Fans of intense cocoa flavours after a workout
You’re mainly looking for a dark chocolate flavour in an individual ice lolly. A stated cocoa content for the coating is a more precise guide than the word ‘dark’ alone.
Who is this choice for?
Anyone looking for a dessert after exercise
You want to enjoy an ice lolly without mistaking it for your entire post-workout meal. Compare the portion size and nutritional information, particularly energy, sugars and protein.
Anyone mindful of allergens and transport
You may need to check certain ingredients or get an ice lolly home to your freezer. Read the allergen information on the box you choose and follow its storage instructions.
What should you look for?
When choosing an ice lolly after a workout, first decide whether your priority is the dark chocolate flavour, how the dessert fits into your meal, or managing allergens and keeping it frozen.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Intensity of the dark chocolate | The stated cocoa content of the coating and where dark chocolate appears in the ingredients list. | I prefer a pronounced cocoa flavour to a blend dominated by milk chocolate; around 40% of consumers prioritise this intensity. |
| How it fits into your post-workout diet | Nutritional values per 100 g and per portion, particularly energy, sugars and protein. | I’d like an ice lolly after my workout, but don’t expect it to make up my entire snack; around 30% of consumers prioritise how the dessert fits into their diet. |
| Allergens and storage | Allergens in the specific recipe and the transport and storage instructions on the box. | If I need to avoid an ingredient or transport an ice lolly, being able to choose and store it correctly becomes a priority; around 30% of consumers prioritise this. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming ‘dark’ means the recipe is dominated by dark chocolate
Auchan states that Magnum Intense Dark has a coating containing 70% cocoa, while Carrefour lists 26.8% milk chocolate and 9.9% dark chocolate in its Carrefour Sensation Milk and Dark Chocolate recipe. These figures refer to different aspects of the two recipes; they don’t directly measure how they taste.
Check what each percentage refers to and read the ingredients list if you’re looking for a product dominated by dark chocolate.
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Relying on an ice lolly as a complete post-workout snack
Miko lists 3.3 g of protein and 240 kcal per portion for Magnum Intense Dark. These figures help you understand what this dessert offers, but they don’t tell you everything about your meal after a workout.
Compare the values per portion and consider the ice lolly in the context of what else you eat and drink.
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Checking only the front of the box for allergen information
Ingredients and warnings vary between recipes. The DGCCRF states that allergenic ingredients must be listed and clearly highlighted on the label.
Check the ingredients list and allergen information on the exact box you’re buying.
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Letting ice lollies defrost before putting them away
The Auchan and Carrefour product listings we reviewed state that the products should be stored at −18 °C and must not be refrozen once defrosted.
Pick up frozen products at the end of your shopping trip, use suitable packaging for the journey and put them in the freezer as soon as you get home.
Brands to consider
Magnum
Intense Dark is an ice lolly coated in dark chocolate.
- Auchan states that the coating contains 70% cocoa; Miko provides nutritional values per portion.
- The recipe listed contains milk and soya and may contain almonds. Miko lists 3.3 g of protein per portion, so this dessert isn’t a complete post-workout snack on its own.
Ferrero
Rondnoir combines cocoa ice cream, a dark chocolate shell and cocoa pieces.
- Auchan states that the recipe contains 32.6% dark chocolate.
- The proportion of dark chocolate in the recipe doesn’t tell you the cocoa content of the shell. Check the allergens on the box before buying.
Carrefour Sensation
The Milk and Dark Chocolate product is an ice lolly combining both types of chocolate.
- Carrefour gives a breakdown of the recipe: 26.8% milk chocolate and 9.9% dark chocolate.
- This recipe isn’t dominated by dark chocolate. It contains peanuts, milk and soya, among other ingredients.
MUCCI
ALDI offers dark chocolate ice cream with pieces of dark chocolate, in a tub rather than as individual ice lollies.
- This format may appeal if you prefer to serve yourself a portion rather than buy ice lollies.
- Check the nutritional information and allergens on the packaging before comparing it with an ice lolly.
Ice lollies available on Joybuy
These two options suit different post-workout cravings: a dark chocolate ice lolly if you want to stick with a chocolatey flavour, or a mini fruit sorbet lolly with dark chocolate.
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POPELINO Intense Dark, dark chocolate ice lollies x4, 312 g
Worth considering if you’d like a dark chocolate frozen dessert after a workout, without treating it as your only post-workout snack.
If cocoa intensity matters to you, check the stated cocoa content of the dark chocolate and the nutritional values per portion on the packaging.
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PopFruit Mini, mango and passion fruit sorbet with dark chocolate x6, 282 g
Worth considering if you’d prefer a fruity sorbet with dark chocolate to an ice lolly focused on cocoa flavour.
If you choose it as a dessert after exercise, check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information per portion.
Frequently asked questions
Is a dark chocolate ice lolly enough as a post-workout snack?
No, don’t automatically treat it as a complete post-workout snack. For example, Miko lists 3.3 g of protein and 240 kcal per portion for Magnum Intense Dark. Consider this dessert as part of everything you eat and drink after your workout.
How can you tell a dark chocolate ice lolly from a milk and dark chocolate blend?
Look at the ingredients list and check what each stated percentage measures. Auchan says the coating on Magnum Intense Dark contains 70% cocoa, while Carrefour lists 26.8% milk chocolate and 9.9% dark chocolate in its Sensation Milk and Dark Chocolate recipe.
What should you compare on the labels of two ice lollies?
Compare the nutritional information on the same basis, particularly per 100 g, then check the portion you plan to eat. The DGCCRF lists energy, fat, sugars, protein and salt among the details included in a nutrition declaration. Also check the ingredients and any highlighted allergens.
How should you transport and store these ice lollies after buying them?
Follow the instructions on the box you buy. The Auchan and Carrefour listings for the ice lollies reviewed state that they should be stored at −18 °C and not refrozen after defrosting, so plan a suitable journey from the shop to your freezer.