If Fairtrade cocoa is your priority
You want to be able to check the Fairtrade claim on the product you choose. A separate chocolate snack, perhaps served alongside taaitaai, is a better fit than assuming that plain taaitaai is Fairtrade.
Which option is right for you?
For fans of classic taaitaai
You’re looking for an aniseed biscuit to share while gaming. If Fairtrade matters to you too, check the claim on the specific pack rather than relying on the retailer’s wider range.
If you’re buying snacks for a group
You’ll need to consider the ingredients and allergies of everyone playing. Check the current packaging for both the taaitaai and any chocolate, including warnings about the possible presence of allergens.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start with what you want to serve: taaitaai, chocolate or both. Then check the Fairtrade claim and ingredients for each individual product.
Plain taaitaai
Choose this if: the aniseed flavour of taaitaai is what matters most.
The trade-off: a plain taaitaai listing does not, by itself, show that it has a Fairtrade cocoa claim.
Taaitaai with separate chocolate
Choose this if: you want taaitaai as well as a separate snack with a Fairtrade claim you can check.
The trade-off: the claim on the chocolate does not automatically apply to the taaitaai.
Chocolate instead of taaitaai
Choose this if: a Fairtrade claim on your chocolate snack matters more than having taaitaai.
The trade-off: you’ll be choosing a different product, with its own ingredients and allergens.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Most relevant to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade claim | Check the packaging of the product you’ve chosen and see whether the claim applies to the whole product or a named ingredient. Dirk explains that, when a white Fairtrade logo is used, specific ingredients are certified. | I want to choose cocoa with a Fairtrade claim I can check on my snack. For around 50% of consumers, having a verifiable claim matters most. |
| Taaitaai or chocolate | Compare the product type and ingredients. The ingredients list for Jumbo Sint Taai Taai Figuurtjes includes aniseed, but no cocoa or chocolate; PLUS Fairtrade chocolate kruidnoten are a different kind of snack. | If I mainly want chocolate while gaming, plain taaitaai won’t suit my taste preference. Chocolate is the first choice for around 30% of consumers. |
| Ingredients for the group | Read the current ingredients, allergen information, net weight and storage instructions for every product you serve. | I want to share classic taaitaai while also checking what everyone can eat. Around 20% of consumers put this combination of snack choice and ingredient checks first. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a retailer’s Fairtrade range means its taaitaai is Fairtrade
A retailer selling Fairtrade chocolate tells you nothing about whether its plain taaitaai is certified. What’s more, the ingredients list for Jumbo Sint Taai Taai Figuurtjes does not include cocoa or chocolate.
Look for the Fairtrade claim on the packaging or product page of the exact snack you’re choosing.
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Confusing chocolate kruidnoten with taaitaai
PLUS Fairtrade chocolate kruidnoten are not taaitaai. Choosing this chocolate snack also means choosing a different product type, with different ingredients to check.
First decide which snack you want to serve, then check the claim on that product.
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Overlooking allergens in snacks you’re sharing
The ingredients in taaitaai and chocolate snacks can differ. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority stresses the importance of clear allergen information on the labels of pre-packed foods.
Check the current packaging before buying and serving, including any warnings about the possible presence of allergens.
Brands and retailers to consider
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn lists AH Taai taai 500 g as plain taaitaai.
- A specific taaitaai listing if that’s the biscuit you’re looking for.
- The product listing does not support a Fairtrade claim for this taaitaai.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists Sint Taai Taai Figuurtjes 500 g and also has a separate Fairtrade range.
- The ingredients list for the taaitaai mentioned helps you choose the right product.
- Having a separate Fairtrade range does not automatically make this taaitaai Fairtrade.
PLUS
PLUS lists plain taaitaai as well as separate chocolate products with a Fairtrade cocoa claim.
- The claim on the chocolate products lets you check each one individually.
- The Fairtrade cocoa claim on chocolate does not automatically apply to plain taaitaai.
Lidl
Lidl describes its Way To Go chocolate bars as fully Fairtrade-certified.
- That claim is useful if you’re looking for chocolate instead of taaitaai.
- Don’t assume the claim applies to other Lidl snacks without checking the product.
ALDI
ALDI describes its taai-taai as aniseed-flavoured and lists Fairtrade chocolate separately in its range.
- You can assess the different product types separately.
- General Fairtrade information does not confirm that the taai-taai mentioned is certified.
Dirk
Dirk lists mini taai taai and provides separate information about Fairtrade products.
- The explanation of the white Fairtrade logo helps you distinguish a claim about an ingredient.
- Check whether the mini taai taai itself has a Fairtrade claim.
Chocolate bars as an alternative
These Joybuy bars are chocolate snacks to consider if you’d prefer chocolate to taaitaai. Check the Fairtrade claim and ingredients for your chosen bar on the current packaging; neither bar is taaitaai.
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Tony's Chocolonely milk chocolate with pecan and caramel, 180 g
A chocolate bar to serve alongside taaitaai, or instead of it. According to the product name, this variety contains pecan and caramel and weighs 180 g.
If you’re choosing it for its Fairtrade credentials, check exactly what the claim applies to on the current packaging. If you have allergies, read the ingredients and warnings too.
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Tony's Chocolonely milk chocolate with caramel and sea salt, 90 g
A 90 g chocolate bar if you’re looking for an alternative to taaitaai. This variety is identified by its caramel and sea salt in the product name.
Check exactly what any Fairtrade claim applies to on the current packaging, and read the ingredients before sharing the bar with a group.
Frequently asked questions
Is taaitaai Fairtrade if the retailer also sells Fairtrade chocolate?
No, you can’t tell from the retailer’s range. Check the taaitaai packaging itself; for example, the ingredients list for Jumbo Sint Taai Taai Figuurtjes does not include cocoa or chocolate.
How do I choose Fairtrade chocolate to serve with taaitaai?
Choose chocolate with a clear Fairtrade claim for the product or ingredient in question. PLUS identifies Fairtrade cocoa in separate chocolate products, while Lidl describes its Way To Go chocolate bars as fully Fairtrade-certified. Always check the current packaging of the product you choose.
What should I check if I’m sharing snacks with people who have allergies?
Read the ingredients and allergen warnings on the current packaging of each product separately. Jumbo Sint Taai Taai Figuurtjes lists wheat, rye and milk protein among its ingredients; PLUS lists milk, soya and wheat among the ingredients of its Fairtrade chocolate kruidnoten. Don’t assume other products have the same ingredients.
How should I store taaitaai until the gaming session?
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging you’ve chosen. Albert Heijn and PLUS advise storing their taaitaai in a cool, dry place; always follow the instructions on your own pack if they differ.