Sourdough fans who are happy with crispbread
You’re looking for a product made with rye sourdough and don’t mind if it isn’t round like a rusk. Albert Heijn lists Wasa Sourdough Rye as crispbread made with wholegrain rye and rye sourdough.
Which option is right for you?
Shoppers who want rusks to top
For the Sinterklaas procession, you mainly want the familiar round, crisp shape of a rusk, even if sourdough isn’t essential. Bolletje describes its Echte Beschuit as light and crisp, while ALDI says the round shape is characteristic of rusks.
Shoppers who read labels carefully
You want to check which grains and allergens a product contains before buying, or find out whether baker’s salt has been used. Check the latest packaging, or ask the baker about the ingredients if the product is sold loose.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether sourdough or the round shape of a rusk matters most for your celebration. Then compare the ingredients of products that match your preference.
Sourdough crispbread
Choose this if: you’re specifically looking for rye sourdough and want a firm, crunchy base.
Bear in mind: crispbread doesn’t have the round, light shape of a traditional rusk.
Round rusks
Choose this if: you mainly want the familiar round, crisp shape for topping, perhaps in a wholemeal version.
Bear in mind: the traditional rusks mentioned here aren’t described as sourdough products.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sourdough and rye | Check whether rye sourdough is listed in the ingredients and whether the product is crispbread or rusks. | If I’m mainly looking for a product made with sourdough and wholegrain rye, I’m happy for it not to be a round rusk. This is the priority for around 45% of consumers. |
| Round rusk shape | Compare plain and wholemeal rusks, and check the pack size if you’re preparing toppings for several people. | For the celebration, I want round, crisp rusks to top; sourdough isn’t my first priority. This shape matters most to around 33% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the latest ingredients and allergen information; if you wish, also check whether baker’s salt is listed. | If I need to watch out for grains, egg or sesame, I want to know what’s in this particular version. Around 22% of consumers prioritise checking the label. |
Common mistakes
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Mistaking crispbread for round rusks
Albert Heijn describes Wasa Sourdough Rye as crispbread. If you’re expecting traditional round rusks for the procession, you’ll be buying a different type of product.
Before buying, decide whether sourdough preparation or the round shape matters more to you; don’t focus on the word ‘sourdough’ alone.
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Assuming sourdough means baker’s salt has been used
According to the Voedingscentrum, baking with baker’s salt isn’t compulsory. So a product’s name doesn’t tell you whether this salt is used in a particular bread-like product.
Check the ingredients list, or ask the baker which salt has been used if the product is sold loose.
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Overlooking allergens in wholemeal products
The products mentioned contain different ingredients. According to its product information, Wasa Sourdough Rye contains rye and barley, among other ingredients; PLUS lists wheat, egg and sesame, among other ingredients, in its wholemeal rusks with seeds.
Check the allergens on the packaging of the exact version you’re buying, even if you’ve already read a product description online.
Brands to consider
Bolletje
Bolletje Echte Beschuit is an example to consider if you’re looking for the classic rusk shape.
- Bolletje describes this version as light and crisp, and lists wheat, rye and egg among the ingredients.
- The name Echte Beschuit doesn’t confirm that it’s made with sourdough; check other Bolletje versions separately.
Wasa
Wasa Sourdough Rye is a crispbread option if sourdough and wholegrain rye matter more to you than round rusks.
- Albert Heijn lists rye sourdough and 19 g of fibre per 100 g for this version.
- This crispbread contains gluten-containing grains, including rye and barley; check the latest allergen information.
Leksands
Leksands also offers sourdough crispbread, rather than traditional round rusks.
- Albert Heijn lists a sourdough version as a 3-pack, with three 200 g packs; Jumbo also lists Leksands Sourdough Crispbread.
- Check the full ingredients and allergen information for the pack you choose.
PLUS
PLUS offers plain rusks and wholemeal rusks with seeds if you want to stick with the traditional rusk shape.
- PLUS lists 49% wholemeal wheat flour and 10.6 g of fibre per 100 g for its wholemeal version with seeds.
- The seeded version mentioned contains wheat, barley, oats, egg and sesame, among other ingredients; check the exact pack.
Goud Gebakken
Goud Gebakken is the rusk range ALDI offers if you’re looking for plain or wholemeal rusks.
- ALDI lists plain and wholemeal rusks in packs of 13.
- Check the ingredients for the version you want; the product name alone doesn’t confirm that it’s made with sourdough.
Products to help you choose
These products illustrate two options: Wasa sourdough crispbread if you’re happy to forgo the rusk shape, and two wholemeal rusks from Bolletje if you specifically want rusks to top. Check the latest label for each version if its ingredients or allergens are important to you.
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Wasa Sourdough Rye crispbread, 235 g
For anyone looking for rye sourdough who wants to top crispbread rather than round rusks.
For Wasa Sourdough Rye, Albert Heijn lists wholegrain rye, rye sourdough and 19 g of fibre per 100 g. The product information lists rye and barley; check the packaging for allergens, and read the label if you want to know whether baker’s salt has been used.
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Bolletje Dark Whole Wheat rusks, 10 pieces
A wholemeal rusk to consider if you want rusks to top for the celebration rather than crispbread.
The product name indicates that the pack contains 10 pieces. Check the label for ingredients, allergens and any mention of sourdough or baker’s salt if these affect your choice.
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Bolletje Wholegrain rusks, 13 pieces
A wholemeal rusk for anyone who values the rusk shape more than choosing sourdough crispbread.
The product name indicates that the pack contains 13 pieces. Check the latest packaging for ingredients and allergens, and separately check whether sourdough or baker’s salt is listed if you’re looking for either.
Frequently asked questions
Is sourdough crispbread the same as rusks?
No. Sourdough crispbread and round rusks are different products. Albert Heijn calls Wasa Sourdough Rye crispbread, while ALDI describes the round shape as characteristic of rusks. So decide which shape you want to top.
Does sourdough mean a product contains baker’s salt?
No. Sourdough doesn’t tell you which salt has been used. According to the Voedingscentrum, baking with baker’s salt isn’t compulsory; check the ingredients list or ask the baker which salt is used in a product sold loose.
Are the rusks and crispbread mentioned gluten-free?
Don’t assume they are: the product information for Wasa Sourdough Rye lists gluten-containing grains, while Bolletje lists wheat and rye for Echte Beschuit. Check the latest allergen information for each specific version and look for a gluten-free claim on the packaging.
How should I store rusks or crispbread until the procession?
Keep the packaging dry and follow the storage instructions for your chosen product. Wasa recommends storing its crispbread in a cool, dry place; PLUS recommends keeping its wholemeal rusks with seeds somewhere cool, dry and dark.