For sharing from a biscuit tin
You’re making coffee for several people and want a pack everyone can help themselves to. Before you buy, think about where you’ll keep the biscuits dry and whether you have an airtight tin for the rest.
Which pack is right for you?
For travellers who want smaller portions
You want to take a few biscuits at a time without opening a large pack. Lotus Biscoff offers packs with two biscuits per portion, among other options. These are speculoos, not the same product as the speculaas family packs mentioned here.
For anyone checking ingredients and allergens
Before sharing, check that everyone can eat the biscuits you’ve chosen. Lotus Biscoff, Albert Heijn and Jumbo list different ingredients and potential allergens, so always read the current label for each variety.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether the biscuits will come from one shared pack or go with you for each coffee break. Then check whether you can store an opened pack and whether the ingredients are suitable for everyone who’ll be eating them.
A large pack for sharing
Choose this if: several people will be sharing the biscuits and you have somewhere dry and airtight to store them.
Bear in mind: how you’ll store the biscuits after opening. For example, Albert Heijn lists AH Bakkers speculaas at 600 g, while Jumbo lists Echte Bakkers Speculaas at 450 g.
Smaller portions for on the go
Choose this if: you only want to take or hand out a few biscuits at a time.
Bear in mind: the type of biscuit. The packs of 10 × 2 and 20 × 2 biscuits listed by Lotus Biscoff contain speculoos.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list and any warnings on the pack you’re buying. | If someone I’m having coffee with needs to avoid an ingredient, I want to know what’s in the biscuits before sharing them. For around 28% of consumers, checking the label would be their top priority when buying. |
| Storage after opening | Read the storage advice and consider whether you can keep the pack somewhere dry and airtight. | If we don’t eat all the biscuits at once, I want to be able to store the rest properly during our stay. For roughly 28% of consumers, storage options would come first. |
| Portions and taking them with you | Check the number of biscuits and whether the pack is divided into smaller portions. | If I have coffee at different times, I don’t want to keep opening a large pack. Small portions would be the main reason for choosing a product for around 22% of consumers. |
| Getting the right amount | Compare the net weight and the number of biscuits or stated portions with how much you expect to use. | I want to take enough biscuits for the group without being left with a large, opened pack. For around 22% of consumers, getting the right amount would be the most important factor. |
Common mistakes
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Taking a large pack without planning how to store it
Albert Heijn recommends storing AH Bakkers speculaas in a sealed tin after opening, and Jumbo also provides storage advice for the speculaas products mentioned here. A hotel room won’t necessarily have a suitable place for an opened pack.
Bring an airtight tin or a clip, or choose a smaller pack if you can’t store the rest properly.
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Assuming all speculaas contains the same allergens
The ingredients listed vary from product to product. Lotus Original lists wheat and soya, among other ingredients, while AH Bakkers speculaas and Jumbo Echte Bakkers Speculaas each have their own allergen information and warnings.
Read the ingredients list and warnings on the current pack every time you buy, even if you already know the brand.
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Choosing based only on pack size
A 600 g pack isn’t automatically a better fit for a hotel stay than a 450 g pack or a pack of smaller portions. It also depends on how many people will be eating the biscuits and how well you can store them after opening.
Estimate how many coffee breaks you’ll have and how many people will be eating the biscuits before deciding how much to buy.
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Counting on buying a product while you’re away
Lidl describes its Sondey Speculoos as an in-store product. That makes it less suitable to plan around unless you’ve checked that a particular shop has it in stock.
Check the range before you set off if you need a specific pack, and read the label when you buy it.
Brands and product ranges at a glance
Lotus Biscoff
Lotus Bakeries Nederland presents Original Speculoos as a biscuit to enjoy with coffee and lists packs of 10 × 2 and 20 × 2 biscuits.
- The smaller portions are useful if you want to take biscuits with you for each coffee break.
- This is speculoos, rather than the speculaas family packs mentioned here. If you have an allergy, check the label for the variety you choose.
AH
Albert Heijn lists AH Bakkers speculaas in a 600 g pack containing 48 portions.
- This size gives you a shared supply if several people like having biscuits with their coffee.
- Albert Heijn recommends storing the biscuits in a sealed tin after opening. Also check the allergen information: the product contains wheat and may contain almonds.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists Echte Bakkers Speculaas at 450 g and Speculaasbrokken at 375 g as separate products.
- The chunks are an option if you’d rather share pieces than take smaller biscuits from a tin.
- Allergen information varies by product. Jumbo lists wheat and possible nuts for Echte Bakkers Speculaas.
Biscotto
ALDI Nederland lists Biscotto Bakkersspeculaas as a 600 g pack containing 48 biscuits.
- The stated number of biscuits helps you plan how much to get for sharing.
- Check the ingredients and allergens on the pack before sharing it with others.
Sondey
Lidl Nederland lists Sondey Speculoos as an in-store product in its Sondey biscuit range.
- It’s another biscuit option to consider if you’re also thinking of serving speculoos with your coffee.
- Speculoos is not the same product as speculaas. Check the contents, ingredients and allergens for the specific pack in store.
Speculaas products on Joybuy
These products include a 200 g pack of speculaas and a 400 g almond variety. When choosing, think about how many biscuits you expect to eat during your stay and how you’ll store an opened pack.
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Hellema Smoeltjes Speculaas, 8 biscuits, 200 g
A smaller pack that lets you match the number of biscuits to a few coffee breaks.
The product name states that it contains 8 biscuits and has a net weight of 200 g. Check the pack if the number of biscuits in each bag or the allergens are important to your choice.
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g'woon Almond Speculaas, 400 g
An almond variety for anyone who wants to put out a pack of biscuits for several coffee breaks.
The product name states that it contains 400 g. Check the label for ingredients and allergens, and consider how you can seal the pack after opening.
Frequently asked questions
Is a large pack of speculaas a good choice for coffee in your hotel room?
Yes, if several people will be eating the biscuits and you can keep the pack dry and sealed after opening. Albert Heijn and Jumbo provide storage advice for the speculaas products mentioned here. Before you set off, check that you’ll be able to follow it.
Which allergens should I check for in speculaas?
Check the ingredients and warnings on the current pack, as these vary by variety. Lotus Original lists wheat and soya, AH Bakkers speculaas may contain almonds, and Jumbo Echte Bakkers Speculaas may contain nuts.
Where can I find allergen information on packaged biscuits?
Read the ingredients list on the packaging. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergens in prepacked foods must be clearly identified in that list. Check the pack for any additional warnings too.
How can I avoid taking a pack that’s too large?
Match the amount to the number of people and coffee breaks, and think about what you’ll do with any biscuits left over. Compare the number of biscuits or portions, not just the weight of the pack.