Which choice is right for you?

For seed and kernel lovers

You’re looking for extra bite in the bread for your St Nicholas’ Eve table. A loaf listing several types of seeds could be just what you want, even if it doesn’t have a tiger crust.

For tiger-crust fans keeping an eye on fibre

You want to keep the distinctive crust, but you also compare the type of flour and the fibre content per 100 g. The tiger pattern alone won’t tell you anything about either.

For bread buyers checking allergens

You’re choosing bread for someone who needs to consider allergens such as sesame, gluten-containing cereals, soya or milk. Check the ingredients and allergen warnings for the exact variety: tiger bread and multiseed bread don’t have one shared allergen profile.

What should you look for when choosing?

For St Nicholas’ Eve, first decide whether seeds in the bread or a tiger crust matters more. Then compare the flour type, nutritional values and label for the exact variety.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Seeds and bite Look for specific seeds, such as sunflower seeds, linseed or sesame seeds, in the ingredients list. A tiger crust doesn’t prove that the bread contains seeds. If I’m sharing sandwiches, I prefer noticeable seeds in the bread to an unusual crust. Seeds and bite matter most to around 36% of consumers.
Wholemeal and fibre Check the bread description and compare the fibre per 100 g; don’t judge the flour type by the colour of the crust. I’d like to keep the tiger crust, but I choose my bread mainly based on its wholemeal profile and stated fibre content. These features come first for around 29% of consumers.
Tiger crust Check whether the exact variety has a tiger pattern. If you also want seeds in the bread, check for them separately. For my St Nicholas’ Eve table, the distinctive crust matters more than having several types of seeds. The crust is the deciding factor for around 21% of consumers.
Label information Read the allergen information and any warnings about traces. Also compare the salt per 100 g and check whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed. If I’m buying bread for someone with a relevant allergy, the exact variety needs to be suitable; salt or iodine may also affect my choice. Checking the label is the first requirement for around 14% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a tiger crust means the bread contains seeds

    The pattern tells you about the crust, not the types of seeds in the bread. The wholemeal tiger breads and multiseed loaf reviewed here show that these are separate features.

    If you want seeds in your bread, look for the types you want in the ingredients list rather than relying on the name or colour of the crust.

  • Treating white, brown and wholemeal bread as the same choice

    Jumbo lists 2.3 g of fibre per 100 g for its white tiger bread reviewed here, compared with 7.3 g per 100 g for Jumbo Boeren Tijgerbrood Volkoren Half. So, the same type of crust doesn’t mean the same nutritional value.

    If fibre matters to you, compare the bread descriptions and fibre per 100 g of the varieties you’re considering.

  • Assuming every loaf contains baker’s salt

    According to the Voedingscentrum, bread doesn’t have to be made with baker’s salt. So the name of the bread won’t tell you whether iodised salt was used in the exact variety.

    For packaged bread, check the ingredients for baker’s salt or iodised salt. If it matters to your choice and the bread is unwrapped, ask the baker which type of salt they use.

  • Buying a seeded loaf without checking the allergens

    One PLUS multiseed variety reviewed here lists sesame, wheat, barley, spelt and soya, as well as warnings about possible traces of other allergens. Don’t assume the same list applies to other breads.

    For each guest, read the ingredients, allergen information and any warnings on the packaging of the exact variety.

Brands and bread types compared

The breads listed here offer different options: a tiger crust, wholemeal flour and several types of seeds don’t automatically come together in one product.

Albert Heijn

Worth considering if you want to compare a wholemeal tiger loaf with a tiger loaf containing sunflower seeds.

  • Albert Heijn lists 6.7 g of fibre per 100 g for AH Tijger volkoren heel. AH Tijger tarwe-maïs heel lists sunflower seeds and iodised salt.
  • The wheat-and-maize variety isn’t the same as a loaf listing several types of seeds. Albert Heijn recommends checking the current packaging, as product information can change.

Jumbo

Worth considering if you want to compare white and wholemeal versions of the tiger breads reviewed here.

  • Jumbo lists 7.3 g of fibre per 100 g for Boeren Tijgerbrood Volkoren Half, compared with 2.3 g per 100 g for the white variety reviewed here.
  • The ingredients lists reviewed here don’t present seeds as a key feature of either of these tiger breads.

PLUS

Worth considering if you want to compare a loaf with several specified seeds against a wholemeal tiger loaf.

  • PLUS lists sunflower seeds, linseed and sesame seeds for Korenlanders Licht Meerzaden. For Korenlanders Boeren tijger volkoren, PLUS lists 6.4 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • The multiseed loaf mentioned isn’t tiger bread; seeds aren’t listed as an ingredient in the wholemeal tiger variety mentioned. Check the current packaging.

Dirk

Worth considering if you want to compare tiger bread with a separate farmhouse multiseed loaf.

  • Dirk shows white and brown farmhouse tiger breads, and describes Bakker van der Akker Boeren meerzaden heel as a brown wheat loaf with seeds.
  • Check the packaging of the multiseed loaf you choose for the exact types of seeds and allergen information.

ALDI

Worth considering if you want to choose between white, brown and wholemeal farmhouse tiger bread.

  • ALDI shows these three varieties; the wholemeal version is described as pre-sliced.
  • Before choosing, check the ingredients, fibre and allergens for the exact variety.

Lidl

Worth considering if you want to check the ingredients and allergens in freshly baked bread.

  • Lidl publishes an ingredients and allergen overview for its freshly baked bread.
  • Use the information for the specific bread you choose; don’t assume it contains seeds or has a tiger crust based on the category alone.

A Joybuy product for the multigrain option

This round multigrain country loaf is worth considering if seeds matter more than a tiger crust for your St Nicholas’ Eve table. Check the ingredients and preparation instructions on the exact packaging before serving.

Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Country Bread Round 550 g

Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Country Bread Round 550 g

A round multigrain country loaf to consider when seeded bread suits the meal you’re sharing. The product name states 550 g; check the packaging to see which seeds and allergens apply to this variety. If you want to bake the loaf, follow the preparation instructions on the packaging.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is tiger bread with seeds automatically wholemeal?

No. The tiger pattern doesn’t tell you which flour has been used or which seeds the bread contains. For wholemeal, check the bread description; to compare fibre, look at the nutritional values per 100 g. Check the ingredients list separately for seeds.

How can I plan for bread with a crisp crust on St Nicholas’ Eve?

Follow the storage and, where applicable, baking instructions for the bread you buy, and plan the preparation around when you’ll serve it. If a part-baked loaf needs to be defrosted first, allow time for that too; use the timings and temperature on the exact packaging.

Does every loaf contain iodine through baker’s salt?

No, you can’t assume this for every loaf: according to the Voedingscentrum, using baker’s salt when baking bread isn’t compulsory. Check the ingredients for baker’s salt or iodised salt, or ask about it if the bread is unwrapped.

Which allergens should I check in tiger bread or multiseed bread?

Always read the ingredients and allergen warnings for the exact variety. One PLUS multiseed variety reviewed here lists sesame, wheat, barley, spelt and soya, as well as warnings about possible traces; another tiger or multiseed loaf may have a different recipe.