Who is this choice for?

Parents who want to control the sugar

For dinner-time hot chocolate, you’d rather decide how much sugar to add and choose the liquid separately. Fair-trade pure cocoa gives you that flexibility, unlike a mix that already contains sugar.

Families looking for a specific Fairtrade label

You want Fairtrade/Max Havelaar certification, not just a fair-trade claim. Max Havelaar France recommends checking for the logo on the pack and, if it includes an arrow, reading the details on the back of the composite product.

Anyone keeping an eye on milk and traces

If milk is a factor in your choice, check the ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ statement for each product. Some pure cocoa product details warn of possible traces of milk, even when milk isn’t listed as an ingredient.

Which criteria should you check first?

For the children’s dinner, first decide between pure cocoa that you prepare yourself and an instant powder that’s already sweetened. Then check the label you’re looking for and the allergen information separately: the type of powder alone won’t answer either question.

Criteria What to check Who is it for?
Fair-trade certification The Fairtrade/Max Havelaar logo on the product you’re considering and, if it includes an arrow, the details on the back explaining which ingredients it applies to. If I’m specifically looking for Fairtrade/Max Havelaar, a general ‘fair-trade’ claim isn’t enough to confirm it. Around 42% of consumers put verifiable certification at the top of their list of concerns.
Sugars and recipe The ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g of powder and the amount used per mug; distinguish pure cocoa from a mix that already contains sugar. If I want to choose what goes into my hot chocolate, I prefer to check the powder’s sugar content before measuring it out. Controlling the recipe comes before other criteria for around 33% of consumers.
Milk and other allergens The ingredients list, stated allergens and any ‘may contain’ warning on the exact pack; choose the liquid you use accordingly, too. If milk or traces are a concern in our household, I can’t rely on the words ‘pure cocoa’ alone. Checking allergens and the liquid used is the priority for around 25% of consumers.

Common misunderstandings to avoid

  • Assuming ‘fair trade’ means Fairtrade/Max Havelaar

    The products mentioned by ETHIQUABLE and Kaoka use schemes including WFTO, SPP-Producteurs Paysans and FiABLE. These claims alone do not prove that a product carries the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar label.

    If that specific label matters to you, look for its logo on the pack. Max Havelaar France advises checking the information on the back when a composite product has a logo with an arrow.

  • Judging sugar content by the cocoa percentage alone

    ETHIQUABLE’s instant chocolate, which contains 50% cocoa, also lists 50 g of sugars per 100 g of powder. The cocoa percentage doesn’t replace the nutritional information.

    Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g and consider how much powder you use per mug before choosing between a sweetened mix and pure cocoa.

  • Confusing ‘no milk in the recipe’ with ‘no traces’

    The product details for ETHIQUABLE’s unsweetened cocoa and instant chocolate warn of possible traces, including milk. Choosing a milk-free liquid doesn’t change the warning on the powder itself.

    Check the ingredients and warnings on the pack you buy. If strict avoidance is necessary, follow any relevant medical or school guidance for your child.

  • Assuming Nutri-Score is compulsory

    According to Santé publique France, producers display Nutri-Score voluntarily. Its absence alone doesn’t tell you what’s in a powder.

    If it’s shown, read it alongside the nutritional information and ingredients list. To compare sugar content, in particular, use the figure given per 100 g.

Brands to compare

ETHIQUABLE

The brand offers unsweetened low-fat cocoa and an instant mix containing 50% cocoa, both produced under fair-trade schemes.

  • According to their respective product details, the unsweetened cocoa contains 0 g of sugars per 100 g of powder, while the instant mix contains 50 g per 100 g.
  • Both products warn of possible traces, including milk. Their stated schemes—WFTO for the unsweetened cocoa and SPP-Producteurs Paysans for the instant mix—do not prove Fairtrade/Max Havelaar certification.

Kaoka

Kaoka offers unsweetened low-fat cocoa powder, which you can prepare with your chosen liquid and, if you like, add sugar to separately.

  • According to its product details, this 100% cocoa product contains 1 g of sugars per 100 g of powder. The brand says its agricultural ingredients come from fair trade verified under the FiABLE scheme.
  • FiABLE should not be confused with Fairtrade/Max Havelaar. If you’re looking for the latter, check for the logo on the packaging.

Destination Bio

The brand lets you compare pure cocoa powder with a mix made from cocoa and cane sugar.

  • According to Destination Bio, the pure cocoa mentioned contains 0.9 g of sugars per 100 g, compared with 53 g per 100 g for the cocoa and sugar mix.
  • The sweetened mix warns of possible traces of milk, soya and egg. If you’re looking for Fairtrade/Max Havelaar, check the logo on the product you choose rather than relying on its general fair-trade claims.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Nutri-Score compulsory on hot chocolate powder?

No. According to Santé publique France, producers display Nutri-Score voluntarily. Whether or not it appears on the pack, check the nutritional information, including sugars per 100 g, as well as the ingredients for that product.

How can you identify a Fairtrade/Max Havelaar product?

Look for the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar logo on the packaging of the product you choose. Max Havelaar France explains that, for a composite product bearing a logo with an arrow, you should read the information on the back about the ingredients and their traceability. The word ‘fair trade’ alone doesn’t confirm this specific certification.

Does pure cocoa powder always contain milk?

No. Some pure cocoa powders let you add your choice of liquid separately. However, they may still carry a warning about possible traces of milk, as with the unsweetened cocoa mentioned by ETHIQUABLE. Check the ingredients and warning on the exact pack.

Does the levy on sugary drinks automatically apply to dry powder?

No. You can’t assume it applies simply because a powder is used to make hot chocolate. Article 1613 ter of the General Tax Code, published by Légifrance, covers drinks and liquid preparations for drinks. When choosing a powder, compare its ingredients and stated sugar content instead.