Which option is right for you?

If you’re looking for strictly sugar-free options

For a sweet breakfast, you’ll want to check whether the taaitaai really meets the ‘sugar-free’ claim. A label such as ‘less sugar’ isn’t enough: check the claim and the sugars per 100 g.

If you’re watching your carbs and baking at home

You want to choose the ingredients and quantities yourself. Compare the carbohydrates and sugars in the whole recipe, as well as portion sizes. Baking your own also takes time and may give you a different texture.

If you’re looking for gluten-free taaitaai

Gluten-free is your first requirement, but you also want to keep an eye on the sugars. Check both separately and read the allergen information on the pack you choose.

What should you look for in taaitaai?

For a sweet breakfast, first decide whether sugar-free, lower in carbohydrates or gluten-free is your main priority. These requirements won’t necessarily lead you to the same taaitaai.

Homemade taaitaai

Choose this when: you want to select the ingredients yourself and are happy to assess the nutritional value of the finished product.

Things to consider: a recipe using a sweetener or syrup substitute doesn’t prove that the baked taaitaai is sugar-free. You’ll also need to consider portion sizes, allergens and texture.

Regular ready-made taaitaai

Choose this when: you want a ready-made product and being sugar-free isn’t essential.

Things to consider: Albert Heijn lists 39 g of sugars per 100 g for AH Taai taai; Jumbo lists 38.8 g per 100 g for Jumbo De Originele Taai Taai. These varieties don’t meet the ‘sugar-free’ limit.

Gluten-free ready-made taaitaai

Choose this when: a gluten-free product is your first requirement and you’ll also check the sugars.

Things to consider: The Consenza and Maître Mathis varieties listed by Albert Heijn contain 29 g and 41 g of sugars per 100 g respectively. Gluten-free doesn’t mean sugar-free here.

What to consider What should you check? Who is this important for?
Verified sugar-free claim Read the claim and the nutritional information per 100 g. Under EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, ‘sugar-free’ means a maximum of 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. If I want strictly sugar-free taaitaai, I need to be able to check the claim against the sugar content. Around 50% of consumers say this is their main priority.
Carbohydrates and portion size Compare sugars and carbohydrates per 100 g and per portion. If you’re following a recipe, work out the size of the finished portions. If you bake your own to reduce carbohydrates, you’ll want to know what ends up in a breakfast portion and be prepared to spend extra time making it. This is the main consideration for around 30% of consumers.
Gluten-free and checking the sugars Check the gluten-free claim, the allergen information and the sugars per 100 g on the same pack. I’m primarily looking for gluten-free taaitaai, but I don’t want to overlook its sugar content. Around 20% of consumers give this combination top priority.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming gluten-free means sugar-free

    The gluten-free Consenza and Maître Mathis varieties listed by Albert Heijn contain 29 g and 41 g of sugars per 100 g respectively. Their gluten-free labels say nothing about whether they meet the ‘sugar-free’ claim.

    Check the gluten-free claim and the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g separately.

  • Taking a recipe title at face value

    ‘No refined sugar’ or a recipe using a sugar substitute doesn’t tell you how much sugar the baked taaitaai contains. Honey and syrups can also contribute sugars, as explained by the Voedingscentrum in its guidance on sources of sugar.

    Check all the sweetening ingredients and assess the sugars per 100 g in the finished product before calling it sugar-free.

  • Assuming an old product page means it’s still available to buy

    Product pages from Jumbo and Albert Heijn state that some of the varieties discussed are no longer available online or have been discontinued.

    Check current availability before buying, and compare the nutritional information with the label on the pack you actually choose.

  • Checking only the sugars and overlooking allergens

    The varieties discussed contain different ingredients and allergens. For example, Albert Heijn lists almond for Consenza, and milk and lupin for Maître Mathis.

    If you have an allergy or need to avoid gluten, read the full ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging.

Brands to compare

The information below relates to the specific taaitaai varieties mentioned, not a brand’s entire range. Check the nutritional information on the current packaging when making your choice.

Albert Heijn

AH Taai taai is a 350 g ready-made pack which, according to Albert Heijn’s product page, is available in stores only.

  • Albert Heijn lists the ingredients, allergens, portion size and nutritional values on its product page.
  • With 39 g of sugars per 100 g, this variety doesn’t meet the ‘sugar-free’ limit.

Jumbo

Jumbo De Originele Taai Taai is the 500 g ready-made variety discussed here.

  • Jumbo’s product page lists nutritional values and allergens for this variety.
  • Jumbo lists 38.8 g of sugars per 100 g and states that this variety is no longer part of its online range.

Consenza

The Consenza taaitaai figures described by Albert Heijn are labelled gluten-free and organic.

  • The gluten-free label is useful if that’s a specific requirement for you.
  • Albert Heijn lists 29 g of sugars per 100 g for this variety and identifies almond as an allergen. Gluten-free doesn’t mean sugar-free here.

Maître Mathis

The Maître Mathis variety described by Albert Heijn is gluten-free taaitaai.

  • The gluten-free label makes it clear which requirement this variety meets.
  • Albert Heijn lists 41 g of sugars per 100 g and identifies milk and lupin as allergens. The product page marks this variety as discontinued.

Bolletje

The Bolletje taaitaai discussed here comes in small pieces of traditional taaitaai.

  • Albert Heijn’s product page lists the nutritional value and allergens for this variety.
  • Albert Heijn lists 36 g of sugars per 100 g and states that the variety shown has been discontinued.

Related products on Joybuy

For homemade taaitaai, look for baking spices, gluten-free flour blends and sugar substitutes. Check the nutritional and allergen information for each ingredient, then work out the sugars and carbohydrates per 100 g and per portion in your finished recipe.

Frequently asked questions

When can taaitaai be called ‘sugar-free’?

Under EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, a solid food can carry the ‘sugar-free’ claim only if it contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. So check the nutritional information per 100 g; ‘no refined sugar’ doesn’t prove that taaitaai is below this limit.

Is gluten-free taaitaai also sugar-free?

No, these are separate properties. Albert Heijn lists 29 g of sugars per 100 g for the gluten-free Consenza variety and 41 g per 100 g for the gluten-free Maître Mathis variety. If you’re choosing another pack, check both properties again.

Which allergens should I check in taaitaai?

It depends on the variety. The product pages discussed here list ingredients including wheat, rye and milk in regular taaitaai, and almond, milk or lupin in certain gluten-free varieties. Read the full allergen information on the current packaging.

Does baking with a sweetener make taaitaai sugar-free?

No, the sweetener alone doesn’t determine how much sugar the baked taaitaai contains. The Voedingscentrum explains that sweeteners provide no or fewer calories than sugar, but the other ingredients also contribute to the sugars in the finished product. So assess the whole recipe and the nutritional value per 100 g of the result.