Commuter enjoying a coffee on the go
Wants to take taaitaai biscuits and coffee or chocolate along together, without spending ages in the shop looking for a suitable pairing.
Who is this combination suitable for?
Shopper checking for Fairtrade cocoa
Looks for an explicit Fairtrade claim on the chocolate or coffee, rather than relying on a general statement about a supermarket’s range.
Shopper who needs to check allergens
Checks the ingredients and allergen information for both the taaitaai biscuits and the product they’re having with them. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergens must be listed on the label.
What should you look for when choosing?
Taaitaai with Fairtrade chocolate
Choose this if: you want to check the Fairtrade claim specifically on the chocolate.
Bear in mind: chocolate and taaitaai biscuits are separate products; the claim on the bar says nothing about the biscuits.
Taaitaai with Fairtrade coffee
Choose this if: coffee is the focus of your coffee break. Jumbo and PLUS, among others, describe Fairtrade coffee in their ranges.
Bear in mind: check the claim on the coffee you’re actually buying; it doesn’t apply to the taaitaai biscuits.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade claim | Look for the claim on the specific chocolate or coffee you’re buying. For cocoa, check what the claim refers to. | I want to know whether my choice of cocoa or coffee is based on a specific product claim; around 42% of consumers put this check first. |
| Size for taking on the go | Check the pack weight and decide whether you want to carry the taaitaai biscuits and chocolate together or save them for more than one occasion. | For my coffee break on the go, I want an amount that’s practical to carry; around 33% of consumers give this top priority. |
| Where to shop and the label | Check where you can buy the product, and read the current labels on both products for ingredients and allergen information. | I want to find the combination at my usual shop and check the ingredients; around 25% of consumers put this first. |
Common mistakes
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Confusing Fairtrade chocolate with Fairtrade taaitaai
A claim on a separate chocolate bar or coffee says nothing about the certification of the biscuits you’re having with it.
If Fairtrade status matters to your choice, check the packaging of each product separately.
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Relying on a shop’s general Fairtrade message
A supermarket offering Fairtrade products doesn’t mean that every item in its range is Fairtrade.
Look for the claim on the specific product. If there’s a Fairtrade logo for an ingredient, check which ingredient it refers to.
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Only checking the ingredients online
Ingredients and allergen information can change. This matters when you pair taaitaai biscuits with chocolate, as you need to check two labels.
Before eating, read the packaging of both products, including any warnings about possible cross-contamination.
Brands with relevant Fairtrade products
These shops offer options for chocolate or coffee to have with taaitaai. Always check the Fairtrade claim on the product you choose.
Albert Heijn
The AH Biologisch extra dark chocolate bar is a separate chocolate option to have with taaitaai.
- For this 100 g bar, Albert Heijn lists 72% cocoa, among other details, and explains that its Fairtrade sourcing uses mass balance.
- Check the current packaging: Albert Heijn warns that ingredients and allergen information may change.
Jumbo
A place to shop for separate Fairtrade coffee or cocoa to have with taaitaai.
- Jumbo has a Fairtrade category that includes coffee and cocoa.
- Having a Fairtrade product alongside taaitaai doesn’t give the biscuits Fairtrade status; check the biscuit label separately.
PLUS
An option if you want to pair taaitaai with chocolate or coffee that has a product-specific Fairtrade claim.
- PLUS lists Fairtrade Cocoa for its 200 g dark chocolate bar and describes its own-brand coffee as Fairtrade.
- The bar described contains milk and soya, and may contain other allergens; check the current packaging before eating.
ALDI
A place to shop for separate Fairtrade chocolate or coffee to have with taaitaai.
- ALDI describes its 200 g Choceur Dark Chocolate as Fairtrade chocolate.
- The product page says it’s available to buy in an ALDI shop; check the product and packaging in store.
Lidl
The Way To Go range is worth considering if you’re looking for Fairtrade-related chocolate or coffee.
- Lidl says Way To Go chocolate includes an additional premium on top of the Fairtrade premium, and also lists Way To Go coffee.
- Check the Fairtrade claim on the individual product, rather than relying on the product range alone.
Dirk
A place to look for coffee, tea or chocolate with a visible Fairtrade logo to have alongside taaitaai.
- Dirk mentions Fairtrade logos on products in these categories and explains the difference between the black and white logos.
- That explanation doesn’t confirm the status of a specific taaitaai product; check the biscuit label for that.
Chocolate to enjoy with taaitaai on Joybuy
This chocolate bar is a separate option if you’d like to pair taaitaai with chocolate. Buy the taaitaai separately and check the Fairtrade claim and ingredients on the bar’s current packaging.
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Tony's Chocolonely milk chocolate with pecan and caramel, 180 g
A separate chocolate bar to have with taaitaai during a coffee break. The bar weighs 180 g; check the current packaging for the Fairtrade claim, ingredients and allergen information, especially if pecan or milk is relevant to you.
Frequently asked questions
Are taaitaai biscuits Fairtrade if I buy Fairtrade chocolate to have with them?
No. The Fairtrade status of a separate chocolate bar doesn’t apply to the taaitaai biscuits. If you also want to choose Fairtrade biscuits, look for a product-specific claim on the taaitaai packaging.
What does mass balance mean for the AH Biologisch extra dark chocolate bar?
Albert Heijn explains that certified and non-certified ingredients may be mixed during production, while an equivalent quantity of Fairtrade ingredients is purchased, according to the product page. This means the claim doesn’t say that the ingredients in every individual bar have been kept physically separate.
Should I check the allergens in both the taaitaai and the chocolate?
Yes. If allergens matter to you, read both packs separately. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that allergens must be listed on food labels; also look out for any warnings about possible cross-contamination.
Can I rely on the ingredients listed on an online product page?
Use the online information to compare products, but read the label on the packaging you’ve actually bought before eating. Albert Heijn says that ingredients and allergen information may change.