Who is this choice for?

Lunch-goers who put fibre first

You want bread with a tiger crust or sourdough flavour, but first you check whether it’s wholemeal. Then you compare the stated fibre per 100 g.

Fans of rustic sourdough

You’re mainly looking for a sourdough flavour and a rustic crust. Bread without a tiger crust could suit you too; bear in mind that Jumbo only sells its rustic sourdough loaves in store.

Supermarket shoppers who want to check the label

You want to know which ingredients and allergens a loaf contains before you buy it, and whether baker’s salt or iodised salt has been used.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start by asking yourself whether wholemeal is your priority. Then compare the flavour and crust, how you can buy the bread, and the information on the label.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Wholemeal and fibre Look for the word ‘wholemeal’ and compare the fibre per 100 g. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread is made from 100% wholemeal flour. If fibre is what matters most for my lunch, I don’t want to judge by the brown colour or tiger crust. Around 36% of consumers would put wholemeal and fibre first when choosing.
Sourdough and crust Check whether the bread is sold as sourdough or lists a sourdough ingredient; then decide separately whether you want a tiger crust. For my lunch, I’m mainly looking for a sourdough flavour and a crust I enjoy, even if the bread doesn’t have a tiger pattern. Around 29% of consumers would put flavour and crust first.
Availability and size Check whether you can order the bread online or need to pick it up in store, and whether a whole or half loaf suits the way you’ll use it. I want to buy bread through the way I normally shop, without taking home more than I need. For around 21% of consumers, availability and size would matter most.
Ingredients and allergens Read the ingredients and allergen information, and check whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed. If I need to avoid an ingredient or allergen, I want to be able to check before I buy. Around 14% of consumers would make this their main priority.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a tiger crust or sourdough means the bread is wholemeal

    These characteristics don’t tell you how much fibre a loaf contains. Albert Heijn lists 1.6 g of fibre per 100 g for AH Tijger wit half with wheat sourdough powder; Jumbo lists 5.3 g per 100 g for Boeren Tijgerbrood Bruin. The product names alone don’t explain the difference.

    If you’re looking for wholemeal bread, first check for the word ‘wholemeal’, then compare the nutritional information per 100 g.

  • Assuming every loaf contains baker’s salt

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt when baking bread isn’t compulsory. So the type of bread won’t tell you whether it’s been used.

    Check the label for ‘baker’s salt’ or ‘iodised salt’, or ask about it if you’re buying unpackaged bread.

  • Trying to work out allergens from the bread’s name

    A name such as ‘tiger’ or ‘sourdough’ doesn’t give you the full picture of that variety’s ingredients and allergens.

    Check the label on packaged bread. For unpackaged bread, ask about allergen information before you buy; according to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, this information must be provided to customers.

  • Confusing seeing a product online with being able to order it online

    Jumbo describes its rustic sourdough loaves online, but says they’re freshly baked in store and can’t be ordered online.

    Check how the specific loaf can be bought before relying on an online order.

Brands to compare

These brands give you a starting point for comparing tiger bread and sourdough. Always check the information for the variety you’ve chosen.

Albert Heijn

Worth considering if you want to compare white and brown tiger bread.

  • Albert Heijn lists 5.2 g of fibre per 100 g and iodised salt for AH Extra lang lekker tijger bruin heel.
  • AH Tijger wit half lists wheat sourdough powder and 1.6 g of fibre per 100 g. Check the packaging of the variety you buy.

Jumbo

Provides information on both brown tiger bread and a separate range of rustic sourdough loaves.

  • Jumbo lists 5.3 g of fibre per 100 g for Boeren Tijgerbrood Bruin.
  • According to Jumbo, its rustic sourdough loaves are left to rise for more than 24 hours and baked in store; they can’t be ordered online.

Lidl

A useful option if you’re looking for wholemeal sourdough without needing a tiger crust.

  • Lidl describes Rustiek volkoren desembrood as wholemeal wheat sourdough bread.
  • Before choosing, also check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information for the specific loaf.

ALDI

Offers separate Boeren tijger volkoren and Boeren tijger bruin varieties.

  • The separate product names make it clear which variety is sold as wholemeal.
  • Don’t treat ‘brown’ as a synonym for ‘wholemeal’; check the details of the loaf you choose.

PLUS

Provides product information to help you assess a white tiger bread variety.

  • For Boeren wit tijger heel, PLUS lists wheat flour, baker’s salt, 2.3 g of fibre and 1.07 g of salt per 100 g.
  • If you’re specifically looking for wholemeal bread, choose a variety explicitly labelled as wholemeal.

Dirk

Its bread range includes both sourdough and brown tiger bread, as well as Bakker van der Akker Boeren tijger wit heel.

  • You can search for different types of bread more easily.
  • If you’re choosing based on ingredients or fibre, use the information for the individual variety, not just the range name.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is tiger bread with sourdough automatically wholemeal?

No. A tiger crust and a sourdough ingredient don’t mean that bread is wholemeal. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread is made from 100% wholemeal flour; look for the word ‘wholemeal’ and, if you like, compare the fibre per 100 g.

How can I tell whether a loaf contains sourdough?

Read the product description and ingredients for the variety you’ve chosen. Lidl calls its Rustiek volkoren desembrood a wholemeal wheat sourdough bread, while Albert Heijn lists wheat sourdough powder as an ingredient in AH Tijger wit half. This product information doesn’t, on its own, tell you the same thing about wholemeal flour or fibre.

Does tiger bread always contain iodised baker’s salt?

No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt when baking isn’t compulsory. Check the ingredients for ‘baker’s salt’ or ‘iodised salt’, and ask about it if you’re buying unpackaged bread.

How do I check the allergens in unpackaged bread?

Ask for the allergen information for that loaf before you buy it. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that sellers must provide information about 14 allergens for unpackaged foods, and specify which grains are involved when cereals containing gluten are present.

Can I freeze tiger bread for lunches later on?

Follow the storage instructions for the specific loaf. Albert Heijn and PLUS say that their tiger bread varieties mentioned here can be frozen on the day of purchase; PLUS also says to use it within one month. Don’t assume the same advice applies to another variety.