You’re looking for a soft bar
You want a bar-shaped sweet to pop in your bag, rather than a hard sweet. Carambar & Co describes Carambar Caramel as a caramel bar; check whether the pack you buy contains individually wrapped bars.
Who are these formats for?
You’d prefer a small sweet
You’d like to enjoy one sweet at a time, rather than looking for a bar to chew. Storck France states that a classic Werther’s Original sweet weighs 5.2 g.
You check what’s in it
You choose your caramel by checking its ingredients, allergens and nutritional values. Compare the labels of the specific products you’re considering: the same flavour doesn’t mean the recipe is the same.
What should you check before choosing?
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Individual portions | Check the shape of the sweet and whether each piece is wrapped separately. Auchan states that its 320 g Carambar pack does not contain individually wrapped sweets. | If I want to take just one treat out of my bag, the shape of the sweet and its packaging matter just as much as the taste. Around 40% of consumers prioritise a format that lets them take one piece at a time. |
| Ingredients | Read the allergens for the product you choose and compare its sugars and fat per 100 g if these values influence your choice. | If I need to avoid an ingredient or compare two recipes, I check the label before buying. Ingredients are the main consideration for around 30% of consumers. |
| Taking it with you | Check the storage instructions and see how you can reseal the pack after opening. | If I want to keep caramels in my bag during the journey, I look for packaging that protects them from heat and moisture. Ease of carrying comes before other criteria for around 30% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming the Nutri-Score is compulsory
In France, the DGCCRF describes the Nutri-Score as a voluntary label. Nutritional information, however, is compulsory for most pre-packed foods.
If a pack displays the Nutri-Score, you can use it as a guide. When comparing two caramels, also check their nutritional values per 100 g and their ingredients lists.
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Assuming every sweet is individually wrapped
Packaging varies from one product to another: Auchan states “Individual sachets: No” for its 320 g Carambar, while a Joybuy listing describes a different 130 g Carambar format as individually wrapped.
Check the details and packaging of the specific product before counting on having a wrapped sweet to take on the train.
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Relying on the caramel flavour alone when checking allergens
The recipes mentioned here differ: Carambar Caramel contains milk and may contain nuts, while the classic Werther’s Original recipe presented by Storck France contains cream, butter and soya lecithins, among other ingredients.
If you have an allergy or avoid certain ingredients, check the pack you buy, even if you already know the brand.
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Forgetting the storage instructions
Auchan’s Guérande sea salt soft caramels should be protected from heat and moisture, according to the product listing. It also states that the sweets aren’t individually wrapped.
Keep the pack closed during your journey and check how to store any remaining sweets after opening.
Brands to consider
Carambar
Carambar & Co describes Carambar Caramel as a soft caramel bar, making it worth considering if a bar shape is your main priority.
- Matches the bar format described by the manufacturer.
- Contains milk and may contain nuts; also check whether the pack you choose is individually wrapped.
Werther’s Original
The classic sweet presented by Storck France is a good option if you’re looking for a small, hard caramel, rather than a soft bar.
- Storck France states that each sweet weighs 5.2 g and provides nutritional information per sweet.
- The declared recipe contains cream, butter and soya lecithins.
Auchan
The retailer offers Guérande sea salt soft caramels and another product made with sweeteners. These are sweets, rather than bars.
- These products are worth considering if you’d like soft caramel sweets and don’t need a bar.
- The Guérande sea salt caramels listing states that the sweets aren’t individually wrapped and may contain traces of soya, hazelnuts and almonds.
Carambar caramels available on Joybuy
These two Carambar caramel pack sizes are options if you want to take a sweet with you for a solo treat on the train. Check the pack you receive to make sure the shape and wrapping of each piece are exactly what you’re looking for.
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Carambar Original Caramel Sweets, 130 g
This 130 g pack is worth considering if you’d like to take a caramel sweet with you for the journey. Check whether the pack you choose is individually wrapped, as well as the allergen information: the product listing mentions milk and possible traces of nuts.
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Carambar Caramel, 180 sweets
This pack of 180 sweets could be a good option if you’d like to take just one before setting off. Check the pack to see whether each sweet is individually wrapped; the product listing mentions milk and possible traces of hazelnuts.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Nutri-Score compulsory on pre-packed caramels in France?
No. The DGCCRF describes the Nutri-Score as voluntary; nutritional information is compulsory for most pre-packed foods. So the absence of the logo alone doesn’t tell you whether a caramel or its labelling is suitable.
What should you check before putting caramels in your bag for the train?
First, check whether the pack lets you take one sweet at a time in the way you want. Then check the ingredients, allergens, nutritional information and storage instructions for the product you choose.
Why check the allergens in a classic caramel?
Because recipes differ: Carambar Caramel contains milk and may contain nuts, while the classic Werther’s Original recipe presented by Storck France also contains soya lecithins. If you have an allergy or avoid certain ingredients, check the label of the product you buy.
How should you store caramels during your journey?
Follow the instructions for the product you choose. The listing for Auchan’s Guérande sea salt soft caramels says to keep them away from heat and moisture. Keep the pack closed after taking a sweet.
Is caramel labelled “sugar-free” necessarily a better choice?
No. This claim alone isn’t enough to determine which product is best for everyone. The Auchan product in question contains sweeteners and lists 90 g of polyols per 100 g. Check its ingredients and nutritional values before comparing it with another sweet.