Fans of a rich cocoa flavour
You want to know the stated cocoa content and whether it applies to the coating or another part of the ice lolly.
Who are these ice lollies for?
Fans of chocolate coatings and crunch
You’re looking for a dark chocolate coating, perhaps with crunchy pieces or nuts, without making a stated cocoa percentage your top priority.
Label-conscious shoppers
You compare ingredients and nutritional values, or need to look out for allergens such as milk, soya or nuts.
What should you look for first?
When choosing an ice lolly to enjoy with coffee, distinguish between the cocoa in the coating and the cocoa in the ice cream, then check the toppings and the product label.
| What to check | Look for | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Cocoa content | Look for the cocoa percentage and check which part of the recipe it applies to: the coating, chocolate mixed in or ice cream. | If I’m mainly looking for a strong cocoa flavour to go with my coffee, I want a figure I can interpret. This would be the main deciding factor for around 50% of shoppers. |
| Coating and toppings | Distinguish between the dark chocolate coating and any crunchy pieces, nuts, sauces or other chocolate in the recipe. | For a more varied texture at snack time, I’d choose crunchy pieces or a more elaborate recipe over a simple cocoa percentage. Crunch and toppings would come first for around 30% of shoppers. |
| Ingredients | Check the allergens on the packaging and compare sugars and fat on the same basis, per 100 g or per 100 ml. | When choosing an ice lolly, ingredients I need to avoid or a comparison of nutritional values matter more to me than the type of coating. Around 20% of shoppers would put ingredients first. |
Things to watch out for
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Assuming “dark chocolate” describes the cocoa content of the whole ice lolly
For Magnum Intense Dark, Auchan’s stated 70% cocoa content applies to the dark chocolate coating; the ice cream inside is described as milk chocolate flavoured.
Whenever you see a percentage, check which ingredient or part of the ice lolly it refers to.
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Choosing based on the word “dark” alone
The NUII ice lolly combines dark chocolate, Brazil nuts and malted caramel, while Trium 3 Chocolats has a milk chocolate coating, according to their respective product information.
If you’re mainly looking for a dark chocolate coating, check the coating description and list of toppings before choosing a recipe.
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Forgetting to check allergens and nutritional values
The Ferrero Rondnoir recipe lists milk and soya among its ingredients; recipes containing nuts also call for a careful check of the label.
Check the packaging of the product you buy. The DGCCRF says that allergenic ingredients must be highlighted; when comparing nutritional information, use the same basis of 100 g or 100 ml.
Brands to consider
These examples show how recipes can differ: a product name that mentions dark chocolate doesn’t necessarily tell you what the coating is made of or the cocoa content of the whole ice lolly.
Magnum
Intense Dark is a good option if you want a stated cocoa percentage for the coating.
- Auchan’s product information describes a dark chocolate coating made with 70% cocoa.
- This figure doesn’t apply to the whole ice lolly; the ice cream is described as milk chocolate flavoured.
Ferrero
Rondnoir combines cocoa ice cream, a dark chocolate coating and cocoa pieces.
- Auchan’s product information lists 32.6% dark chocolate among the ingredients.
- This figure isn’t the cocoa content of the dark chocolate; the ingredients list also mentions milk and soya.
NUII
The dark chocolate and Brazil nut variety offers a recipe with several toppings.
- Auchan’s product information describes a dark chocolate coating with Brazil nuts and a malted caramel sauce.
- If you’re after a recipe focused on cocoa, bear in mind that it also contains caramel and nuts. Check the allergens too.
Trium
Marque Repère’s 3 Chocolats variety combines several types of chocolate rather than having a dark chocolate coating.
- E.Leclerc’s product information lists dark chocolate ice cream, chocolate sauce and white chocolate among the ingredients.
- The coating is milk chocolate, and the ingredients list states 1.5% dark chocolate.
Ice lollies available on Joybuy
Both of these ice lollies have a dark chocolate coating, making them a tempting treat to enjoy with coffee. One has a chocolate ice cream centre, while the other has a mango and passion fruit sorbet centre. If the cocoa percentage is important to you, check what each percentage refers to on the packaging.
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POPELINO Intense Dark, 4 ice lollies, 312 g
If you’d like a chocolate ice cream covered in dark chocolate to enjoy with your coffee, this recipe fits the bill. Check the packaging to see what the stated percentages refer to: the proportion of dark chocolate in the coating doesn’t tell you its cocoa content. The ingredients include milk and soya; check the label if you need to avoid allergens.
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PopFruit Mini Sorbet Sticks mango and passion fruit with dark chocolate, 6 pieces, 282 g
If you’d prefer a fruity centre to chocolate ice cream for a coffee break, these mini ice lollies pair mango and passion fruit sorbet with a dark chocolate coating. The proportion of dark chocolate in the product isn’t the same as its cocoa content, so check the packaging if that percentage will guide your choice. The ingredients include soya; check the label for other allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
Does “dark chocolate” mean the whole ice lolly contains lots of cocoa?
No. The description may refer only to the coating or to one ingredient. Auchan’s product information for Magnum Intense Dark states that the dark chocolate coating contains 70% cocoa; this doesn’t apply to the whole ice lolly. Always check which part of the recipe a percentage refers to.
Which allergens should you check in a dark chocolate ice lolly?
Check the allergen information on the packaging of the ice lolly you choose. Ferrero Rondnoir lists milk and soya among its ingredients, while the NUII recipe featured here contains Brazil nuts. According to the DGCCRF, allergenic ingredients must be highlighted in the ingredients list.
How can you compare the sugar and fat in two ice creams?
Compare their nutritional values on the same basis, per 100 g or per 100 ml, rather than comparing different-sized portions. The DGCCRF states that nutrition declarations are given on this basis. Check the information for the exact products you’re deciding between.
Is the Nutri-Score enough to help you choose an ice lolly to enjoy with coffee?
No. The Nutri-Score alone doesn’t tell you about the coating, toppings or allergens. To choose between two recipes, check their ingredients and nutritional information as well.