Who are these choices relevant to?

Night-shift workers who want to check Fairtrade status

You want to take a sweet snack with you, but only find a Fairtrade claim useful if you can see on the packaging or product page what it applies to.

Snackers with an allergen restriction

You’re looking for taaitaai whose ingredients suit your needs. With standard varieties, check for wheat, rye and milk; a gluten-free variety may contain other allergens too.

People who prepare a portion for their shift

You want to decide in advance how many biscuits to take, so you compare portion size, sugars in the nutritional information and storage advice once the pack is open.

What should you check before buying?

When choosing taaitaai for a night shift, first check the Fairtrade claim if it’s important to you, then read the allergen information. The portion size and nutritional information can help you decide how much to take with you.

What to check What to look for Who it matters to
Fairtrade status Look for a Fairtrade mark or explicit claim, and check whether it applies to the product or a specific ingredient. If I’m taking taaitaai specifically because it’s Fairtrade, I want to know what’s certified; this check comes first for around 44% of consumers.
Allergens Read the ingredients and the ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements, including for gluten-free varieties. If I need to avoid wheat, rye or milk, the label determines whether this biscuit is suitable for me. Checking allergens is the top priority for around 33% of consumers.
Portion size and sugars Compare sugars per 100 g and per portion, and check the portion size and storage advice once opened. For a break, I want to decide in advance how much taaitaai to take from the pack and see how much sugar is in each portion; around 23% of consumers put this portioning convenience first.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming chocolate or a sustainable look proves Fairtrade status

    Cocoa in an ingredients list doesn’t prove that the taaitaai is Fairtrade-certified. Fairtrade International describes a mark with an arrow for products with multiple ingredients; according to Milieu Centraal, a mark on a white background may apply only to a certified ingredient.

    Check the certification mark alongside the claim on the current packaging or product page. If you want to eat or use chocolate separately with your taaitaai, check the Fairtrade status of that chocolate separately.

  • Assuming taaitaai doesn’t contain any relevant allergens

    The standard taaitaai described by Albert Heijn and Jumbo contains wheat, rye and milk. Maître Mathis’s gluten-free variety lists milk and lupin, and also states that other allergens may be present.

    Before buying, read both the ingredients and allergen statements on the current packaging. Don’t rely on the product name or the words ‘gluten-free’ alone.

  • Treating the whole pack as one snack portion

    The pack weight doesn’t tell you how much you’ll eat during one break. The product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo lists a 14 g portion for the varieties described.

    Check the nutritional information per portion and per 100 g, and set aside in advance the amount you want to take with you.

  • Relying on an old product listing

    An earlier Maître Mathis product page and listings for Bolletje and Jumbo described varieties that had been discontinued. A listing like this doesn’t guarantee that you can buy the same variety now.

    Check the current product page or packaging before basing your choice on a specific variety, allergen information or Fairtrade claim.

Brands and shops to help you compare

These examples can help you compare product information; a brand or shop name alone doesn’t prove that a taaitaai product is Fairtrade.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn describes AH Taai taai as a 350 g bag featuring St Nicholas and Piet figures.

  • The product information lists the ingredients, allergens, storage details and a 14 g portion.
  • The ingredients include rye, wheat and milk; if you’re choosing it for its Fairtrade status, check the current certification mark or ingredient claim separately.

Jumbo

Jumbo describes Sint Taai Taai Figuurtjes in a 500 g bag.

  • The product information lists a 14 g portion and 38,6 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • The ingredients include wheat, rye and milk protein. If you’re choosing it for its Fairtrade status, check the current packaging or product page.

Bolletje

Albert Heijn described Bolletje taai taai as a 350 g bag.

  • The nutritional information described lists 36 g of sugars per 100 g and names wheat, rye and milk as allergens.
  • That product page stated that the variety had been discontinued; don’t base a purchase on this older listing.

Maître Mathis

Albert Heijn described Maître Mathis Taai taai glutenvrij as a separate option for anyone looking for gluten-free taaitaai.

  • The ingredients include gluten-free oat flour.
  • The allergen information lists milk and lupin, and says that egg, nuts and sesame may also be present. The product page viewed stated that this variety had been discontinued.

PLUS

PLUS has a taaitaai recipe and product listings for items including traditional taaitaai and St Nicholas and Piet figures.

  • The recipe gives you an option if you want to make taaitaai yourself and assess any cocoa or chocolate product you add separately.
  • For a specific product, check the current ingredients, allergens and any Fairtrade claim on the packaging or product page.

Taaitaai at Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is taaitaai automatically Fairtrade if it comes with chocolate?

No. Chocolate served with taaitaai says nothing about the biscuit’s Fairtrade status. Check the certification mark or an explicit claim on the current packaging or product page, and, following the guidance from Fairtrade International and Milieu Centraal, read which product or ingredient it applies to.

Can I choose standard taaitaai if I eat gluten-free?

The standard taaitaai described by Albert Heijn and Jumbo contains wheat and rye, so it isn’t a gluten-free option. The Maître Mathis variety described is gluten-free, but also lists milk and lupin; if you buy it, check the current allergen information and availability.

How much sugar is in a small portion of taaitaai?

For Jumbo Sint Taai Taai Figuurtjes, Jumbo lists 38,6 g of sugars per 100 g and a 14 g portion, which works out at around 5,4 g of sugars per portion. For another variety, check its own nutritional information per 100 g and per portion.

How should I store an opened bag of taaitaai between night shifts?

Follow the storage advice on the packaging and seal the opened bag tightly. For the taaitaai described, Albert Heijn recommends storing it in a cool, dark and dry place and keeping it in a sealed tin once opened; Jumbo recommends storing its described variety in a cool, dry place.