Who is this choice relevant to?

Anyone hosting a classic coffee break

You want to serve a familiar spritz biscuit with coffee or tea and are thinking about how it will look for your guests. Verkade makes a plain spritz biscuit, while Albert Heijn offers a butter spritz biscuit.

Anyone comparing biscuit ingredients

You’re looking at the ingredients, fibre and serving size of a plain digestive alongside those of a spritz biscuit, without treating the product name as a dietary claim.

Anyone keeping allergens in mind

You’re buying for someone with a specific allergy or who needs to eat gluten-free. In that case, the information on the current packaging takes priority over whether you prefer a spritz biscuit, a digestive or a chocolate variety.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide which biscuit you want to serve, then check that your chosen variety suits your guests. If you’re buying several packs, also consider how much you’ll need.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Classic presentation Check whether you’re choosing a plain spritz biscuit, a butter spritz biscuit or a chocolate variety, and how many biscuits are in the pack. For a traditional Mother’s Day gathering, I want to be able to serve a familiar spritz biscuit with coffee. For around 25% of consumers, that classic presentation comes first.
Digestives and fibre Compare the ingredients and fibre per 100 g. To work out how much you’re serving, also check the serving size. If I’d rather serve a plain biscuit, I want to know what’s in it and how the fibre levels compare. Around 25% of consumers say this comparison is their top priority.
Allergens Read the allergens and possible traces listed on the current pack. Look for a gluten-free label only if needed. For a guest with a specific allergy, I first need to establish which ingredients the biscuit contains. Around 31% of consumers put this check first.
Pack size and availability Check the pack weight, the number of biscuits if stated, and availability at your chosen shop. If more guests are coming, I want to choose a pack that suits the number of people and is available in time. For around 19% of consumers, this is the main consideration.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘digestive’ means ‘gluten-free’

    The plain digestives from Verkade and McVitie’s that were reviewed contain wheat. So the product name doesn’t tell you whether they’re suitable for someone who needs to eat gluten-free.

    If that’s the case, choose a biscuit clearly labelled gluten-free and check the other allergens on the packaging too.

  • Using the plain variety as a guide to the chocolate one

    A chocolate coating changes the ingredients. Verkade NoboSprits Melk contains milk and soya, among other ingredients; PLUS Digestive Puur also contains wheat, milk and soya.

    Check the chocolate variety separately for ingredients, allergens and nutritional values per 100 g.

  • Relying solely on the online product page

    Ingredients and availability can change. This is especially important if you’re buying biscuits for guests with allergies or want to serve a specific variety.

    Before serving, read the packaging of the product you actually bought and check availability at your chosen shop.

Brands and own-label options to consider

These brands and own-label ranges include both spritz biscuits and digestives. Always compare the specific variety: the ingredients in a plain biscuit don’t necessarily apply to the chocolate version.

Verkade

Verkade makes NoboSprits Original, NoboSprits Melk and a plain Digestive Original.

  • Offers varieties that let you compare a classic spritz biscuit with a digestive.
  • The plain spritz biscuit reviewed contains wheat and milk derivatives; check the chocolate variety for soya too.

Albert Heijn

The own-label range includes spritz biscuits as well as plain and wholemeal digestives.

  • AH Spritsen are butter spritz biscuits in a pack designed for serving to guests.
  • AH Spritsen list wheat, milk and lactose among their ingredients; check the current pack before buying.

Jumbo

At Jumbo, you can compare options such as McVitie’s Digestives Original and Jumbo Krokante Digestive Biscuit.

  • The Jumbo digestive reviewed comes in a 400 g pack.
  • This Jumbo variety contains wheat and gluten; according to the product information, it may also contain barley, oats and rye.

PLUS

PLUS offers a plain digestive and a dark chocolate variety. Its range also includes Schär Digestive Landtaler, which is labelled gluten-free.

  • The range lets you compare plain, chocolate and explicitly labelled gluten-free biscuits separately.
  • PLUS Digestive Puur contains wheat, milk and soya. Schär’s gluten-free label doesn’t mean that all other allergens are excluded.

ALDI / Biscotto

ALDI lists Biscotto Digestive Biscuits and Biscotto butter spritz biscuits, either plain or chocolate-coated.

  • The digestive pack shown contains around 27 biscuits and weighs 400 g.
  • Check which variety is available at your chosen shop and read the ingredients on the pack.

Digestives for coffee time

This Joybuy option is a good fit if you want to serve a plain digestive on Mother’s Day and check its ingredients and fibre content.

McVitie's Digestive Original, 400 g pack

McVitie's Digestive Original – 400 g

A plain digestive for anyone who’d rather serve a biscuit than a spritz with their coffee.

400 g pack; according to the product information, it contains 3.7 g of fibre per 100 g. Contains wheat and may contain milk. If serving to guests with allergies, check the current label.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Can I serve a plain spritz biscuit or digestive to someone who eats gluten-free?

Don’t assume they’re suitable without checking: the regular spritz biscuits and digestives reviewed contain wheat. If needed, choose a biscuit explicitly labelled gluten-free and check the other allergens on the pack too.

What information on a biscuit pack can help me choose?

Check the ingredients, allergens, nutritional information and best-before date for the specific variety. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority notes that allergens must be clearly stated on the label. If someone has an allergy, don’t rely on the product name or image alone.

Should I follow the online ingredients list or the packaging of the product I buy?

Check the current packaging of the product you buy, especially when allergens are a concern. Product information can change, and details for a different variety, such as a plain spritz biscuit, don’t necessarily apply to the chocolate version.

How should I store opened spritz biscuits and digestives?

Seal the pack well after opening or use an airtight biscuit tin, and store the biscuits somewhere cool and dry. Also check any storage instructions on the pack of your chosen variety.