Choose organic sourdough if organic provenance and a sourdough recipe are your priorities; choose wholemeal tiger bread if you’re mainly looking for wholemeal bread and fibre. A tiger crust doesn’t prove that bread is organic or made with sourdough. Check the ingredients, whether iodised salt is listed and any preparation instructions for the exact product, too.
You want to check that the bread is organic, and you’re also looking for a sourdough recipe. Look for the EU organic logo and check the ingredients: a rustic-sounding name doesn’t confirm either of these things.
You’re choosing bread for everyday sandwiches and want to compare wholemeal status and fibre per 100 g. Wholemeal tiger bread could be a good fit, even if organic or sourdough isn’t a must-have for you.
You plan your shopping ahead and are considering part-baked or frozen bread. Check whether each product is organic and how long it takes to bake or defrost.
First, decide whether organic provenance is a must for you. Then compare the type of bread, its sourdough recipe and what’s involved in preparing or storing it.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Organic provenance | For packaged bread, look for the EU organic logo and read the product information for the exact variety. | If I shop for organic food, I want to be able to see whether this bread is organic too. Organic provenance would be the main priority for around 40% of consumers. |
| Wholemeal and fibre | Check that it’s labelled wholemeal and compare the fibre per 100 g. | For my everyday sandwiches, wholemeal status and fibre matter more than the crust. This nutritional profile would come first for around 30% of consumers. |
| Sourdough recipe | Check whether sourdough is listed in the ingredients and whether it also contains baker’s yeast. | If I want sourdough, I want to know how the bread was made and whether yeast was used as well. The sourdough recipe would be the main priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Storage and preparation | Check the baking and storage instructions, and whether the salt is listed as iodised. | I want to be able to store bread without baking or defrosting it disrupting my plans. Ease of storage and preparation would come first for around 10% of consumers. |
These are separate characteristics. Bread with a tiger crust doesn’t have to be organic or made with sourdough, and the crust doesn’t tell you whether it’s wholemeal.
Check the organic status, ingredients and wholemeal labelling separately on the packaging or in the product information.
According to Voedingscentrum, organic bread is usually baked with non-iodised salt. However, the organic sourdough products from Albert Heijn and PLUS that were reviewed list iodised salt.
Check the salt information for the bread you’re buying rather than assuming it from the organic label.
A sourdough product can also contain yeast. PLUS lists both sourdough and yeast in Dutch Bakery Bio Desem Pompoenbroodjes.
Read the full ingredients and allergen information for the exact variety if yeast or certain ingredients are important to your choice.
Part-baked bread needs to go in the oven, while frozen bread needs to defrost before use. For the AH OerDesem spelt boekweit frozen bread that was reviewed, Albert Heijn says to defrost it in its packaging for at least six hours.
Check the preparation and storage instructions before buying, and choose an option that suits when you plan to eat it.
These examples can help you compare labels and product information. The features of one loaf don’t necessarily apply to the brand’s entire range.
Albert Heijn lists both an organic sourdough loaf and a separate wholemeal tiger loaf.
Lidl lists Bio rustiek meergranen desembrood as a 600 g organic brown multigrain sourdough loaf, available to buy in store.
At PLUS, Dutch Bakery Bio Desem Pompoenbroodjes is an example of organic part-baked sourdough bread.
ALDI lists freshly baked bread at stores with an in-store bakery.
Dirk promotes a range of organic groceries; check each bread product individually.
No. A tiger crust doesn’t indicate organic provenance or a sourdough recipe. Check the organic label and ingredients for the specific loaf.
No, sourdough and added yeast can both be used in the same bread. PLUS lists both 8% sourdough and yeast in Dutch Bakery Bio Desem Pompoenbroodjes; check the ingredients list if the distinction matters to you.
Look for the European organic certification logo on the packaging. According to Skal Biocontrole, this logo is mandatory on pre-packed food produced in the EU and sold as organic. Also check the product information for the bread you choose.
No, you can’t tell from the organic label. Voedingscentrum says organic bread is usually baked with non-iodised salt, but the organic sourdough products from Albert Heijn and PLUS that were reviewed list iodised salt. So check the ingredients for the exact variety.
Follow the preparation and storage instructions for the bread you choose. For the Dutch Bakery Bio Desem Pompoenbroodjes reviewed, PLUS says they should be stored at a maximum of 7 °C after opening and eaten within two days. For AH OerDesem spelt boekweit ongesneden vries, Albert Heijn says to defrost it in its packaging for at least six hours.
