For fair-trade hot chocolate to enjoy with crêpes for Candlemas, first check the certification on the specific product, then choose according to how you plan to use it: unsweetened pure cocoa if you want to control the sugar in a drink or recipe, or an instant mix if convenience is your priority. An instant mix may already contain sugar, so compare the ingredients and sugars per 100 g. Don’t assume that a Nutri-Score label is required.
You want to know which ingredients are covered by a fair-trade certification, rather than relying on a general claim. Check the label and what it covers on the product you buy. Max Havelaar France says the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar label is based on social, economic and environmental criteria, audited by an independent certifier.
If you’re making batter, a topping or hot chocolate to suit your taste, unsweetened pure cocoa lets you add the sugar separately. The trade-off is that you’ll need to put the other ingredients together and mix them yourself.
An instant mix can make it easier to serve drinks with your crêpes. Before choosing one, check the ingredients, sugar content and allergens for that specific product: hot chocolate powders don’t all have the same recipe.
Choose this if: you want to adjust the sugar in hot chocolate, crêpe batter or a topping.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to add and measure out the other ingredients separately.
Choose this if: you mainly want to make a drink quickly, with an explicit fair-trade certification on the product.
Bear in mind: sugar is already part of the mix. Check the nutritional information to see how much it contains.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Fair-trade certification | Look for the label or claim on the product you’re buying, then check which ingredients it covers. | I want a clearly identifiable certification for the chocolate I serve with crêpes, not just a brand-wide promise. Around 42% of consumers are said to put fair-trade certification at the top of their list of priorities. |
| Control over sugar | Compare the ingredients and the ‘of which sugars’ line per 100 g; distinguish pure cocoa from sweetened powder. | For batter, a topping or a drink, I’d rather decide for myself how much sugar to add. This is said to be the priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Preparing the drink | Check the mixing instructions and allergen information on the packaging. | When serving crêpes, I mainly want a drink that’s easy to make, without overlooking ingredients that may not suit everyone. Ease of preparation is said to be the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
Unsweetened pure cocoa lets you control the ingredients in a recipe; an instant mix may already contain sugar or other ingredients. The two powders aren’t interchangeable in the same way in batter or a topping.
Decide whether you’re buying an ingredient to measure out or a drink to mix, then read the ingredients list.
The DGCCRF describes Nutri-Score as a voluntary label in France. Its absence alone doesn’t tell you what’s in a powder.
Compare the nutritional information, particularly sugars per 100 g, and take account of how much you use in your recipe.
A fair-trade claim applies to a specific product and defined ingredients; it doesn’t follow simply from the brand name or the stated origin of the cocoa.
Check the label or claim and what it covers on the pack you’re buying.
The French Ministry of the Economy describes a levy that applies to sweetened drinks. This alone doesn’t tell you how a dry chocolate powder is taxed or how much sugar is in your cup.
When comparing powders, use their ingredients lists and nutritional information rather than making assumptions about tax.
The range considered includes unsweetened low-fat cocoa and an instant chocolate drink mix described as containing 50% cocoa.
Kaoka’s organic and fair-trade range includes unsweetened low-fat cocoa and a sweetened mix described as containing 32% cocoa.
Grand Arôme is included here as a point of comparison for a sweetened powder, without implying that this product has fair-trade certification.
No. As the DGCCRF explains, Nutri-Score is voluntary in France. For the vast majority of pre-packed foods, the nutrition declaration includes sugars per 100 g. Check this alongside the ingredients list, whether or not the product displays a Nutri-Score.
Look for an explicit label or claim on the product you’re buying and check which ingredients it covers. Max Havelaar France says the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar label’s criteria are audited by an independent certifier. Don’t assume that a claim on one product applies to the whole range.
Choose unsweetened pure cocoa if you want to control the sugar in batter, a topping or a drink. An instant mix is a good choice if convenience is your priority for a drink. Check its sugar content, preparation instructions and allergen information.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you’re using. An instant mix may contain milk or flag other allergens, for example, so don’t assume you know what’s in it just from the words ‘hot chocolate’.
You can’t automatically tell how a dry powder is classified from its name alone. The French Ministry of the Economy describes the levy as applying to sweetened drinks. To choose based on sugar content, check the powder’s nutrition declaration instead.