Who are these ice lollies for?

Dark chocolate fans

You want to know whether the dark chocolate is in the shell, the ice cream or both, rather than relying on the word ‘dark’ alone.

People buying multi-packs

You’re planning several portions and comparing the number of lollies, net weight and size of each one before choosing a box.

People checking for allergens

You need to read the ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the pack you buy. A dark chocolate coating doesn’t mean the ice cream is free from milk or soya.

What should you look for first?

When choosing a ‘dark’ ice lolly at a local shop, start with the recipe that appeals to you, then check the information on the pack and the number of portions.

What to consider What to check Who is it for?
How much dark chocolate? Check whether dark chocolate is in the ice cream or only in the coating, then look at the percentages listed. I’m looking for a strong dark chocolate flavour, not just a dark shell. Around 40% of consumers put this feature at the top of their list.
Allergens and nutritional information Read the allergen and ‘may contain’ information, then compare the nutritional values per 100 g and the portion size. Before choosing a recipe, I need to know whether its ingredients are suitable for me and understand what one lolly contains. This is the first thing around 30% of consumers check.
Pack size and shopping locally Check the net weight, number of lollies and the box available at your local shop. I want a box with the right number of portions that I can take home without breaking the cold chain. Pack size is the main consideration for around 30% of consumers.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Assuming ‘dark’ describes the whole lolly

    Dark chocolate may make up only part of the recipe. For example, E.Leclerc lists 1.5% dark chocolate in its Trium 3 chocolats, while Joybuy’s POPELINO product page distinguishes between the chocolate ice cream and the dark coating.

    Read the product name and listed percentages to see exactly how much of the recipe is dark chocolate.

  • Assuming dark chocolate means no allergens

    The Magnum Intense Dark and POPELINO recipes mentioned on their product pages contain milk and soya. Other ice lollies may also list allergens or possible traces.

    If you have an allergy or need to avoid an ingredient, check the ingredients and trace warnings on the pack you buy, even if you already know the brand.

  • Looking only at the number of lollies

    Two boxes can contain the same number of lollies but offer different-sized portions. So the number of lollies alone doesn’t tell you the size of the pack you’re taking home.

    Also compare the net weight and, where listed, the weight or volume of each lolly.

  • Letting the ice lollies melt on the way home

    Auchan’s product page for Magnum Intense Dark says to store it at −18 °C; Carrefour’s POPELINO product page says never to refreeze a defrosted product.

    Pick up frozen food last, use an insulated bag for the journey and follow the storage instructions on the box.

Brands to know

These products show a range of recipes to compare on the label. A brand’s inclusion here doesn’t mean it will be available at your local shop.

Magnum

Intense Dark combines chocolate ice cream with a dark chocolate coating.

  • Carrefour France’s product page lists a dark coating with 70% cocoa.
  • The recipe contains milk and soya; Auchan France’s product page also warns that it may contain almonds.

POPELINO

A recipe combining chocolate ice cream with a dark chocolate coating.

  • Joybuy France’s product page states that the coating makes up 25.6% of the lolly and consists of 75% dark chocolate.
  • The recipe contains milk and soya; check the label on the pack you buy for other allergens.

Carrefour Sensation

Double Chocolat and Lait et Noir ice lollies let you compare how dark chocolate features in two different recipes.

  • Carrefour France lists 55.3% total chocolate in Double Chocolat, which has a dark coating.
  • The Lait et Noir recipe also contains peanuts, so check the allergens for the product you choose.

Trium

E.Leclerc’s Marque Repère range includes a dark chocolate ice lolly and a 3 chocolats recipe.

  • These two products make it easy to distinguish a lolly described as dark chocolate from a chocolate assortment.
  • According to E.Leclerc, Trium 3 chocolats contains 1.5% dark chocolate, so don’t confuse it with the dark chocolate product.

Mucci

ALDI France lists, among other products, a box of four Mucci ice lollies with a double coating.

  • The pack clearly shows how many lollies it contains.
  • ‘Double coating’ doesn’t tell you by itself whether the recipe contains dark chocolate. Check the product name and ingredients.

Bon Gelati

The brand features in Lidl France’s ice cream range.

  • A 513 g product appears in the range reviewed.
  • To choose a ‘dark’ ice lolly, check the box for the exact recipe and whether it contains dark chocolate.

A dark chocolate ice lolly on Joybuy

This option is for shoppers who want to compare chocolate ice cream with a dark coating, in a box of four. If you’re shopping at a local store, check the product available there separately.

Box of four POPELINO Intense Dark Chocolate ice lollies

POPELINO Intense Dark Chocolate ice lollies x4, 312 g

Worth considering if you’re looking for chocolate ice cream with a dark chocolate coating.

Joybuy France’s product page lists four 78 g lollies, with chocolate ice cream making up 73.4% of the product and a dark coating accounting for 25.6%, made with 75% dark chocolate.

Contains milk and soya; other allergens are also handled at the factory. Check the label on the pack you buy. Store at −18 °C as indicated; do not refreeze after defrosting.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

How can I spot an ice lolly with a strong dark chocolate flavour?

Check whether the dark chocolate is only in the coating or also in the ice cream, then look at the listed percentages. Carrefour France describes Magnum Intense Dark as having a shell with 70% cocoa; Joybuy France’s POPELINO product page lists the chocolate ice cream and dark coating separately. These details tell you about the recipe, but your own taste preferences matter too.

Is an ice lolly coated in dark chocolate free from milk and soya?

Not necessarily: the product pages for Magnum Intense Dark and POPELINO list milk and soya. If you need to avoid an allergen, read the ingredients and trace warnings on the box you’re buying.

How can I compare the nutritional information on two boxes?

First compare the nutritional values on the same basis, per 100 g or per 100 ml, then check the size of each lolly. France’s Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control explains that this format makes comparisons easier. The values to check include energy, fat, saturated fatty acids, sugars and salt.

Does a ‘double chocolate’ recipe always contain lots of dark chocolate?

No: ‘double chocolate’ and ‘dark chocolate’ don’t mean the same thing. Check which types of chocolate are used in the ingredients and, where listed, their proportions. For example, E.Leclerc says Trium 3 chocolats contains 1.5% dark chocolate.

How should I transport ice lollies after shopping locally?

Pick them up at the end of your shop and keep them out of the freezer for as little time as possible, using an insulated bag if you can. Follow the storage temperature on the box: Auchan France’s Magnum Intense Dark product page says −18 °C, while Carrefour France’s POPELINO product page says not to refreeze a defrosted product.