Households that drink it regularly
If several people regularly make chocolate drinks, the total weight and cupboard space matter more than separating portions. Carrefour, for example, stocks large tins and pouches.
Who are these formats for?
People who pay close attention to ingredients
If the ingredients guide your choice, check the ingredients list and nutritional information for the exact product. Carrefour listings for some Nesquik, Poulain and Banania recipes show that ingredients and allergens can differ.
Parents looking for individual portions
If you want to prepare a portion to take with you or make a one-off drink, distinguish between a multipack of tins, which splits up your supply, and individually portioned sachets. Joybuy stocks a pack of three 300 g Nesquik tins, while Carrefour lists a Nestlé tin of individual sachets.
What should you look for?
First decide whether you want a supply to use at home or separate portions, then compare the recipes in formats that suit your needs.
| Criterion | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Family-sized supply | The net weight of the container and storage instructions after opening. | When several people regularly reach for the same cupboard, having enough to last between shops is my top priority. Around 40% of consumers prioritise having a supply that lasts. |
| Ingredients | Sugars in the nutritional information, plus the ingredients list and allergens for the exact product. | When comparing two recipes, I want to know what’s in them before choosing a format. Around 30% of consumers put checking the ingredients first. |
| Separate portions | The number of tins or sachets, their individual weights and the pack’s total weight. | If I want to take what I need to make a drink on the go or measure out each serving separately, I prefer individual units. Portioning is the main priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Recipe profile | The percentage of cocoa, if stated, and whether the recipe contains cereals or other ingredients. | I might be looking for a particular recipe rather than a specific pack type, such as a powder with cereals or a stated cocoa percentage. Around 10% of consumers prioritise the recipe profile. |
Common mix-ups to avoid
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Confusing a large tin with a multipack
A 1 kg tin gives you one supply to open. Three 300 g tins add up to 900 g across several containers, so they don’t serve the same purpose day to day.
Choose based on whether you want to keep the powder in one container or split it between tins, then compare the total weights.
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Relying on the Nutri-Score alone
According to Santé publique France, displaying the Nutri-Score is voluntary. Its presence doesn’t replace checking the nutritional information and ingredients.
Pay particular attention to sugars, serving size and allergens on the product you’re considering.
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Choosing a recipe based only on the ‘Less Sugar’ claim
For its 350 g Nesquik tin, the brand claims 35% less sugar per mug compared with the average for cocoa drinks for children. This claim is based on a specific comparison and doesn’t, on its own, tell you everything about the drink you make.
Compare the nutritional information and ingredients, as well as how much powder you usually use.
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Assuming every recipe has the same ingredients
Carrefour listings for the products reviewed show that some Nesquik and Poulain powders contain soya, while the Banania recipe in question contains wheat and barley.
If you need to avoid an ingredient, check the list and allergen information on the exact pack before buying.
Brands to know
Nesquik
Carrefour stocks, among other options, a 1 kg Nesquik tin and a 350 g ‘Less Sugar’ recipe.
- The 1 kg tin is a good choice if you want one large container for your cupboard.
- The listing for this tin mentions sugar and soya lecithin; check the ingredients of the variant you choose.
Poulain
The range includes Super Poulain in a 1 kg tin and Grand Arôme in an 800 g format stocked by Carrefour.
- Super Poulain comes in a single 1 kg tin for your cupboard.
- Its Carrefour listing states that it contains sugar, low-fat cocoa and soya lecithins. Don’t assume all recipes have the same ingredients.
Banania
Carrefour stocks Banania in a 400 g tin and a 1 kg original pouch.
- The 1 kg pouch lets you choose this recipe in a larger format.
- The 400 g recipe reviewed contains cereals made with wheat and barley; check the ingredients of the variant you buy.
Carrefour Classic'
Carrefour’s range includes several powders from this brand, in formats such as 800 g and 1 kg.
- The 800 g Intense tin states that it contains at least 32% cocoa.
- This cocoa percentage applies to Intense, not to all Carrefour Classic' powders.
E.Leclerc / Marque Repère
The E.Leclerc range includes P’tit Deli in 450 g and 1 kg formats, as well as Tablette d’Or in 400 g and 800 g formats.
- The 1 kg P’tit Deli format is another option if you want a single large container.
- Check the ingredients and allergens for the exact product before comparing these recipes.
Auchan
The Auchan range brings together own-brand products and powders from brands such as Nesquik, Poulain and Banania.
- You can compare different pack types in the range, including larger formats.
- To assess an Auchan recipe, check its own ingredients, allergens and nutritional information.
Formats available on Joybuy
These products show three ways to stock your cupboard: a 1 kg container, a multipack of smaller tins or sachets for individual servings. Their weights and packaging suit different needs.
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VAN HOUTEN VH2, drinking chocolate powder, 34%, 1 kg
This single container suits households that want to keep a supply in the cupboard rather than split the product into portions. The product name states 1 kg and 34% cocoa; check the packaging too for ingredients, allergens and storage instructions after opening.
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Bananina Original, drinking chocolate powder, 1 kg
The 1 kg format is for people who prefer to keep their supply in a single container. Check the ingredients and allergen information for this Bananina product on its packaging; don’t assume they’re the same as those for a Banania powder.
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DAMTUH Pokémon, hot chocolate, 10 sachets of 20 g
The sachets are a good choice if you want to make separate servings rather than keep all the powder in a large tin. The stated pack size adds up to 200 g. Check the ingredients and nutritional information on the pack rather than relying only on the ‘sugar free’ wording in the original name.
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Nesquik Original, pack of 3 x 300 g tins
This multipack lets you split your supply between three containers, though the tins aren’t individually portioned. It adds up to 900 g in total; check the pack for ingredients, allergens and storage instructions.
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AGF Blendy Stick Cocoa au Lait, 6 sticks, 66 g
The six sachets are handy if you want separate servings, but their total weight of 66 g won’t provide the same kind of supply as a 1 kg pack. Check the ingredients and nutritional information on the exact pack before choosing this cocoa drink with milk.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nutri-Score compulsory on drinking chocolate in France?
No. Santé publique France says producers can choose whether to display the Nutri-Score. To compare two products, check their ingredients and nutritional information, whether or not the logo is shown.
Can a multipack of small tins replace a large tin?
Not if you want to use them in the same way: a pack of three 300 g Nesquik tins lets you split up 900 g, while a single 1 kg tin keeps all the powder in one container. Choose based on how you plan to store and use the product.
Which ingredients should you check if you have an allergy or need to avoid certain foods?
Check the ingredients list and allergen information on the pack you choose. Carrefour listings for some Nesquik and Poulain products state that they contain soya; the listing for the Banania recipe reviewed mentions wheat and barley. These details don’t apply to every variant from these brands.
Does the French tax on sugary drinks automatically apply to powder that you mix with liquid?
No, you shouldn’t assume it applies to every chocolate powder. The provisions set out by Légifrance cover drinks and liquid preparations for drinks; they don’t, on their own, establish that dry powder to be mixed with liquid automatically falls within this scope. When choosing a recipe, check its sugar content in the nutritional information instead.