Choose ready-made taaitaai shapes or mini taaitaai if you need to hand out portions quickly. Make your own if shapes, decoration and size matter more than preparation time. Before wrapping portions, check the label on the exact product and the school’s allergen policy. A St Nicholas-themed pack isn’t automatically a limited edition: only use that description if it’s stated for the product.
Parents, teachers and volunteers need to be able to check what they’re offering visitors. Product information from retailers including Jumbo and PLUS lists wheat, rye and milk in taaitaai. Keep the details from the actual pack you use to hand, and make sure distribution follows the school’s policy.
If you don’t have much time to bake, consider shaped biscuits or mini taaitaai. Jumbo, PLUS, ALDI and Dirk list taaitaai in 500 g packs or in a mini version. Check how many pieces the pack contains and whether it’s available locally.
Making your own taaitaai lets you tailor the shapes and decoration to the school fair. Albert Heijn Allerhande’s recipe does require some preparation, including resting the dough. If you bake your own, you’ll also need to keep track of the ingredients you use.
First decide whether your school fair needs taaitaai that’s quick to hand out or shapes you’ve made yourself. Whichever you choose, check the ingredients before wrapping or displaying portions.
Choose this: if you need to hand out shaped biscuits or mini taaitaai with minimal preparation.
The trade-off: the ingredients and shapes are fixed, so keep the information from the exact pack to hand at your stall.
Choose this: if you want to decide on the shapes, decoration or portion size yourself.
The trade-off: preparation and wrapping take time. Albert Heijn Allerhande’s taaitaai recipe uses wheat and egg.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Allergen information | Check the exact pack for both ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements. Discuss how portions will be handed out with the school before wrapping them individually. | If not all children can eat the same ingredients, I want to know what’s in each portion before handing it out. Around 36% of consumers put this clarity first. |
| Ease of serving | Compare the size and shape of the pieces and the number in each pack. Keep the ingredient information with any individual portions. | At a busy stall, I want to be able to put out portions without having to cut or weigh them on the spot. For around 29% of consumers, ease of serving is the deciding factor. |
| Seasonal appeal | Check whether the shape suits the theme. Only use ‘limited edition’ if that exact version is described that way. | For a St Nicholas stall, I want visitors to recognise the theme straight away, without promising more about the product than the packaging does. This seasonal appeal comes first for around 21% of consumers. |
| Creating your own design | Allow time for making, resting, baking, cooling and wrapping the dough. Make a note of the ingredients in the recipe you use. | If the stall calls for custom shapes or decoration, I’d rather spend time baking than choose a standard shop-bought option. Around 14% of consumers prioritise this creative freedom. |
Taaitaai can contain allergens other than wheat and rye. Product information from Jumbo and PLUS also lists milk; other allergens may be present depending on the pack.
For the version you’ve bought, check both the ingredients list and any statements about possible allergens. Speak to the school before opening the pack or preparing individual portions.
Being part of a St Nicholas range says something about how a product is presented, but it doesn’t automatically mean that the individual product is made in a limited run.
For example, you could write ‘St Nicholas taaitaai’ on a stall sign if that suits the product. Only use ‘limited edition’ if the manufacturer or retailer uses that description for the exact version.
A retailer’s product page you viewed previously doesn’t guarantee that the pack you buy will be the same or that it’ll be in stock at a particular branch. Some taaitaai versions shown are also listed as no longer available online.
Check availability with your chosen retailer and keep the label from the pack you actually buy for your school fair stall.
This retailer information can help you compare shapes and labels, but the details on the pack you buy are what matter when handing out portions.
Jumbo lists Sint Taai Taai Figuurtjes in a 500 g pack.
Albert Heijn provides product information for packaged taaitaai. Allerhande also features a recipe for homemade taaitaai figures of St Nicholas.
PLUS lists Taai taai sint en piet in a 500 g pack as part of its St Nicholas range.
ALDI lists 500 g of aniseed-flavoured taaitaai in figure shapes as part of its St Nicholas range.
Dirk lists 1 de Beste Mini taai taai in a 500 g pack among its seasonal sweets.
Don’t assume it is: the taaitaai products checked, including those from Jumbo and PLUS, list wheat and rye. Ask the school which treats are suitable for visitors with an allergy or dietary restriction, and always check the label on the exact product.
Keep the ingredients and allergen information from every pack you use at the stall, so visitors can check what they’re being given. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority provides guidance on allergen information for unpackaged foods. Make sure your approach for the school fair is also agreed with the school.
Yes, as long as you allow time to prepare and rest the dough, bake the taaitaai and let it cool before wrapping it. Albert Heijn Allerhande’s recipe for taaitaai figures of St Nicholas calls for around two hours of resting time and uses wheat and egg.
No. A St Nicholas or seasonal presentation doesn’t in itself confirm that a product is a limited edition. Only use ‘limited edition’ on a stall sign if the manufacturer or retailer describes that exact taaitaai version that way.
