Who is this for?

Dark chocolate lovers

You’re looking for a clear cocoa flavour in your taaitaai, not just a dark colour or spicy taste. If you’re choosing the chocolate separately, you want to be able to check the cocoa percentage on the packaging.

Shoppers looking for classic taaitaai

You want to serve a pack of taaitaai for a special occasion without baking it yourself. Anise and spices matter more to you than chocolate, but do check that the product is available for your celebration.

Shoppers who need to check allergens

You check the ingredients and allergens for the exact variety you’re buying. The standard products mentioned from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS list wheat or rye and milk protein; if you’re making your own, you’ll also need to check the chocolate you choose.

What should you look for when choosing?

For a pronounced cocoa flavour, the ingredients list matters more than the biscuit’s dark colour. If you mainly want to serve classic taaitaai quickly, the packaging and availability around King’s Day are more important.

Classic taaitaai from a pack

Choose this if: you want to serve anise and spice-flavoured taaitaai without baking it yourself.

The trade-off: the standard varieties reviewed from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS do not list cocoa or chocolate in their ingredients.

Homemade taaitaai with chocolate chosen separately

Choose this if: you want to decide for yourself which chocolate to serve with your taaitaai.

The trade-off: making taaitaai takes time; Jumbo’s recipe gives a preparation time of around 150 minutes. Check the stated cocoa percentage on the packaging of the chocolate you choose.

What to consider What to check Who should pay most attention?
Cocoa flavour Check whether cocoa or chocolate is listed in the ingredients. If you’re choosing chocolate separately, check its stated cocoa percentage. I want chocolate, not just anise or spices, to define the flavour. An estimated 50% of consumers place the greatest importance on being able to check the cocoa content.
Convenience Check the type of packaging and whether it will be available for your planned celebration. If I don’t want to bake, I’m looking for a pack of classic taaitaai that I can serve. Around 33% of consumers prioritise convenience.
Allergens Read the current ingredients and allergen information for the taaitaai you choose and, if using it, the chocolate too. If I need to avoid certain ingredients, I need to be able to check both products separately before using them. Checking the labels is the top priority for around 17% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming dark taaitaai contains chocolate

    A dark colour or spicy flavour doesn’t tell you whether the biscuit contains cocoa. The displayed ingredient lists for the standard varieties from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS do not list cocoa or chocolate.

    If cocoa flavour is the reason you’re choosing this taaitaai, look for cocoa, cocoa mass or chocolate on the packaging.

  • Relying on the words ‘bitter’ or ‘dark’

    A flavour description doesn’t tell you the cocoa percentage of a specific chocolate.

    Read the stated percentage and ingredients on the packaging of the chocolate you want to use.

  • Checking allergens only on a product page

    The standard varieties mentioned list wheat or rye and milk protein. The information that matters for your choice is on the packaging of the product you actually buy.

    Check that packaging, including any warnings about possible traces of other allergens. If you’re making taaitaai, check the chocolate label too.

  • Assuming a seasonal listing means it’s in stock for King’s Day

    The Jumbo and PLUS packs mentioned, among others, are presented as St Nicholas or Sinterklaas products. A product listing like this doesn’t tell you whether they’ll be available around King’s Day.

    Check the range and delivery options again when you’re planning your celebration.

Brands to consider

Albert Heijn

AH Taai taai, 350 g, is an example of classic taaitaai flavoured with star anise.

  • Albert Heijn lists rye and wheat flour, as well as milk protein, among its ingredients.
  • The displayed ingredients list does not include cocoa or chocolate, so don’t choose this variety solely for its cocoa flavour.

Jumbo

Jumbo Sinterklaas Taai Taai Figures, 500 g, is a classic packaged variety. Jumbo also publishes a separate taaitaai recipe.

  • The pack lists aniseed, wheat, rye and milk protein; the recipe gives you a starting point if you want to make taaitaai yourself.
  • Cocoa or chocolate is not listed in the displayed ingredients for the packaged figures. The recipe doesn’t specify which chocolate to choose separately.

PLUS

PLUS lists, among other products, 250 g artisan taaitaai biscuits and a 500 g Sinterklaas and Piet pack.

  • The product information helps you compare packaging and ingredients; the displayed Sinterklaas and Piet variety lists wheat, rye, anise and milk protein, among other ingredients.
  • The displayed ingredients for the standard varieties reviewed do not list cocoa or chocolate.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘bitter’ chocolate automatically have a high cocoa percentage?

No, the description doesn’t tell you the cocoa percentage of a specific chocolate. Check the percentage on the packaging; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that descriptions such as ‘extra bitter’ do not, on their own, indicate a set percentage.

What should I look for in taaitaai if I need to avoid milk or gluten?

Check the current packaging for the exact variety you want to buy. The standard products mentioned from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS list wheat or rye and milk protein; also look for warnings about other allergens. If you’re using chocolate separately, check its packaging too.

Can I make taaitaai myself and serve it with dark chocolate?

Yes, you can use a taaitaai recipe as a starting point and choose the chocolate separately. Jumbo’s recipe gives a preparation time of around 150 minutes; check the chocolate’s ingredients and stated cocoa percentage.