Fans of dark chocolate drinks
You’re looking for a drinking chocolate powder with a clearly stated cocoa content. Poulain 1848 and Ethiquable each declare 50% cocoa, although that figure alone doesn’t tell you what the drink will taste like.
Who are these options for?
People who like to control how much sugar they add
You’d rather choose what goes into your drink. Unsweetened pure cocoa, such as E.Leclerc’s EQUADOR, lets you adjust the sugar to suit your taste.
People who pay attention to ingredients and sourcing
You’re looking for a short ingredient list, as well as organic and Fairtrade ingredients. Ethiquable states that its instant powder, which contains 50% cocoa, meets these criteria.
What should you look for first?
First decide whether you want a ready-sweetened drink or cocoa you can prepare to your own taste. Then compare the cocoa content, ingredients and sugars.
Instant powder with 50% cocoa
Worth considering: if you want a drinking chocolate powder with a stated cocoa content of 50%, such as Poulain 1848 or Ethiquable.
Bear in mind: both recipes also contain sugar.
Unsweetened pure cocoa
Worth considering: if you want to decide how much sugar to add to your drink or recipe.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to prepare and adjust it to taste, and shouldn’t assume the powder will dissolve instantly.
Reduced-sugar formula with sweetener
Worth considering: if you’re looking for this feature and are happy with the sucralose used in Canderel Cankao.
Bear in mind: a reduction compared with a reference product doesn’t mean the powder is unsweetened.
| What to look for | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Cocoa content | Check the stated percentage and distinguish drinking chocolate powder from pure cocoa. | If I want a drink with a stronger cocoa character, I want to know how much cocoa it contains before choosing a recipe. Around 36% of consumers are said to put stated cocoa content first. |
| Sugars | Compare the “sugars” per 100 g and check whether the powder contains a sweetener. | If I’d rather control how much sugar I add, a ready-sweetened mix doesn’t meet the same need as unsweetened pure cocoa. Around 29% of consumers are said to put control over sugar first. |
| Ingredients and sourcing | Read the ingredient list and check for any organic or Fairtrade claims shown on the pack. | I might prefer a short ingredient list and stated sourcing credentials, without making assumptions about the taste or nutritional values. This is said to be the main priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Preparation and pack size | Check the preparation instructions and choose a pack size that suits how you’ll use it. | If I make this drink regularly, I want a preparation method that works for me and a quantity I expect to use. Around 14% of consumers are said to prioritise convenience. |
Common misconceptions to avoid
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Assuming 50% cocoa tells you how much sugar is in it
Poulain 1848 and Ethiquable’s instant powder both state this cocoa content, but their recipes also contain sugar.
Check the cocoa percentage, ingredients and sugars per 100 g. If you want to add sugar yourself, look for a powder explicitly labelled as unsweetened.
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Using Nutri-Score as your only guide
According to the DGCCRF, displaying Nutri-Score is voluntary in France. Its presence or absence isn’t enough to decide between two recipes based on your preferences.
If it appears on the packaging, consider it alongside the nutritional values per 100 g and the ingredient list.
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Overlooking sweeteners in a reduced-sugar formula
Canderel Cankao, listed by Auchan, contains sucralose. This ingredient choice may matter just as much as the reduced-sugar claim.
Check the ingredients before buying. If you want to choose the ingredients you add yourself, compare it with unsweetened pure cocoa.
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Assuming a larger pack means a stronger cocoa flavour
The amount in the tin doesn’t tell you how much cocoa it contains or whether it has added sugar.
Choose the type of recipe first, then pick a pack size to suit how often you’ll use it.
If you don’t like the recipe, a large pack could sit unused for a long time.
Brands to know
Poulain
The 1848 recipe is worth considering if you’re looking for drinking chocolate powder with a high stated cocoa content.
- According to Chocolat Poulain, 1848 contains 50% defatted cocoa powder, sugar and a natural flavouring.
- It isn’t unsweetened pure cocoa.
Ethiquable
Its instant powder combines a stated cocoa content of at least 50% with sourcing credentials.
- Ethiquable states that its cocoa and cane sugar are organically farmed and Fairtrade.
- The recipe contains cane sugar, so check the sugars per 100 g if this is important to you.
Canderel
Cankao is another option among powders stating that they contain 50% cocoa.
- The Cankao product listing from Auchan states that it contains 50% cocoa and uses sucralose.
- This recipe won’t suit you if you prefer powders without sweeteners.
Carrefour
Its range includes both Intense drinking chocolate powder and cocoa powder.
- These product names make it easy to identify two types of preparation to consider separately.
- Check the ingredients and cocoa content of each product before comparing them.
E.Leclerc
The Marque Repère range includes an EQUADOR product called “Pure Unsweetened Cocoa”.
- This name identifies an option worth considering if you want to add the sugar yourself.
- Check the label on the product you choose, especially if allergens are a concern.
Two Poulain powders on Joybuy
These two Poulain pack sizes are for making a chocolate drink. If you’re looking for a stronger cocoa flavour and deciding between them, compare the ingredients for each pack on its product page and packaging.
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Poulain drinking chocolate powder 400 g
Worth considering if you’re looking for a Poulain drinking chocolate powder with a high stated cocoa content: the Joybuy product page for this 400 g pack says it contains at least 47% cocoa. This figure alone doesn’t tell you how much sugar it contains, so check the nutritional values per 100 g before choosing.
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Poulain drinking chocolate powder 450 g
Worth considering if this 450 g pack suits how you use it. Don’t assume it has the same ingredients as the 400 g pack: check the cocoa percentage, ingredients and sugars per 100 g for this product.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nutri-Score compulsory on drinking chocolate powder in France?
No. The DGCCRF states that displaying Nutri-Score is voluntary. When comparing prepacked powders that require a nutrition declaration, check the nutritional values per 100 g, particularly the “sugars” line, as well as the ingredients.
Is a tin of drinking chocolate powder automatically subject to the tax on sugary drinks?
You shouldn’t assume this applies to a powder sold dry. The charge described by BOFiP-Impôts applies to non-alcoholic drinks containing added sugars; that description alone isn’t enough to establish the tax treatment of every powder. When comparing recipes before buying, it’s more useful to check the stated sugars per 100 g.
Is a powder containing 50% cocoa free from added sugar?
No, not necessarily. Chocolat Poulain lists sugar in its 1848 recipe, which contains 50% cocoa, and Ethiquable lists cane sugar in its recipe too. If you want to control how much sugar you add, look for a product explicitly labelled as unsweetened pure cocoa.