Choose taai-taai for a lower sugar content only if the claim specifically refers to sugar, or if the nutritional value per 100 g is lower than that of a comparable taai-taai. Don’t assume that a small piece of regular taai-taai contains little sugar: the Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives an average of 7.5 g of sugar per 20 g piece. Also consider how much you eat and check for any allergens separately.
You want to know whether a taai-taai really contains less sugar than a comparable option. A claim that specifically refers to sugar, together with the figure per 100 g, tells you more than the look of the packaging.
You enjoy traditional taai-taai, but want to know how much sugar is in the amount you eat. So check the nutritional value per 100 g as well as the size of each piece or portion.
For you, making sure the product is suitable comes before comparing sugar content. Jumbo lists gluten and milk among the allergens in its Sint Taai Taai Figuurtjes, while Albert Heijn lists Maître Mathis Taai taai glutenvrij as a separate product. Check the allergen information for the exact variety you’re buying.
To compare sugar content, check the nutritional values per 100 g. Then consider your portion. If you need to avoid allergens, also check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging you choose.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Less sugar | Check whether the claim refers to sugar and compare the sugars per 100 g with a similar taai-taai. | I want demonstrably less sugar, not just attractive wording on the packet. This is the top priority for around 42% of consumers. |
| Portion size | Check the sugars per 100 g and work out how much that means for the amount you eat. | If I choose traditional taai-taai, I want to know how much sugar is in my portion. Portion size is the main consideration for around 33% of consumers. |
| Allergens and dietary requirements | Read the allergen information on the packaging you choose; check sugar content separately, even for gluten-free taai-taai. | If I need to avoid gluten or milk, the product must first be suitable for my diet. This is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘light’ can refer to a reduction in energy, fat or sugar. The term alone doesn’t tell you whether the taai-taai contains less sugar.
Check what the claim refers to and compare both sugars and energy per 100 g.
A smaller portion changes how much you eat, but not the sugar content of the taai-taai itself. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives an average of 7.5 g of sugar per 20 g piece.
Use the figure per 100 g to compare products, and the portion size to work out how much you’re eating.
A gluten-free label is about gluten. A product’s Nutri-Score is not a specific claim that its sugar content has been reduced either.
Check the relevant information for each of your needs: allergens on the packaging and sugars in the nutrition table.
Albert Heijn points out that product ingredients, nutritional values and allergens can change. So the information on an older packet may not be the same as on the one you’re buying now.
Read the current packaging every time you shop, especially if you need to avoid an allergen.
Albert Heijn lists AH Taai taai and a separate Maître Mathis Taai taai glutenvrij.
Jumbo lists Sint Taai Taai Figuurtjes 500 g and also has a separate category for products aimed at people watching their sugar intake.
ALDI lists Taai-taai 500 g, shaped biscuits with an aniseed flavour.
PLUS lists Taai taai sint en piet 500 g and Ambachtelijke taai taai koeken 250 g.
Dirk lists, among other products, 1 de Beste Mini taai taai 500 g in its search results.
No, not necessarily: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘light’ can refer to energy, fat or sugar. Check which property the packaging refers to, then compare the sugars per 100 g with a similar product if you’re watching your sugar intake.
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that a product with no added sugars can still contain sugars. So also check the ‘of which sugars’ line in the nutrition table.
First compare the sugars per 100 g, then consider how much you eat. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives an average of 7.5 g of sugar per 20 g piece of taai-taai; Jumbo lists 36 g of sugars per 100 g for Bolletje Taai Taai Poppetjes. An average per piece and a figure for a specific product aren’t directly comparable without converting the amounts.
Read the allergen information on the packaging of the variety you’re buying. For Sint Taai Taai Figuurtjes, Jumbo lists gluten, milk, rye and wheat, and possible traces of allergens including nuts. A gluten-free label is no substitute for checking other allergens or the sugar content.
