For travellers who enjoy a pronounced cocoa flavour
You want to pair speculaas with dark chocolate that has a clearly stated cocoa percentage. You’re happy to take two separate products if that lets you check the percentage.
Who is this choice relevant to?
For travellers looking for a handy snack
You want a biscuit you can eat on the go, with packaging and crumbs that are easy to clear away. Individually wrapped portions can be practical, but they also mean more wrappers to dispose of.
For travellers checking allergens
Before buying, check the current packaging of each product you choose. The chocolate and speculoos products mentioned may list wheat or gluten, milk, soya and nuts; the specific warnings vary by product.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether having a single combined biscuit product matters more than a clearly stated cocoa percentage. Then check that the packaging, allergen information and availability suit your train journey.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Cocoa content | Check the cocoa percentage on the current packaging; don’t judge it by the word ‘dark’ alone. | If I want a pronounced cocoa flavour, I need to be able to see the chocolate’s percentage. For around 40% of consumers, being able to check the cocoa content is the main priority. |
| Portion and packaging | Check the portion size and whether you can easily take the opened packaging and any crumbs with you. | On a train journey, I want a handy snack without lots of loose packaging to clear away. Convenience while travelling is the top priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Check the current ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ information on both products you choose. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, the information on the packaging comes before flavour or portion size. Checking allergens is the main priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Availability | Shortly before setting off, check the current range at the shop where you plan to buy. | I want to be able to buy my snack before the train journey, rather than relying on an old product listing. Current availability is the deciding factor for around 10% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘dark’ means a particular high cocoa percentage
The name AH Speculaas Met Pure Chocolade tells you what type of chocolate the product contains, but not whether it meets your preferred cocoa percentage.
If the percentage is your main deciding factor, look for it on the current packaging. If it isn’t clearly stated, don’t make assumptions based on the product name.
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Confusing speculaas with milk chocolate for speculaas with dark chocolate
Verkade Speculaas Melkchocolade is a milk chocolate product containing speculaas ingredients. According to Jumbo, the milk chocolate contains at least 29% cocoa solids; this doesn’t make it a dark chocolate option.
First check whether you’re choosing biscuits with chocolate, chocolate with speculaas ingredients, or two separate products. Then check the type of chocolate and its stated cocoa percentage.
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Relying on an old allergen listing
Information varies by product. The Lotus Biscoff variant mentioned lists wheat or gluten, milk and soya; the Verkade variant also carries warnings about possible nuts and almonds.
Before eating, check the packaging of the product you actually bought, including any ‘may contain’ information.
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Assuming a product listing means it’s currently in stock
Albert Heijn marked the speculaas with dark chocolate mentioned here as discontinued. A product page or promotional period is no substitute for checking with the shop.
Check availability shortly before setting off, and keep your options open: a combined product or separate speculaas and chocolate.
Brands to consider
These examples show different product types: speculaas with chocolate, chocolate with speculaas ingredients, and separate bars of dark chocolate. A brand mention doesn’t guarantee that a specific product is currently available.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn stocked a speculaas product with dark chocolate.
- The product listing names AH Speculaas Met Pure Chocolade, in a 320 g pack.
- Albert Heijn marked this variant as discontinued; if you choose an alternative, check the current label for cocoa content and allergens.
Lotus Biscoff
Lotus Biscoff makes speculoos biscuits; Albert Heijn listed a variant with Belgian chocolate.
- The pack mentioned contains seven individual portions of three biscuits each.
- That listing doesn’t state a high cocoa percentage for the chocolate. Check the current packaging for allergen information.
Moser Roth
Moser Roth is relevant here as a separate bar of dark chocolate to pair with speculaas of your choice.
- ALDI listed 125 g bars with 70% or 85% cocoa.
- These are chocolate bars, not speculaas products. Check current availability before relying on this combination.
Lidl
Lidl listed a separate bar of dark chocolate with 90% cocoa as a possible pairing with speculaas.
- The stated cocoa percentage and 125 g weight make it clear which bar is meant.
- Lidl listed this bar as available in store only; check availability at your local shop.
Verkade
Verkade Speculaas Melkchocolade is a different product type, and shouldn’t be confused with dark chocolate.
- According to Jumbo, this milk chocolate variant contains biscuit pieces and speculaas spices.
- It isn’t a dark chocolate option. Jumbo lists milk, cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat, as well as warnings about possible nuts, almonds and hazelnuts.
Dark chocolate to pair with speculaas
These Joybuy products are separate bars of dark chocolate for anyone bringing their own plain speculaas. Neither bar is a speculaas product, so choose and check the biscuits separately.
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Lindt Excellence 85% Cocoa Dark Chocolate, 100 g
For anyone bringing speculaas separately and looking for a clearly stated cocoa percentage.
This bar weighs 100 g and states 85% cocoa. Keep the chocolate out of direct sunlight: it can soften or melt in warm conditions.
Check the current packaging for allergen information, including any mentions of nuts, milk, soya and sesame seeds.
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Lindt Excellence 78% Cacao, 100 g
For anyone bringing speculaas separately and wanting to check the chocolate’s cocoa percentage in advance.
This bar weighs 100 g and states 78% cocoa. Keep the chocolate out of direct sunlight, as it can soften or melt in warm conditions.
The product information lists milk and possible traces of hazelnuts, almonds, other nuts and soya; if you have allergies, check the current packaging too.
Frequently asked questions
Should I clear away my speculaas packaging on the train?
Yes. NS asks passengers to put their rubbish in a bin. If you can’t throw the packaging away straight away, take it with you until you can.
Does ‘dark chocolate’ on a speculaas pack automatically mean a high cocoa percentage?
No. The word ‘dark’ doesn’t tell you whether the percentage suits your preference. Check the stated cocoa percentage on the current packaging. If that percentage is the deciding factor, you could also choose a separately labelled bar of dark chocolate to have with your speculaas.
Which allergens should I check in speculaas and chocolate?
If you’re choosing two separate products, check the allergen information on both packs. The chocolate and speculoos examples mentioned may list wheat or gluten, milk and soya, and some products carry warnings about nuts. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the allergen information on the labels of pre-packed foods.
Is an old supermarket product page enough to help me choose a snack?
No. Use the current packaging for product information and check availability at the shop where you plan to buy. Albert Heijn warns that product information can change and marked the speculaas with dark chocolate mentioned here as discontinued.