Who is this choice relevant to?

Guests who prioritise wholemeal bread

If you want to serve tiger bread at Christmas and are looking for a wholemeal loaf as your main bread, compare the product descriptions and fibre content per 100 g of the loaves you’re considering.

A host with guests who have different tastes

If some guests prefer a white crumb while others prefer wholemeal, two smaller loaves of different types may suit everyone better than one loaf for all.

Christmas shoppers thinking about size and availability

If you want to match the number of guests to a whole or half loaf and avoid leftovers, check that your preferred option is available just before you buy, and follow the storage advice on the packaging.

What should you look for when choosing?

What to consider What should you check? Who should pay particular attention?
Wholemeal and fibre Read the product description and compare the fibre content per 100 g of the exact loaf you’re considering; the crust or colour alone won’t tell you whether it’s wholemeal. If wholemeal is a priority for my Christmas table, I want to see that stated on the label. For around 40% of consumers, wholemeal and fibre are the main considerations.
Flavour and crumb Check whether the loaf is described as white or wholemeal, and consider serving two types if your guests have different preferences. If my guests prefer a light, white crumb, I don’t want to serve only wholemeal bread. For around 30% of consumers, this taste preference is the deciding factor.
Allergens Read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of every loaf, even if you’ve bought it before. If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, I need to know what’s in the loaf I choose. For around 20% of consumers, checking allergens comes first.
Size and storage Match a whole or half loaf to the number of guests, and check the storage or freezing advice for the specific loaf. If I’m hosting a small group, I want to offer enough choice without ending up with lots of leftover bread. For around 10% of consumers, quantity is the first consideration.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming brown tiger bread is wholemeal

    A brown crumb and tiger crust don’t tell you whether a loaf is wholemeal. Dirk, for example, sells a brown tiger loaf; the name alone doesn’t make it wholemeal.

    If wholemeal is a must, look for an explicit wholemeal description in the product listing and check the ingredients of the loaf you choose.

  • Choosing one type of bread when guests have different preferences

    Choosing wholemeal won’t automatically suit guests who prefer white bread. The fibre values listed for the PLUS varieties we looked at also differ: 6,4 g per 100 g for wholemeal tiger bread and 2,2 g per 100 g for white tiger bread.

    Ask your guests what they’d like, and consider adding a smaller loaf with a different crumb alongside your main bread.

  • Buying more bread than you need

    Leftovers need a storage plan. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists bread among the products that are often wasted.

    Choose a whole or half loaf to suit your group, and follow the packaging’s freezing advice for any leftovers.

Brands to consider

Albert Heijn

The AH Tijger volkoren heel we looked at is an option if you’re after a whole wholemeal tiger loaf.

  • Albert Heijn lists 6,7 g of fibre per 100 g and iodised salt for this loaf.
  • Check the packaging for the latest ingredients and allergen information when you buy, as these can change.

Jumbo

Jumbo offers, among other options, a half boeren tijgerbrood volkoren, as well as other types of tiger bread.

  • For the half wholemeal loaf we looked at, Jumbo lists 7,3 g of fibre per 100 g and around 11 servings.
  • Check which variety you’re choosing: size and product description vary from loaf to loaf.

Lidl

Lidl lists an 800 g tijger volkoren for in-store purchase.

  • Knowing the size makes it easier to decide whether a whole loaf will suit your group.
  • Check the label in store if nutritional information or allergens will affect your choice.

ALDI

ALDI describes its boeren tijger volkoren as a whole, pre-sliced loaf.

  • The wholemeal, whole-loaf and pre-sliced descriptions make it easy to identify this option when comparing sizes.
  • Check the packaging for the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information of the loaf you buy.

PLUS

PLUS lists both a whole wholemeal tiger loaf and a whole white tiger loaf.

  • The varieties we looked at list 6,4 g and 2,2 g of fibre per 100 g respectively; according to PLUS, the white loaf is part-baked.
  • These values apply to these specific loaves. Check the storage advice for the variety you choose, too.

Dirk

Dirk lists a whole Bakker van der Akker Boeren tijger bruin.

  • This variety offers a brown tiger bread option if you’re not specifically looking for wholemeal.
  • Don’t take the word ‘brown’ as proof that the loaf is wholemeal; check the product description and ingredients to confirm.

Tiger bread at Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is iodine added to every tiger loaf in the Netherlands?

No, you can’t assume that every tiger loaf contains iodine. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine compounds may be present in bread through baker’s salt; that doesn’t mean every loaf contains iodised salt. Albert Heijn lists it for the AH Tijger volkoren heel we looked at. Check the ingredients of the loaf you choose.

How do I choose between brown and wholemeal tiger bread?

If wholemeal is a must, choose tiger bread that’s explicitly described as wholemeal. You can’t tell that brown tiger bread is wholemeal from its colour; check the product description and ingredients for the exact variety.

Which allergens should I check for my guests?

Check the full allergen information for every specific loaf you plan to serve. The Albert Heijn and Jumbo wholemeal tiger loaves we looked at list cereals containing gluten, including wheat and barley, and also mention the possible presence of other allergens. Don’t rely on information for a different variety or an earlier purchase.

Can I buy wholemeal tiger bread in advance and freeze it?

For the Albert Heijn and PLUS wholemeal tiger loaves we looked at, the advice is to freeze them on the day of purchase and use them within one month. Follow the storage advice on the packaging of the loaf you actually buy.