Cocoa lovers who enjoy a bold flavour
You want a figure to go by, rather than just the words ‘dark chocolate’. Auchan’s listing for Magnum Intense Dark states that the coating contains 70% cocoa.
Who are these ice lollies for?
Those who prefer a recipe with a mix of flavours
You’re after an individual ice lolly that combines dark chocolate with vanilla, caramel, mint, almonds or cocoa nibs. These recipes don’t necessarily give the same information about cocoa content.
Those who pay close attention to allergens
Choose based on the exact pack: milk, soya and nuts may appear as ingredients or in precautionary ‘may contain’ statements, depending on the product.
What should you look for before buying?
For an individual treat, first distinguish the cocoa content of the chocolate from the amount of chocolate in the ice lolly. Then check the portion size and the recipe ingredients.
| What to check | Look for | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Cocoa content | Look for a cocoa percentage explicitly stated for the dark chocolate. The proportion of chocolate in the ice lolly doesn’t tell you this. | I want to know the cocoa content of the coating rather than rely on the words ‘dark chocolate’ alone; around 36% of consumers prioritise this information. |
| Individual portion | Compare the number of ice lollies and the weight or volume per item, when stated. | For my afternoon treat, I want to be able to have one ice lolly without mistaking its portion size for the weight of the whole box. Around 29% of consumers put individual portions first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ statements on the exact pack, particularly for milk, soya and nuts. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, the chocolate flavour isn’t enough to guide my choice; around 21% of consumers prioritise ingredients and allergens. |
| Recipe and pack contents | Check which flavours are combined with the dark chocolate, the net weight and the number of items. Make sure you know whether you’re looking at a tub or a box of ice lollies. | I prefer to choose between a caramel and nut recipe, a fruity one or a simpler chocolate flavour, while checking what’s in the box; around 14% of consumers prioritise the recipe and pack contents. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming ‘dark chocolate’ tells you the cocoa content
A percentage may refer to the amount of dark chocolate in the ice lolly, not the cocoa content of that chocolate. For example, Auchan states that Côte d’Or ice lollies contain 36% dark chocolate, while the 70% figure for Magnum Intense Dark refers to the cocoa in its coating.
If cocoa content matters to you, check what each percentage refers to on the packaging.
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Assuming a flavour means a product is nut-free
NUII ice lollies contain Brazil nuts, while Côte d’Or’s contain almonds. Other recipes may carry precautionary ‘may contain’ statements.
If you have an allergy or need to avoid certain ingredients, check the ingredients and warnings on the pack you’re buying before choosing.
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Confusing the box size with an individual portion
Boxes of ice lollies contain several items. The 500 g Mucci dark chocolate tub listed by ALDI France is not an individual ice lolly.
If you’re planning an individual treat, check the number of items and the amount per ice lolly.
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Overlooking how to transport frozen food
A long journey without suitable protection makes it harder to keep frozen food at the right temperature. ANSES advises buying frozen food at the end of your shop and using an insulated bag.
Plan your journey home to the freezer and follow the storage instructions on the pack, including any guidance on thawing.
Brands and recipes to know
Magnum
Intense Dark combines milk chocolate ice cream with a dark chocolate coating.
- Auchan states that the coating contains 70% cocoa: a useful figure if this is an important factor in your choice.
- This figure doesn’t describe the whole ice cream. The recipe contains milk and soya, and may contain traces of almonds.
NUII
A recipe combining chocolate ice cream, caramel, dark chocolate and Brazil nuts.
- Caramel and pieces of Brazil nut set this recipe apart from an ice lolly focused solely on chocolate.
- Brazil nuts are an ingredient. The recipe also contains milk, soya and ingredients derived from barley and wheat.
Côte d’Or
A vanilla ice lolly coated in dark chocolate and topped with roasted almonds.
- Auchan’s listing states that the ice lolly contains 36% dark chocolate and 6% almonds.
- The 36% figure isn’t the cocoa content of the chocolate. The recipe contains milk, almonds and soya.
Ferrero
Rondnoir combines cocoa ice cream, dark chocolate and a cocoa decoration.
- Auchan states that dark chocolate makes up 32.6% of the ingredients.
- The recipe contains milk and soya. The label also warns that it may contain traces of other allergens, including several types of nut.
Carrefour Extra
A mint and dark chocolate ice lolly with chopped cocoa beans.
- Carrefour states that the recipe contains 29% dark chocolate and 4.1% chopped cocoa beans.
- The 29% figure isn’t the cocoa content of the dark chocolate. The product contains milk and carries precautionary ‘may contain’ statements for other allergens.
Ice lollies available on Joybuy
These two individual formats both pair an ice lolly with dark chocolate, but suit different tastes: a fruity sorbet from PopFruit or a chocolate recipe from POPELINO. If you’re looking for a specific cocoa content, check the pack.
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PopFruit Mini Sorbet Sticks mango, passion fruit and dark chocolate, 6 pieces, 282 g
For a fruity treat, this pack combines mango and passion fruit sorbet with dark chocolate.
If cocoa content or allergen restrictions affect your choice, check the information on the exact pack.
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POPELINO Intense Dark Chocolate Ice Lollies, 4 pieces, 312 g
If you fancy chocolate rather than fruit, this pack offers dark chocolate ice lollies.
The word ‘Intense’ doesn’t tell you the cocoa content. Check the pack if this is your main consideration, and compare the nutritional information per portion if you’re weighing up different formats.
Frequently asked questions
Does ‘dark chocolate’ mean the cocoa flavour is very intense?
No. This description alone doesn’t tell you the cocoa content. Auchan states that the Magnum Intense Dark coating contains 70% cocoa, but that the Côte d’Or ice lolly contains 36% dark chocolate: these percentages measure different things.
Which allergens should you check in a dark chocolate ice lolly?
Read the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ statements on the exact pack. Depending on the recipe, an ice lolly may contain milk, soya, almonds or Brazil nuts, among other ingredients. The flavour name alone won’t tell you.
How should you transport ice lollies for an afternoon treat?
Keep them cold until you can put them back in the freezer. ANSES advises buying frozen food at the end of your shop and using an insulated bag. Then follow the storage and thawing instructions on the packaging.
Is dark chocolate enough to judge the nutritional content of an afternoon treat?
No. To compare two ice lollies, check the nutritional information per 100 g and, where provided, per portion, paying particular attention to sugars and fat. A cocoa percentage stated for the coating doesn’t tell you about the nutritional content of the whole ice cream.