Hotel guest keeping an eye on fibre
You want something to enjoy with your coffee and are comparing the fibre content of different types of speculaas, without assuming that the name ‘digestive’ means it will aid digestion.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Guest with a gluten or allergen restriction
Before eating a packaged or unpackaged biscuit, you need to be able to check its ingredients and allergens. A gluten-free label does not automatically answer questions about egg or other allergens.
Coffee drinker on a short stay
You’re looking for a portion that suits one or a few coffee breaks, without needing storage space for a large pack or having to arrange bread for speculoos spread.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, check whether you need to avoid any allergens. Then compare the nutritional information if fibre matters to you, and choose a pack size that suits the number of coffee breaks during your stay.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fibre | Compare fibre per 100 g and per portion eaten; check the sugars and other nutritional values too. | If I choose speculaas partly for its fibre, I want to know how much one portion actually provides. For around 40% of consumers, comparing fibre is the top priority. |
| Gluten and allergens | Read the current label; before eating unpackaged hotel biscuits, ask about their ingredients and allergens. | If I need to avoid gluten or other allergens, I first need to know whether I can eat the biscuit. Suitability for these restrictions is the main concern for around 30% of consumers. |
| Portion and use | Check the pack size and whether the product is a dry biscuit or a spread. | For a short stay, I want something that suits my coffee break without leaving me with a large pack. That’s why around 30% of consumers prioritise pack size and ease of use. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘digestive’ or ‘multigrain’ means it aids digestion
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, fibre plays a role in digestion, but a biscuit’s name doesn’t tell you how much fibre is in your portion. Lotus Biscoff lists 1,3 g of fibre per 100 g for its classic biscuit and 4,7 g per 100 g for its 6-grain version; the latter also contains 35,5 g of sugars per 100 g.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion. Treat speculaas as a biscuit to enjoy with your coffee, not as a way to solve a digestive problem.
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Assuming gluten-free also means egg-free or vegan
Jumbo lists egg as an ingredient in its Lekker Vrij van Gluten Speculaas. So a gluten-free label doesn’t tell you whether the product meets another allergen or dietary requirement.
Check the full ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging. If the hotel biscuits are unpackaged, ask for the information you need to manage your restriction before eating them.
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Buying a large pack for a single coffee break
A 600 g pack of Jumbo Bakkers Speculaas may be more than you’ll want during a short overnight stay. Once opened, it also needs to be stored in a cool, dry place.
Choose a pack size to suit your stay and follow the storage advice on the label for any leftovers.
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Mistaking speculoos spread for a coffee biscuit
Lotus Biscoff also offers hotels speculoos spread in 20 g cups. It’s a spread, not a dry biscuit you can eat straight away with your coffee.
Choose a cup only if you also have bread, toast or something else to spread it on. If you’re looking for a biscuit to go with your coffee, check the product format.
Brands to consider
Lotus Biscoff
Lotus Biscoff offers a classic biscuit to enjoy with coffee, a 6-grain version and speculoos spread in portion cups, including for hotels.
- Lotus Biscoff lists 1,3 g of fibre per 100 g for its classic biscuit and 4,7 g per 100 g for its 6-grain version.
- The 6-grain version also contains 35,5 g of sugars per 100 g, as well as gluten and soya. The portion cups contain spread rather than biscuits.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn’s speculaas range includes different product formats and offers a filter for vegan products.
- The category gives you a way to narrow your search by product format or dietary requirement.
- A category filter is no substitute for checking the label on the product you choose. Albert Heijn notes that ingredients and nutritional information may change.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers Bakkers Speculaas in a 600 g pack, among other products, as well as a separate Lekker Vrij van Gluten Speculaas.
- Jumbo displays the Crossed Grain symbol on its gluten-free version, making it easier to distinguish from its regular speculaas made with wheat flour.
- The gluten-free version mentioned contains egg. If you need to avoid other allergens, check the ingredients on the specific pack.
Speculaas to enjoy with your coffee
These Joybuy products are speculaas biscuits you could consider for a coffee break. Pay particular attention to how the pack size compares with the length of your stay; check the nutritional information and the current label on your chosen product for fibre and allergen details.
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Hellema Smoeltjes Speculaas biscuits, 8 pieces, 200 g
Worth considering if you’d like to take a smaller amount of speculaas with you for a short stay.
Pack size: 200 g; the product name states 8 pieces. If you have an allergen restriction, check the current label.
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g'woon Almond Speculaas, 400 g
You could consider this pack if you want speculaas for more than one coffee break; 400 g may be more than you need for just one biscuit.
Pack size: 400 g. Check the ingredients and allergens on the current label, particularly if almonds or other ingredients matter to you.
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De Ruiter Bakers Speculaas, 450 g
An option if you’re looking for bakers’ speculaas and can use a larger pack during or after your stay.
Pack size: 450 g. If you’re comparing fibre content, compare values on the same basis, such as per 100 g, and check the current label for allergens.
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Bolletje Ball of Shaking Bellies Speculaas, 300 g
You could consider this speculaas if you’d like a pack that lets you take your own portion to enjoy with coffee.
Pack size: 300 g. Compare fibre using the nutritional information per 100 g or per portion, and check the current label for allergens.
Frequently asked questions
Will speculaas help my digestion after coffee?
You can’t assume speculaas will aid digestion just because it’s called a ‘digestive’. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains the role fibre plays in digestion, but gives 0,4 g of fibre as a general reference for a large 15 g biscuit; the amount in your speculaas depends on the product and portion size. If fibre is a priority, check the nutritional information.
Is gluten-free speculaas automatically vegan or egg-free?
No. Jumbo lists egg as an ingredient in its Lekker Vrij van Gluten Speculaas. So, as well as checking that it’s labelled gluten-free, read the full ingredients and allergen information on the pack you want to eat.
How should I store leftover speculaas after my coffee break?
Follow the storage advice on the packaging and reseal an opened pack properly. Jumbo recommends keeping its Bakkers Speculaas in a cool, dry place; for a short hotel stay, a smaller pack can help you avoid having to take home lots of leftovers.