If you’re serving bread with antipasti, soup or dips, sourdough is one option; rusks with chocolate sprinkles have a different place at the table. Sourdough isn’t essential for an Italian evening. Choose based on what you’re serving, and check the latest ingredients and allergen information for bread and rusks.
If bread is going on the table alongside olives, cheese, soup or dips, its flavour and texture may influence your choice. Bear in mind that your preferred type of sourdough may not always be available online or at every branch.
If you want to pick up or order the bread on the day, how you can buy it matters more than choosing a specific type of sourdough. Check what’s available at your chosen shop before you rely on it.
The words ‘sourdough’ and ‘spelt’ don’t tell you whether a bread meets your dietary requirements. Check the latest label; for unpackaged bread, ask about the ingredients and possible cross-contamination with allergens.
First decide whether you want to serve bread with the meal or put rusks with chocolate sprinkles on the table separately. If you choose bread, the next things to consider are flavour, availability and ingredients.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Its place at the table | Decide whether you’re serving bread with antipasti, soup or dips, or offering rusks with chocolate sprinkles separately. | If I want to serve something with savoury dishes, I look for bread rather than rusks with chocolate sprinkles. Around 25% of consumers say they prioritise this choice. |
| Flavour and presentation of the bread | Compare the flavour and crust described for the specific sourdough variety, and consider whether you want to slice the loaf yourself. | When bread takes pride of place alongside antipasti, I want its flavour and texture to work well with the food; this is the top consideration for around 25% of consumers. |
| Availability of the bread | Check whether you can order your preferred variety or need to visit a shop that stocks it. | If I’m shopping shortly before the meal, I need to be able to get the bread in time. This is the most important consideration for around 25% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the latest label; for unpackaged bread, ask about allergens and cross-contamination. Check whether iodised baker’s salt is used if that matters to your choice. | If I need to check the ingredients for myself or a guest, I can’t rely on the product name; around 25% of consumers prioritise this check. |
A sourdough variety can work well when bread has a prominent role alongside dips or antipasti, but an Italian meal doesn’t require sourdough bread. The name alone also tells you nothing about the nutritional value of a particular product.
First decide what you’re serving the bread with. Then choose a variety based on its described flavour, ingredients and how you can buy it.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises that, for a gluten-free diet, contact with gluten during preparation also matters. A bread’s name is no substitute for checking the product and how it’s prepared.
For packaged bread, read the latest label; for unpackaged bread, ask about the ingredients and possible cross-contamination.
The use of baker’s salt varies from one bread to another. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that organic bread usually doesn’t contain baker’s salt.
Check the label or ask the baker which salt was used if this matters to your purchase.
Jumbo describes its sourdough breads as in-store products. ALDI says its freshly baked range is available in shops with a bakery section; these conditions may matter if you need the bread shortly before the meal.
Before setting off, check your chosen shop and see whether you can order the bread or need to pick it up in person.
These brands can help you explore bread options for your meal; they won’t help you choose which rusks with chocolate sprinkles to buy.
Albert Heijn lists several OerDesem varieties under its AH Liefde & Passie range, including wholemeal, mixed-seed and spelt-and-buckwheat options.
Jumbo describes rustic sourdough loaves baked in store, including white durum, wholemeal, mixed-seed and spelt varieties.
Lidl has a product page for rustic spelt sourdough bread and also describes bread that’s baked in store.
ALDI describes daily fresh bread and a freshly baked range as part of its Dutch bread selection.
No, sourdough bread isn’t essential. It can be a good choice if you’re serving bread alongside antipasti, soup or dips and are looking for the described flavour and texture. You can offer rusks with chocolate sprinkles separately.
No, you can’t tell from the word ‘sourdough’. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bread made with iodised baker’s salt is an important source of iodine and that organic bread usually doesn’t contain baker’s salt. Check the label or ask the baker which salt was used.
No. If you follow a gluten-free diet, check the ingredients and allergen information for the specific bread. For unpackaged bread, also ask about possible cross-contamination with gluten, as advised by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
Jumbo says that the sourdough breads it describes, which are baked in store, are only available in store. For other bread products, check the current ordering options separately.
