Fans of rich cocoa flavours
You want to tell the difference between a stated cocoa content for the coating and a simple ‘dark chocolate’ description. These details don’t always describe the same product characteristic.
Who is this guide for?
Hosts serving dessert to a group
You’re expecting several guests and want to choose the right number of lollies and portion size. A mini selection can make serving easier, provided the flavours suit everyone.
People who check ingredients
You need to take account of ingredients or allergens that some guests must avoid. In that case, the ingredients list and trace-allergen information on the box you choose matter more than the flavour name.
What should you look for?
For Friday drinks, start with the chocolate flavour you’re after and the number of portions you need, then check the ingredients of the product you can buy.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Cocoa profile | Check whether the figure refers to the cocoa content of the chocolate or the proportion of dark chocolate in the product. Also look at the flavour of the ice cream beneath the coating. | If I’m mainly looking for a rich cocoa flavour, I want to know what the figure on the box measures before choosing. Around 31% of consumers would prioritise this chocolate profile. |
| Portions | Compare the number of lollies, their size and the flavours included in a selection. | When I’m serving several people, I’d rather plan a suitable portion for everyone than choose a pack just for its flavour. Sharing would come first for around 25% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients and ‘may contain’ information on the exact box, especially if a guest needs to avoid certain allergens. | If a guest needs to avoid an ingredient, I need to be able to choose a suitable product before serving it. For around 25% of consumers, this would be their top consideration. |
| Availability | Check that the product and pack size are available at your chosen shop or for your delivery area. | If I’ve already planned my shopping, I want to be able to get the flavour and pack size I had in mind for Friday drinks. This would come first for around 19% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming ‘dark chocolate’ tells you how intense the flavour is
Auchan states that the coating on Magnum Intense Dark contains 70% cocoa. Auchan’s listing for Ferrero Rondnoir and Carrefour’s for Mint-Chocolate, on the other hand, state that dark chocolate makes up 32.6% and 29% of the ingredients respectively. These figures don’t measure the same thing.
If you want a precise cocoa content, look for a figure that explicitly refers to the chocolate in question, and don’t compare these different percentages directly.
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Assuming a mini selection is all dark chocolate
Carrefour Extra’s mini selection includes dark, milk and white chocolate coatings. So its eight small portions aren’t suitable if you’re looking exclusively for dark chocolate.
Check every variety in the box, or choose a single-flavour pack if everyone wants dark chocolate.
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Forgetting about allergens when hosting a group
The product listings mentioned here include milk, soya or almonds, depending on the product, as well as various possible traces. The description ‘dark chocolate’ alone won’t tell you whether a product is suitable for every guest.
Ask about dietary restrictions before you shop, then check the ingredients list and trace-allergen information on the pack you buy.
Brands and ranges to know
Magnum
The Intense Dark product is an option if you want an ice lolly with a stated cocoa content for its coating.
- According to Auchan, its dark chocolate coating contains 70% cocoa; the box contains three 100 ml lollies.
- The listing for this product mentions milk and soya, as well as possible traces of almonds. These details don’t apply to the entire Magnum range.
Ferrero Rondnoir
This product combines cocoa ice cream, a dark chocolate coating and cocoa pieces, in a box of four.
- Auchan’s listing states that dark chocolate makes up 32.6% of the ingredients; this figure is not the cocoa content of the chocolate.
- Auchan lists milk and soya, as well as possible traces of wheat, egg and nuts.
Carrefour Extra
Two products offer different options: a mint and dark chocolate lolly, and a selection of smaller portions.
- Carrefour states that dark chocolate makes up 29% of the ingredients in its Mint-Chocolate product; its mini selection contains eight 32 g lollies.
- The mini selection includes different types of chocolate and contains almonds. Check the other allergens and trace information for the product you choose.
Mucci (ALDI)
ALDI offers Mucci dark chocolate ice cream in a tub, among other products. This is a different category from individually served ice lollies.
- This range may be worth considering if a tub of sharing ice cream would also work for your Friday drinks.
- If you want to stick to dark chocolate ice lollies, check the flavour and pack size of the product available in your shop.
Ice lollies available on Joybuy
These two boxes contain individual ice lollies coated in dark chocolate: one pairs fruit sorbet with chocolate, while the other has a chocolate flavour profile. Choose according to the flavours you want, the number of guests and the ingredients listed on the pack.
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PopFruit Mini Sorbet Sticks, mango, passion fruit and dark chocolate, x6, 282 g
Serve small, fruity portions with a dark chocolate coating. The box contains six mini lollies, weighing 282 g in total. They’re mango and passion fruit sorbet, not chocolate ice cream.
If a guest needs to avoid soya or other allergens, check the ingredients and trace information on the pack.
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POPELINO Intense Dark Chocolate Ice Lollies, x4, 312 g
Serve four individual portions with a chocolate flavour profile. The pack contains four lollies, weighing 312 g in total.
If the cocoa content of the dark chocolate is important to you, check the pack for this information. Also check the ingredients and allergen information, particularly for milk and soya.
Frequently asked questions
How can you tell if an ice lolly has a genuinely dark chocolate flavour?
Read both the description of the coating and the flavour of the ice cream underneath. Auchan states that the coating on Magnum Intense Dark contains 70% cocoa. By contrast, the 32.6% stated for Ferrero Rondnoir by Auchan and the 29% stated for Carrefour Extra Mint-Chocolate by Carrefour refer to the proportion of dark chocolate in the ingredients. These figures aren’t directly comparable.
What should you check on the label before serving guests?
Start with the ingredients and allergens in the box you’ve chosen. In France, the Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control states that allergens must be highlighted in the ingredients list. It also says that nutritional information is given per 100 g or 100 ml, so use the same basis when comparing products.
Are mini ice lollies suitable for a get-together where everyone wants dark chocolate?
Not necessarily: Carrefour Extra’s mini selection contains eight 32 g lollies, but includes dark, milk and white chocolate coatings. It also contains almonds. If everyone wants dark chocolate, check the flavours in the box or choose a single-flavour pack.
How should you store the ice lollies after shopping?
Follow the storage instructions on the pack you’ve bought. Auchan’s listings for Magnum Intense Dark and Ferrero Rondnoir state that they should be stored at −18 °C; Carrefour advises against refreezing a product once it has thawed.