. Around 28% of consumers prioritise a suitable pack size and amount. |
| Quantity and resealing | Check the net weight, whether the pack can be resealed and what storage instructions apply. Don’t assume that a stand-up pouch can be resealed. | If I only have drinks together occasionally, I want to be able to store a smaller amount after opening. Around 22% of consumers prioritise a suitable amount and the ability to close the pack. |
| Ingredients and salt | Read the ingredients, the types of nuts, any coating and the salt content per 100 g. Compare nutritional information on the same basis. | If I want to eat the nuts at other times too, I look for an unsalted mix rather than a seasoned coating. Around 22% of consumers make ingredients and salt their top priority when choosing. |
| Flavour and coating | First choose between a seasoned snack for drinks and a nut mix without a coating; then check the flavour variety. | The seasoning or crunchy texture I’m after may be what matters most for drinks on the patio. Around 17% of consumers prioritise flavour and snack texture. |
| Allergens and labelling | Check the ingredients, allergen information and any warnings about possible accidental presence on the current pack. | If someone at the table needs to avoid an allergen, I want to be able to check the information on that exact pack. Around 11% of consumers say allergen information is their top priority when buying. |
Common mistakes when choosing
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Assuming products with the same weight are comparable
Cocktail nuts with a dough coating are not the same product as a mix of unsalted tree nuts. For the Provençal cocktail nuts reviewed, Jumbo lists 48.5% peanuts; the PLUS mix reviewed contains walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds and cashews.
Compare the product types first, then read the ingredients and nutritional information for the specific variety.
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Assuming a large stand-up pouch can be resealed
Pack size and resealability are separate features. A larger pack may leave you with more than you need if you only use a small amount.
Choose a pack size to suit how you’ll use it, and check that the product information explicitly says it can be resealed.
A pack that doesn’t suit how you use it may be left open for longer or leave you with unused stock.
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Looking only at the word ‘nuts’
As well as peanuts or tree nuts, some varieties may contain other allergens. The AH cocktail nuts reviewed list milk, lactose and wheat, among other ingredients; that allergen profile doesn’t automatically apply to other varieties.
Before serving, read the current label on the exact pack, and keep the information if you transfer the contents to a bowl.
Brands and places to shop for reference
Duyvis
Duyvis offers Borrelnootjes and Tijgernootjes, among other products, for anyone looking for seasoned peanuts with a dough coating.
- Duyvis describes different preparation methods and a double coating on its Tijgernootjes.
- That product description doesn’t tell you which flavour you’ll like best. Check the exact variety and pack size.
Albert Heijn
The AH cocktail nuts reviewed are a smaller seasoned snack in a resealable pack.
- Albert Heijn describes the 250 g pack as easy to reseal.
- The variety reviewed lists milk, lactose, peanuts and wheat; check the allergens on the exact pack.
Jumbo
The Jumbo Provençal cocktail nuts reviewed are a larger pack of seasoned snacks.
- Jumbo lists a pack size of 500 g and 48.5% peanuts for this variety.
- This product has a dough coating and isn’t a plain, unsalted nut mix.
Lidl
Lidl offers a nut mix as an option for anyone looking for a mixed nut snack.
- Lidl’s product range makes it worth considering when you’re looking for a nut mix.
- Check the pack size, ingredients and nutritional information on the current pack before comparing varieties.
ALDI
ALDI’s Trader Joe's unroasted nut mix comes in a smaller pack.
- ALDI describes the 200 g pack as resealable and lists hazelnuts, cashews, walnuts and almonds.
- The pack reviewed is a smaller nut mix; the ingredients listed don’t prove that a larger variety has the same contents.
PLUS
PLUS offers unroasted, unsalted nut mixes in 200 g and 500 g stand-up pouches.
- The ingredients for the 500 g bag reviewed list walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds and cashews.
- The smaller pack contains less; check the information for the exact variety, and don’t assume a stand-up pouch can be resealed just from its name.
Nut products at Joybuy
These Joybuy products range from mixed nuts and pistachios to seasoned cocktail nuts. Check the pack size, ingredients and storage instructions for each product.
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Wolong mixed plain nuts in a tin, 500 g
A mixed nut snack that, according to the product information, is intended for sharing.
The mix described contains cashews, almonds, macadamia nuts, pecans, pistachios, hazelnuts and walnuts.
The stated salt content is 0.1 g per 100 g. The product information says to consume immediately after opening.
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g'woon unroasted nut mix, 500 g
This mix is a good option if you’re looking for an unroasted, unsalted nut mix for different snack times.
The mix contains walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds and cashews; the stated salt content is 0 g per 100 g.
The product information says to store in a cool, dark place and keep the pack closed after opening. May contain traces of peanuts and other nuts.
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J.ZAO Daily-Nut pistachios Large-Kernel Unbleached New-Year Gift Box, 1 kg
This large pack is an option if you want to share pistachios; it isn’t a mix of different types of nuts.
The ingredients list 99% pistachios and 1% salt. The product description says they are salted and roasted.
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J.ZAO Classic Daily-Nut Mix, 750 g, 30 sachets
The individual portions are handy if you want to serve them separately.
The pack contains 30 sachets of 25 g. The mix contains walnuts, almonds, cashews, hazelnuts and dried fruit.
According to the product information, the cranberries contain sugar and sunflower oil, so this isn’t a mix made entirely of nuts.
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Duyvis Borrelnootjes Poeta, 275 g
A seasoned peanut snack with a crunchy coating, for anyone looking for cocktail nuts rather than an unsalted nut mix.
The product information lists 51% peanuts and 1.4 g of salt per 100 g.
Frequently asked questions
How many nuts should you buy for drinks on the patio?
Choose a pack size to suit the number of people eating and what else you’re serving. For the 500 g bag reviewed, Jumbo gives 20 portions of 25 g; that’s the portion size on the label, not a prediction of how much your guests will eat.
How should you store a large bag between get-togethers?
Follow the instructions on the pack. Jumbo says to store its product in a cool, dry, dark place; PLUS says to store it in a dry, dark place. Albert Heijn and ALDI describe the smaller packs reviewed as resealable. You can serve some and store the rest according to the label.
Does a pack of nuts have to include allergen information in the Netherlands?
Yes. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information must appear on the label of pre-packed products. Check the information for the exact variety: cocktail nuts may contain other allergens as well as peanuts or nuts.
What does ‘may contain’ mean on a pack?
‘May contain’ is precautionary information about possible accidental presence. It isn’t the same as an allergen being used as an ingredient. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that, from 1 January 2026, rules for these warnings will be based on risk assessment. Read the information on the current label; the warning isn’t an individual guarantee of safety.
What should you do with a product that’s been recalled?
Don’t eat the affected product and follow the recall instructions. On 21 May 2026, NOS reported a recall of ALDI Trader Joe's unsalted cashews, 170 g, with a best-before date of 23 September 2026, and AH extra-large salted peanuts with a best-before date of 4 November 2026. This applied to those specific products and dates, not all nuts sold by these retailers.