Fans of dark chocolate flavour
If you want to choose the chocolate flavour yourself, you can pair regular taaitaai with a separate bar of dark chocolate. Check the bar for its cocoa percentage, ingredients and allergen information.
Who are these options for?
Shoppers looking for a quick Christmas treat
If you want taaitaai you can share without baking, compare pack sizes and read the ingredients and allergen information for the classic variety you choose.
Christmas bakers who want to decorate their own
If you want to choose the shapes, decorations and chocolate yourself, remember to factor in the preparation time, ingredients and baking equipment you’ll need.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want to serve ready-made taaitaai or make it yourself. Then choose how to add chocolate flavour, if you want it.
Classic taaitaai
Choose this: if you want to share taaitaai without using the oven.
Bear in mind: classic varieties from brands including Jumbo and PLUS aren’t automatically made with dark chocolate. Check their allergen information too.
Taaitaai with a separate bar of dark chocolate
Choose this: if you want to pick the chocolate separately and serve it with regular taaitaai.
Bear in mind: you’ll be buying two products, so you’ll need to check the bar’s cocoa percentage and ingredients separately.
Bake your own taaitaai
Choose this: if you want to decide on the shapes and decorations yourself.
Bear in mind: you’ll need time to prepare, an oven and possibly extra ingredients or equipment. Check what’s included in a baking kit.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Dark chocolate flavour | Read the ingredients and check for a stated cocoa percentage on the separate chocolate or any chocolate variety on offer. | I want to choose a pronounced chocolate flavour to go with my taaitaai, rather than judge by colour. Around 36% of consumers put this flavour choice first. |
| Ready to share | Check that it’s ready-made taaitaai and choose a pack size that suits the number of people eating. | For a treat that doesn’t involve baking, I want to open a pack and share the taaitaai straight away. This is the main priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current label on both the taaitaai and any chocolate, including warnings about the possible presence of allergens. | If I’m serving guests, I need to know what’s in both products. This check is the top priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Making and decorating your own shapes | Check what’s included in a baking kit and what extra ingredients, equipment and oven steps you’ll need. | I want to choose the shapes and decorations myself, and I’m happy to take on the preparation. Around 14% of consumers prioritise this. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘dark’ means a specific cocoa percentage
According to the Voedingscentrum, bitter or extra-bitter chocolate often contains a lot of cocoa, but the flavour name alone won’t tell you the percentage in the bar you choose.
Check the ingredients and look for a stated cocoa percentage on the packaging.
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Assuming regular taaitaai is automatically suitable for guests with allergies
Product information from brands including Jumbo and PLUS lists milk and gluten-containing cereals in classic taaitaai. Any extra bar of chocolate will also have its own ingredients and allergen information.
Before serving, check the current packaging of every product you’re using, including any warnings about possible allergen presence.
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Planning a baking session around a single kit
Albert Heijn’s product page listed the Homemade taaitaai baking kit as discontinued. The kit also required extra ingredients, equipment and use of an oven.
Before you start baking, check which kits are available, what’s included and what else you’ll need.
Baking from scratch also takes preparation time and space for the equipment you’ll need.
Brands of classic taaitaai compared
Albert Heijn
AH Taai taai is a classic 500 g pack. Albert Heijn also listed a Homemade baking kit, but marked it as discontinued.
- The classic taaitaai listing includes ingredients, nutritional information, allergens and storage advice.
- The chocolate drops in the baking kit mentioned contain milk, so don’t consider this kit a dark chocolate variety.
Jumbo
Jumbo Sint Taai Taai Figuurtjes is a 500 g pack of classic taaitaai, flavoured with ingredients including aniseed and cinnamon.
- The product information lists the ingredients and allergens.
- This variety lists wheat, rye and milk protein among its ingredients; it isn’t a dark chocolate variety.
PLUS
PLUS offers 250 g artisan taaikoeken and a 500 g variety of classic taaitaai.
- The different pack sizes give you a choice of quantity.
- The product information for these varieties lists ingredients including milk and gluten-containing cereals; check the label on the pack you choose.
ALDI
ALDI describes its 500 g Taai-taai as aniseed-flavoured biscuits in assorted shapes.
- The product description makes the flavour and pack size clear.
- Check the current packaging for ingredients and allergens before serving the taaitaai.
Dirk
Dirk offers 1 de Beste Mini taai taai in a 500 g pack and, as a separate product, a 180 g bar of dark chocolate.
- The two products suit anyone who wants to pair regular taaitaai with separate chocolate.
- Check the ingredients and allergens in the mini taaitaai and the chocolate bar separately; together, they don’t make a ready-made chocolate taaitaai product.
Dark chocolate to go with taaitaai at Joybuy
These are separate chocolate bars for anyone who wants to choose some to go with regular taaitaai; they aren’t taaitaai themselves. If you want to melt the chocolate or use it for decoration, first check that the bar you choose is suitable for your method.
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Lindt Excellence 90% Cocoa Supreme Dark, 100 g
For anyone looking for a separate dark chocolate bar with a stated cocoa percentage to go with taaitaai.
The product name states 90% cocoa and a pack size of 100 g. Check the current label for allergens and separately confirm that the bar is suitable for the way you plan to use it.
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Lindt Excellence 70% Cocoa Dark Chocolate, 100 g
For anyone who wants to serve a separate bar of dark chocolate with regular taaitaai.
The product name states 70% cocoa and a pack size of 100 g. Check the current label for allergens and make sure the bar is suitable for melting or decorating with before use.
Frequently asked questions
Can I serve regular taaitaai as taaitaai with dark chocolate?
Regular taaitaai doesn’t automatically contain dark chocolate. If you want to combine the two flavours, choose the chocolate separately or check the ingredients list for the specific chocolate variety on offer.
Do ‘dark’ or ‘extra bitter’ tell me enough about the cocoa percentage?
No. Check the cocoa percentage on the bar you choose. The Voedingscentrum describes bitter and extra-bitter chocolate as varieties that often contain a lot of cocoa, but the flavour name won’t tell you the percentage in an individual product.
Which allergens should I check when serving taaitaai with separate chocolate?
Check the current labels on both the taaitaai and the chocolate. The ingredients listed for classic varieties from brands including Jumbo and PLUS include wheat, rye or milk products; other products may have different ingredients or warnings about possible allergen presence.
How should I store ready-made taaitaai?
Follow the storage instructions and date on the packaging you buy. For AH Taai taai, Albert Heijn advises storing it in a cool, dry place and keeping it in a sealed tin after opening. Jumbo advises storing its taaitaai in a cool, dry place.
What should I bear in mind when baking taaitaai for Christmas?
First, check what’s included in the baking kit you choose, then get any extra ingredients and equipment ready. The Homemade kit that Albert Heijn marked as discontinued required water, flour, a mixer, a rolling pin and an oven, as well as the contents of the kit. Follow the instructions for any other kit you choose.