Choose tiger bread if you’re looking for a loaf with a distinctive crisp crust to eat today; choose sourdough if the sourdough style is your priority. A sourdough bake-at-home loaf is a good option if you want to finish baking it at home. None of these names tells you on its own whether a loaf is wholemeal, so check the product description. Before buying, also check the ingredients and allergen information.
You’re looking for a loaf with a tiger crust to eat today, and want to check whether a whole, half or sliced loaf will suit your meal. Albert Heijn, ALDI, PLUS and Dirk offer different tiger breads, so check the product details to see which version you’ll get.
You’re choosing mainly by bread type and crust, and can pick up the loaf in store if needed. Jumbo says that the rustic sourdough loaves in the range described are available in store only.
You’re looking at the wholemeal description, ingredients or allergens rather than judging by the crust alone. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, the type of flour affects the fibre content of wholemeal and white bread. Before buying unpackaged bread, ask for allergen information.
First decide whether you want to eat the bread straight away or finish baking it at home. Then compare the type of bread, the size and any information you need to make your choice.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Ready to eat and loaf size | Check whether the loaf is whole, half or sliced, and whether it needs to be baked further. | If you want bread to serve with a meal today, look for a crust you can eat straight away and a loaf size that suits your needs. For around 33% of consumers, convenience and being able to use it straight away would be the main reason for choosing it. |
| Sourdough style | Check that the bread is actually sold as sourdough and whether you need to pick it up in store. | If you prefer sourdough, you’ll want to know whether the loaf you want will be available in time through your chosen shopping channel. Sourdough style would be the main priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for the wholemeal description and compare the nutritional information if needed; a tiger crust or sourdough name isn’t enough. | If fibre is your main concern, choose by the type of flour, not the look of the crust. Wholemeal would be the first priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the label on packaged bread. For unpackaged bread, ask about allergens and, if it matters to your choice, the salt used. | If you have an allergy, you’ll want to know which allergens the bread contains before buying it. The salt used may also be relevant if you’re keeping an eye on iodine. Checking ingredients would be the most important consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
Sourdough describes how bread is made, not the type of flour used. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholegrain products contain more fibre than white grain products, so the word ‘sourdough’ alone won’t tell you which type you’re choosing.
Look for an explicit wholemeal description if that’s one of your buying criteria.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread made with iodised baker’s salt is an important source of iodine in the Netherlands. That doesn’t mean every loaf is made with this type of salt.
If the salt used matters to your choice, check the ingredients list or ask about it when buying unpackaged bread.
If you have an allergy, you need to be able to check whether a loaf is suitable before you buy it. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority also provides guidance on allergen information for unpackaged foods.
Check the label on packaged bread. Before buying unpackaged bread, ask what allergen information is available.
Jumbo says that the rustic sourdough loaves described are only available in Jumbo stores. For this range, ordering groceries online isn’t an alternative to visiting a store.
Check whether each loaf can be ordered online, needs to be picked up in store or needs to be baked further at home.
Albert Heijn’s bread range includes products such as AH Tijger volkoren heel.
Jumbo describes a range of rustic sourdough loaves in several varieties, including a wholemeal option.
Lidl publishes ingredients and allergen information for its oven-fresh bread range.
ALDI lists Boeren tijger volkoren heel as a specific tiger bread option.
PLUS lists separate products including tiger bread, sourdough and bake-at-home bread made with sourdough.
Dirk lists Bakker van der Akker Boeren tijger wit heel as a tiger bread option.
No. Sourdough and wholemeal describe different things about bread. Look for the wholemeal description if the type of flour is your priority. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholegrain products contain more fibre than white grain products.
Don’t assume it does: check the ingredients or ask about it when buying unpackaged bread. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre identifies bread made with iodised baker’s salt as an important source of iodine in the Netherlands, but also notes that organic bread usually doesn’t contain baker’s salt.
Ask for allergen information about the specific loaf before buying it. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information must also be available to customers for unpackaged foods.
No, not the rustic sourdough range that Jumbo says is available exclusively in Jumbo stores. If you want to top up your shopping online, check how the specific loaf you want to order is sold.
