Check the label before buying a large quantity of taaitaai for a street festival: terms such as ‘artisan’ or ‘gluten-free’ don’t mean the product contains less sugar. Product information from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS lists 36 to 39 g of sugars per 100 g for the standard varieties reviewed; the gluten-free Maître Mathis variety lists 41 g per 100 g. If a lower sugar content is your priority, you could consider a different type of biscuit, but compare the nutritional information and check what any ‘less sugar’ claim is based on.
You’re looking for something to hand out, but want to know how much sugar it contains before choosing standard taaitaai. Product information from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS lists 36 to 39 g of sugars per 100 g for the standard varieties reviewed.
You need clear information about the ingredients and allergens in the pack you actually buy. The standard varieties reviewed list ingredients including wheat, rye and milk; the gluten-free Maître Mathis taaitaai lists milk and lupin.
You need a quantity that suits the number of visitors and the other snacks on offer. Albert Heijn, Jumbo and ALDI show examples of taaitaai in 500 g packs; check the available pack size and storage instructions before buying.
First compare sugars per 100 g, then check the allergens, and finally decide which pack size and quantity are right for handing out.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar content | For similar biscuit products, compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. If there’s a ‘less sugar’ claim, check what it’s being compared with. | I don’t want to rely on the front of the pack; I want to see whether the sugar content suits what I’m looking for. Around 50% of consumers prioritise a sugar comparison that can be verified. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current pack, including for a gluten-free variety. | If I’m handing out treats to visitors with dietary requirements, I want to know in advance which allergens they contain. For around 20% of consumers, suitability is their main concern. |
| Sharing and storage | Check the net weight, number of portions and storage instructions. Choose a quantity that suits the expected number of visitors. | I want to have enough to hand out without relying solely on the number of bags, and be able to store any leftovers after opening. Around 30% of consumers prioritise how easy a product is to share and practical considerations for a festival. |
These are two different things. Albert Heijn’s product information lists 41 g of sugars per 100 g for gluten-free Maître Mathis taaitaai, compared with 36 to 39 g per 100 g for the standard examples reviewed.
Check the allergens to make sure it meets the dietary requirement, and compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g separately.
A descriptive term doesn’t tell you the sugar content. PLUS’s artisan taaitaai lists 38,594 g of sugars per 100 g.
Use the nutrition table to compare sugar content, and also read the ingredients and allergen list.
A product you viewed earlier may not be available when you’re buying for the festival. That’s especially tricky if you want to bring the same treat for all your visitors.
Check shortly before buying that your chosen product is available, and read the pack again when you buy it.
The net weight of a bag doesn’t tell you how many pieces you want to give each visitor. Once opened, any leftover taaitaai also needs to be stored according to the instructions.
Work out how many portions you’ll need in advance, divide them up for handing out if necessary, and reseal the remaining product.
Albert Heijn sells its own-brand taaitaai in a 500 g pack; the retailer also offers a gluten-free variety from Maître Mathis.
Jumbo sells its own-brand taaitaai in assorted shapes, as an example of a traditional sharing pack.
PLUS sells artisan taai-taai biscuits in a 250 g bag and also lists a 500 g pack of taaitaai.
ALDI lists taai-taai in assorted shapes in a 500 g pack.
Dirk lists 1 de Beste Mini taai taai in a 500 g pack.
If you’d like to hand out something other than taaitaai at the festival, you could consider a biscuit bar. It’s a different type of biscuit, so compare the sugar content on the pack and check what a term such as ‘Less Sugar’ refers to.
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A biscuit bar for anyone who wants to offer something other than taaitaai; the pack contains 6 pieces.
Compare sugars per 100 g on the label, check what ‘Less Sugar’ is being compared with, and read the ingredients and allergen information for the visitors you’re handing them out to.
Choose only after comparing the sugar content on the current pack with that of a similar taaitaai product. Product information from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS lists 36 to 39 g of sugars per 100 g for the standard varieties reviewed; the gluten-free Maître Mathis variety lists 41 g per 100 g. So a term such as ‘gluten-free’ doesn’t answer the question of sugar content.
For similar biscuit products, compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g, rather than looking only at the amount per biscuit or per pack. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends using the same per-100 g basis when comparing products; according to the Dutch government, Nutri-Scores should be compared within the same product category.
No. Gluten-free doesn’t mean free from all allergens. For the gluten-free Maître Mathis taaitaai reviewed, Albert Heijn lists milk and lupin; check the current pack against the visitor’s specific allergy.
Consider the expected number of visitors, the other snacks and the portion size you want to hand out. For example, Albert Heijn lists 45 portions of 11 g in its 500 g bag, but your own portions may be a different size.
Use a product page to compare products in advance, then read the label on the pack you’ll actually be handing out. Ingredients, allergens and nutritional values can change, so the current pack is the one to check.
