Those looking for a pronounced cocoa flavour
You want dark chocolate and don’t see milk chocolate as a substitute. Check the chocolate type and cocoa percentage of the exact product, rather than relying on words such as ‘dark’ alone.
Who is this choice for?
Night-shift workers looking for a little something for their break
You choose a snack for its flavour and portion size, not to keep you awake. According to the Voedingscentrum, chocolate’s stimulating effect is very weak.
Taaitaai fans who need to check the label
You want taaitaai, but need to know which ingredients and allergens are in your version. PLUS lists wheat, rye and milk among the ingredients in its 250 g Ambachtelijke taai taai koeken.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether the chewy biscuit or the dark cocoa flavour matters more to you. Then check the chocolate type, packaging and label of the product you want to buy.
Plain taaitaai
When to choose it: go for this if you mainly want a chewy, anise-flavoured biscuit for your break.
The trade-off: plain taaitaai won’t necessarily give you the dark chocolate flavour you’re looking for.
Taaitaai with milk chocolate
When to choose it: Jumbo lists a 250 g Taai Taai Melkchocolade; it’s a good fit if you specifically want milk chocolate with taaitaai.
The trade-off: milk chocolate isn’t the same as dark chocolate with a high cocoa content.
Dark chocolate on its own
When to choose it: check the stated cocoa percentage if a dark cocoa flavour matters more to you than taaitaai.
The trade-off: you won’t be buying taaitaai, so you won’t get the same chewy biscuit texture.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Dark cocoa flavour | Check the chocolate type and cocoa percentage of the exact product. A name that mentions chocolate doesn’t mean it’s dark chocolate. | I want a pronounced cocoa flavour and don’t want to mistake milk chocolate for dark. This cocoa preference is the top priority for around 50% of consumers. |
| A snack for your break | Check the portion size and nutritional information; don’t choose chocolate because it promises to make you more alert. | I want a little something to eat during my break, without expecting it to keep me awake. Around 30% of consumers give this break-time moment the highest priority. |
| Plain taaitaai and the label | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you choose, and check that the product is available when you need it. | I want the familiar taaitaai flavour, but I also need to be able to check what’s in the pack. For around 20% of consumers, the biscuit and checking the label are equally important. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘dark’ means a confirmed high cocoa content
The chocolate name alone doesn’t tell you the cocoa percentage of the exact product. Jumbo explicitly describes its chocolate taaitaai as a milk chocolate version.
Check whether you’re looking at taaitaai or a separate chocolate product, and read the chocolate type and cocoa percentage on the packaging.
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Choosing chocolate to stay awake
The Voedingscentrum describes chocolate’s stimulating effect as very weak. So a dark chocolate flavour tells you nothing about how alert you’ll feel during a night shift.
Choose a chocolate snack for its flavour, and consider the portion separately from any expectations about alertness.
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Relying on an old label or a different version
The ingredients in taaitaai vary from product to product. PLUS lists wheat, rye and milk among the ingredients in its Ambachtelijke taai taai koeken.
Each time you buy it, check the ingredients, allergens and any warnings on the packaging of the exact product.
Brands and shops to consider
Jumbo
Jumbo lists both De Originele Taai Taai, in a 500 g pack, and Taai Taai Melkchocolade, in a 250 g pack.
- The separately named milk chocolate version makes the difference from plain taaitaai clear.
- If you’re looking for dark chocolate, don’t treat the milk chocolate version as a substitute.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn lists AH Taai taai and Bolletje taai taai as separate products.
- You can compare the supermarket’s own-brand product with a branded product by checking their current labels.
- Albert Heijn warns that online product information, including ingredients and allergens, can change, so check the packaging.
PLUS
PLUS lists products including Ambachtelijke taai taai koeken, in a 250 g pack, and Taai taai sint en piet, in a 500 g pack.
- For its 250 g biscuits, PLUS lists wheat, rye and milk among the ingredients, so you know which details to check on the label before buying.
- This plain taaitaai isn’t a dark chocolate version based on the product name.
ALDI
ALDI describes its 500 g Taai-taai as anise-flavoured biscuits in shaped forms.
- The description is helpful if you’re specifically looking for plain, anise-flavoured taaitaai.
- If chocolate or a particular cocoa percentage matters to you, check the details of any other product separately.
Dirk / 1 de Beste
Dirk lists 1 de Beste Mini taai taai, in a 500 g pack, in its search results.
- The product name gives you a starting point if you’re looking for mini taaitaai.
- For the ingredients and any chocolate type, read the label on the exact pack.
Dark chocolate and another dark snack at Joybuy
These products suit you if a dark chocolate flavour matters more than taaitaai. The first three are chocolate products with a cocoa percentage in the product name; the fourth is another dark chocolate snack. None of the four is taaitaai.
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Lindt Excellence 78% Cacao, 100 g
A good choice if a stated cocoa percentage matters more to you than the texture of taaitaai.
100 g of chocolate; the product name states 78% cocoa. If you have allergies, check the label on the exact pack.
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Lindt Excellence 90% Cocoa Supreme Dark, 100 g
A good fit if you want chocolate with a clearly stated cocoa percentage and don’t need it to be taaitaai.
100 g of dark chocolate with 90% cocoa according to the product name. If you have allergies, check the label on the exact pack.
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Lindt Excellence 70% Cocoa Dark Chocolate, 100 g
An option if you’re looking for dark chocolate and don’t need the chewy texture of taaitaai.
100 g of chocolate with 70% cocoa according to the product name. If you have allergies, carefully check the label on the exact pack.
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AE Chocodate Dark Chocolate, 90 g
Another dark chocolate snack if you’re not specifically looking for taaitaai or a chocolate bar.
90 g pack. Check the label for the ingredients, allergens and cocoa content of the chocolate if these are important to your choice.
Frequently asked questions
Is taaitaai with dark chocolate the same as taaitaai with milk chocolate?
No. Jumbo calls its chocolate version Taai Taai Melkchocolade; the name doesn’t confirm that it’s dark chocolate or state a particular cocoa percentage. If you’re looking for a dark cocoa flavour, check the chocolate type and percentage on the exact pack.
Can dark chocolate keep me awake during a night shift?
Don’t choose chocolate expecting it to keep you awake. The Voedingscentrum describes chocolate’s stimulating effect as very weak and gives around 7 mg of caffeine for two squares of dark chocolate, weighing 14 g in total; this is an example portion, not a figure for every chocolate snack.
What should I check for allergies before buying taaitaai?
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the exact product. PLUS lists wheat, rye and milk among the ingredients in its 250 g Ambachtelijke taai taai koeken; don’t assume other taaitaai products have the same ingredients.
Is online product information enough to choose a taaitaai product?
Use it to compare products, but check the current packaging when you buy. Albert Heijn says that online information, including details of ingredients and allergens, can change. Also check the nutritional information and best-before date if they’re relevant to your choice.