For a late-night snack, choose wholemeal tiger bread if the wholemeal label and fibre content matter most to you; choose white if you prefer a light, airy crumb. According to the Voedingscentrum, brown bread is a mix of wholemeal flour and refined flour, but the tiger crust doesn’t tell you which types of flour are used in a particular loaf. So compare the product description, nutritional information and the amount of bread you need.
Want to know whether your late-night sandwich is made with a wholemeal base? Check the description on the bread and compare fibre per 100 g. According to the Voedingscentrum, bread labelled wholemeal is made from 100% wholemeal flour; a dark colour alone doesn’t tell you that.
If a light, familiar slice is what matters most, white tiger bread may better suit your taste. Just be sure to compare the nutritional information for each product: Jumbo’s white and wholemeal tiger breads have different fibre values.
If you only have a slice late in the evening now and then, the size of the loaf and storage advice are worth considering. A half loaf, or freezing the bread according to the instructions for your chosen product, may be a better fit for how much you use.
First decide what matters most to you: the crumb, the wholemeal base or the amount of bread. Then check the label of the variety you’re considering.
Choose it when: you want a tiger crust and are specifically looking for bread labelled wholemeal.
Bear in mind: don’t expect the same light crumb as a white variety; also check the allergens in the bread you choose.
Choose it when: you want to consider a brown variety alongside white and wholemeal. The Voedingscentrum describes brown bread as a mix of wholemeal flour and refined flour.
Bear in mind: brown doesn’t mean 100% wholemeal; check the ingredients and fibre content of each loaf.
Choose it when: the light, airy crumb of white bread is your main preference.
Bear in mind: white bread isn’t wholemeal. Jumbo lists 2,3 g of fibre per 100 g for its white Boeren Tijgerbrood, compared with 7,5 g per 100 g for its Boeren Tijger Volkoren.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Check whether the bread is labelled wholemeal and compare fibre per 100 g across the varieties. | I want to be sure I’m choosing wholemeal bread for my late-night sandwich, rather than judging by the dark crust. For around 50% of consumers, choosing wholemeal and fibre is the main priority. |
| Light crumb | Check whether the variety is labelled white bread and look at its nutritional information. | A light, airy slice that even a fussy eater will enjoy matters more to me than choosing wholemeal. Around 30% of consumers give a light crumb top priority. |
| Quantity and storage | Choose a whole or half loaf to suit how much you use, and read the storage and freezing advice on the packaging. | If I only have a late-night snack now and then, I don’t want to be left with a large amount of bread. For around 20% of consumers, getting the right amount or being able to freeze the bread is the main priority. |
The crust doesn’t tell you whether the crumb is made from refined flour or wholemeal flour. The white and wholemeal tiger breads listed by Jumbo also have different fibre values.
Read the product description and compare fibre per 100 g; don’t rely on the crust or the name boerenbrood alone.
According to the Voedingscentrum, brown bread is made from a mix of wholemeal flour and refined flour. So it won’t necessarily meet your needs if you want bread made from 100% wholemeal flour.
If wholemeal is a must, choose bread that is explicitly labelled wholemeal.
According to the Voedingscentrum, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So don’t assume the bread contains iodised salt based on the type of bread alone.
Check the ingredients for baker’s salt or iodised salt, or ask which salt has been used if you’re buying unpackaged bread.
If you only eat it occasionally, you may have some of a whole loaf left over. According to the Voedingscentrum, bread is among the foods that are often wasted in the Netherlands.
Consider buying a half loaf if one is available, or follow the freezing advice for the bread you buy.
These examples can help you compare varieties and labels. The properties listed apply to the specific breads mentioned, not to every bread from a particular brand.
Albert Heijn describes AH Tijger volkoren heel as wholemeal wheat bread with a tiger pattern.
Jumbo lists both Boeren Tijgerbrood Wit and Boeren Tijger Volkoren.
PLUS lists Korenlanders Boeren tijgerbrood in white and wholemeal varieties, including a half wholemeal loaf.
ALDI lists Boeren tijgerbrood in white and wholemeal varieties.
Dirk lists Bakker van der Akker Boeren tijger bruin heel, a brown variety to consider alongside white and wholemeal.
Lidl lists a Tijgervolkoren heel vloerbrood as an in-store offer.
No, the colour and tiger crust don’t prove that it is. According to the Voedingscentrum, wholemeal bread is made from 100% wholemeal flour, while brown bread is a mix of wholemeal flour and refined flour. Check the product description on the bread.
It varies by product. Jumbo lists 2,3 g of fibre per 100 g for Boeren Tijgerbrood Wit and 7,5 g per 100 g for Boeren Tijger Volkoren. Don’t treat these figures as standard nutritional values for other tiger breads.
No, you can’t tell from the type of bread alone. According to the Voedingscentrum, bakers don’t have to use baker’s salt. Look for baker’s salt or iodised salt in the ingredients list, or ask which salt has been used if you’re buying unpackaged bread.
Always check the allergen information for the specific bread. Jumbo lists wheat and gluten for its white and wholemeal tiger breads; for the wholemeal variety, Jumbo also lists barley and rye. The ingredients in another product may differ.
Choose an amount that suits how much you use and follow the storage advice for the bread you buy. A half loaf may be enough for the occasional snack. Albert Heijn and Jumbo recommend freezing the wholemeal tiger breads mentioned on the day of purchase and using them within one month.
