Choose plain taaitaai if you want to serve an aniseed biscuit alongside your pepernoten with minimal fuss. If you want to choose the dark chocolate flavour yourself, bake the taaitaai or finish plain taaitaai with chocolate once it has cooled. Check the cocoa percentage on the chocolate wrapper and read the allergen information for both products.
If you want to serve taaitaai alongside pepernoten with your own choice of dark chocolate, you can follow a taaitaai recipe and choose the chocolate separately. Check the cocoa percentage stated on the wrapper rather than relying only on a description such as ‘extra bitter’.
Plain taaitaai is a handy option if you want something to serve without baking or decorating. Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS list taaitaai and mini taaitaai, but these products are not described as having a cocoa percentage or a dark chocolate finish.
Read the current label on both the taaitaai and your chosen chocolate. Albert Heijn and PLUS product listings, for example, mention wheat and rye in their taaitaai; ingredients and warnings can vary from product to product.
Ideal if: you want to serve taaitaai with its familiar aniseed flavour alongside pepernoten, without any preparation.
Consider: plain taaitaai won’t give you a chocolate finish of your own choosing.
Ideal if: you want to pair taaitaai with your own choice of dark chocolate.
Consider: baking or decorating takes extra steps and, for a chocolate finish, an additional ingredient.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Cocoa flavour | Check the cocoa percentage on the chocolate wrapper. Also consider how much chocolate to add if you want the taaitaai’s flavour to remain recognisable. | If the chocolate is to define the flavour, I want to choose the finish myself without losing sight of the aniseed. For around 31% of consumers, this choice of cocoa flavour comes first. |
| Preparation time | Choose between serving it straight away and baking or decorating it yourself; let the taaitaai cool before adding a chocolate finish. | For a platter of pepernoten, I want to be able to serve taaitaai without having to bake or decorate it. Convenience is the main consideration for around 31% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Read the current ingredients list, allergen information and any ‘may contain’ warning for both the taaitaai and the chocolate. | When allergens determine my choice, I need to be able to check both packs before serving anything. Around 23% of consumers put this label check first. |
| Pack size | Choose a net weight to suit how much taaitaai you want to serve or decorate; the PLUS options mentioned come in 250 g and 500 g packs. | For a small platter or one to share, I want to buy the right amount and avoid having too much left over. Pack size is the first consideration for around 15% of consumers. |
The listings mentioned from Albert Heijn, Jumbo, PLUS, ALDI and Dirk describe plain taaitaai or mini taaitaai. The word ‘dark’ on its own doesn’t tell you which chocolate or cocoa a product contains.
Check the ingredients and any stated cocoa content for the specific product. If you want to choose your own chocolate finish, buy plain taaitaai and select the chocolate separately.
According to the Voedingscentrum, ‘extra bitter’ does not correspond to a fixed cocoa percentage. So two chocolates with this description may show different percentages on their packaging.
Compare the stated cocoa percentage and taste the chocolate first if it’s going to define the finish.
Product ranges and information can change. An old listing won’t tell you which taaitaai you’ll find in store today or what the current packaging says.
Check the current product page before you shop, then read the label when you buy it, especially if ingredients or allergens matter to you.
When you add your own finish to taaitaai, you’re adding a second product. The allergen information for the taaitaai tells you nothing about the chocolate you’ve chosen.
Check the ingredients and any warnings on the packaging for both products separately.
Albert Heijn offers a taaitaai recipe through Allerhande, as well as packaged AH taaitaai.
Jumbo lists plain taaitaai in a 500 g pack.
PLUS lists taaitaai in both 250 g and 500 g packs, among other options.
ALDI describes 500 g packs of aniseed-flavoured taaitaai in assorted shapes.
Dirk’s range overview lists 1 de Beste Mini taai taai in a 500 g pack.
These Joybuy products are bars of dark chocolate for anyone who wants to choose their own chocolate to pair with taaitaai. They are not taaitaai products: you’ll need to source the taaitaai separately and handle the preparation or decorating yourself. Before buying, check that a bar is suitable for the finish you want to create.
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An option if you want to choose a bar with a stated cocoa percentage to pair with your taaitaai. This is chocolate, not taaitaai; check the current packaging for allergen information and to make sure the bar is suitable for the decoration you have in mind.
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A separate chocolate option for anyone who wants to finish taaitaai themselves and compare cocoa percentages. The bar is not a substitute for the taaitaai; check the allergen information and make sure it’s suitable for your chosen decorating method before use.
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A bar for anyone specifically looking for 90% cocoa for their own taaitaai finish. This is not taaitaai; read the current label for allergen information and check that the bar suits the way you want to decorate.
Check whether the specific product actually lists chocolate, cocoa or a cocoa percentage. The taaitaai listings mentioned from Albert Heijn, Jumbo, PLUS, ALDI and Dirk describe plain taaitaai or mini taaitaai. If you want to choose the chocolate yourself, you can add your own finish to plain taaitaai.
No. According to the Voedingscentrum, ‘extra bitter’ does not indicate a fixed cocoa percentage. Compare the percentage on the wrapper if that figure matters to your choice of chocolate.
Read the labels on both the taaitaai and the chocolate. Check the ingredients, stated allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings for each product; don’t rely on the information on just one pack.
No. The cocoa percentage alone doesn’t indicate whether a chocolate is healthy. Choose chocolate based on the flavour you want with the taaitaai, and check the nutritional information on the packaging if it’s relevant to your decision.
