Choose wholemeal tiger bread if the wholemeal label is a deciding factor for one of your housemates, and white tiger bread if the others mainly want familiar white bread. Brown tiger bread isn’t the same as wholemeal: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, brown bread is made with a mixture of wholemeal flour and white flour. If tastes differ, you could consider buying two smaller loaves. If your eating habits vary, a half loaf or freezing the bread in portions straight away are practical options.
If you specifically want wholemeal bread for your first student-house shop, check for the wholemeal label rather than judging by the colour of the tiger crust. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, the label means the bread is made with wholemeal flour.
If not everyone wants to eat the same bread, buying a white tiger loaf alongside a smaller wholemeal loaf may be more practical than trying to find one large loaf that everyone will agree on.
If you’re in a small household and meal times vary, it’s worth thinking about the loaf size and how you’ll store it. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends freezing bread in portions as soon as you buy it, then taking out only what you need.
First, discuss whether white or wholemeal bread is the main preference in your household. Then choose a size that suits how much bread you actually eat.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for the wholemeal label; don’t judge by the brown colour or tiger crust alone. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre distinguishes wholemeal bread from brown bread, which is made with a mixture of wholemeal flour and white flour. | If I specifically want wholemeal bread, I need to be able to identify it on the packaging. For around 31% of consumers, the wholemeal label is the top priority. |
| Housemates’ preferences | Discuss whether one type of bread will suit everyone, or whether it would be more useful to have a white loaf and a smaller wholemeal loaf. | If my housemates prefer white bread, I don’t want to automatically buy one large wholemeal loaf for everyone. Around 25% of consumers give shared food preferences the highest priority. |
| Convenience when shopping | Before you go shopping, check whether your chosen variety and loaf size are available at your shop. | When moving house, I want to be able to pick up my chosen bread along with the rest of my shopping. This practicality matters most to around 25% of consumers. |
| Size and storage | Consider buying half a loaf, or freeze a whole loaf in portions as soon as you buy it. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends taking only the amount you need from the freezer for each meal. | If we don’t eat bread every day, I want to avoid a whole loaf being left uneaten. Around 19% of consumers are most concerned about reducing food waste. |
A brown crumb or tiger crust doesn’t confirm that the bread is wholemeal. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, brown bread is made with a mixture of wholemeal flour and white flour.
If that particular composition matters to you, look for the wholemeal label.
If your eating habits vary, the bread could be left uneaten before everyone has had a chance to enjoy it.
Choose half a loaf if that better suits your household, or follow the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s advice and freeze a whole loaf in portions as soon as you buy it.
A tiger bread variety shown online may not be available in the same way at every shop. Product information can also change, as Albert Heijn notes on its product page.
Check the variety and size at your shop shortly before you go, and read the latest packaging information.
The name of the bread doesn’t tell you what type of salt was used in a particular loaf.
If you want to know, check the current ingredient information or ask the retailer or manufacturer.
These examples can help you find a suitable type and size of loaf. Check the latest product information before buying.
Albert Heijn lists AH Tijger volkoren heel and Tijgerbrood tarwe online.
Lidl lists products including Tijger volkoren, Tijgervolkoren heel vloerbrood and Tijgerbruin.
ALDI lists Boeren tijger volkoren, Boeren tijger bruin and Boeren tijger wit.
PLUS lists Korenlanders Boeren tijger volkoren as a half loaf and Korenlanders Boeren tijger wit as a whole loaf.
Dirk lists Bakker van der Akker Boeren tijger wit heel and 1 de Beste Tijgerbollen.
Jumbo is another shop to include in your student-house shopping plans.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, brown bread is made with wholemeal flour and white flour, while the wholemeal label means the bread is made with wholemeal flour. So if wholemeal ingredients matter to you, look for that label.
Freeze the loaf in portions as soon as you buy it, then take out only the slices you need for each meal. This is the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s advice for bread you won’t eat straight away.
Don’t assume it does: the name tiger bread tells you nothing about the salt used. Check the ingredients for the specific loaf, or ask the retailer or manufacturer.
A half loaf is worth considering if only a few housemates will eat it or your bread consumption varies. For example, PLUS lists a half loaf of Korenlanders Boeren tijger volkoren. If you want to buy a whole loaf, you can freeze it in portions straight away, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
