Regular servers
You sprinkle sugar-coated aniseed for several people and want to control how much you use each time, without using a liquid dispenser.
Who is this relevant to?
Occasional buyers
You use sugar-coated aniseed for a birth, party or decoration, and want to work out whether you need a reusable dispenser as well as the original packaging.
Those who decant
You want to transfer sugar-coated aniseed to another container and need to make sure it is intended for food contact and will keep the contents dry.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide whether the original packaging is suitable for how you plan to use it. If you want a separate dispenser, choose the dispensing method before considering capacity.
Original packaging
When to choose it: for occasional use if you can sprinkle the contents without a separate dispenser.
Trade-off: it doesn’t have a separate opening designed for precise sprinkling.
Shaker for dry contents
When to choose it: if you want to sprinkle sugar-coated aniseed from a resealable container on a regular basis.
Trade-off: not every opening will suit the size of your sugar-coated aniseed.
Squeeze bottle
When to choose it: for liquid or sauce-like contents, not as the first choice for dry sugar-coated aniseed.
Trade-off: Van Beekum Specerijen distinguishes these bottles from shakers for dry products.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Dispensing method | Check that the packaging is designed for dry contents and that the shaker opening can be closed. | If I’m sprinkling sugar-coated aniseed for several people, I want to control how much I use without resorting to a sauce bottle. For around 46% of consumers, the dispensing method comes first. |
| Suitable capacity | Compare the internal dimensions with the amount you want to transfer; don’t convert millilitres directly into grams. | For occasional use, I don’t want to buy a larger container than I need. Around 27% of consumers prioritise a suitable capacity. |
| Transferring and storing | Check that the container is intended for food contact and that the lid closes securely. | If I transfer sugar-coated aniseed, I want to be able to keep it dry in a suitable container. This is the most important factor for around 27% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Choosing a sauce squeeze bottle because squeezing sounds precise
Van Beekum Specerijen describes squeeze bottles for sauces and marinades, and shakers for dry products. That distinction means a squeeze bottle isn’t a well-founded choice for dry sugar-coated aniseed.
Look at a shaker first and check that the opening suits your sugar-coated aniseed, can be closed and is intended for food contact.
If the bottle isn’t suitable for dry sugar-coated aniseed, you’ll still need to find a suitable dispenser.
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Assuming millilitres tell you how many grams of sugar-coated aniseed will fit
Millilitres indicate a container’s volume, not the weight of its dry contents. For example, PLUS lists packs of 270 g of crushed sugar-coated aniseed and 330 g of blue and white sugar-coated aniseed. Those weights don’t automatically tell you what size container you need.
Compare the internal dimensions with the amount you want to transfer and, if necessary, check the capacity with a trial fill.
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Reusing any old craft container
When you transfer the sugar-coated aniseed, it comes into direct contact with the new container. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that articles intended for food contact in the Netherlands must comply with the Commodities Act Decree on Packaging and Consumer Products.
Choose a container intended for food contact and follow the product instructions to keep the sugar-coated aniseed dry.
Relevant brands and retailers
De Ruijter
A brand of sugar-coated aniseed; PLUS lists, among other products, 330 g packs of blue and white sugar-coated aniseed and 270 g packs of crushed sugar-coated aniseed.
- The sugar-coated aniseed described is made from dry, sugar-coated aniseed seeds—an important factor when choosing a dispenser.
- The product weights listed don’t tell you how much sugar-coated aniseed will fit in a shaker you choose separately.
Van Beekum Specerijen
A retailer of shakers for dry contents and separate squeeze bottles for sauces and marinades.
- Clearly distinguishes between a shaker with a flapper cap and a sauce squeeze bottle.
- Check the opening on the specific shaker before choosing it for your sugar-coated aniseed.
Helios Holland
A retailer of PET shakers for dry contents, which the company describes as suitable for food contact.
- Offers shakers in a range of sizes and shapes.
- Check that the shaker opening on each model suits your sugar-coated aniseed.
Joybuy products for serving sugar-coated aniseed
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Can I serve ordinary sugar-coated aniseed from a squeeze bottle?
A squeeze bottle isn’t a well-founded standard choice for ordinary, dry sugar-coated aniseed. Van Beekum Specerijen distinguishes squeeze bottles for sauces and marinades from shakers for dry contents. If you choose a shaker, check that its opening suits your sugar-coated aniseed.
What capacity should a shaker for sugar-coated aniseed have?
Choose a capacity based on how much you want to transfer, rather than looking at millilitres alone. PLUS lists packs of sugar-coated aniseed weighing 270 g and 330 g, but that doesn’t point to a standard container size. Compare the internal dimensions or try filling it.
What should I look for when transferring sugar-coated aniseed to another container?
Choose a container intended for direct contact with food. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that such consumer products in the Netherlands must comply with the Commodities Act Decree on Packaging and Consumer Products. Also check that the lid closes securely.
How should I store sugar-coated aniseed once it’s been transferred?
Keep it dry, as stated in Jumbo’s product information for De Ruijter Feest Muisjes. If you transfer it to another container, choose one you can close between servings.