Families who regularly make several mugs
If you serve hot chocolate to several people over the holidays, pack size and ease of measuring are important considerations. Banania, for example, offers its Original powder in several sizes, including 1 kg.
Who are these options for?
People who want to control how much sugar they add
Unsweetened cocoa lets you decide what to add to each mug. However, unless you adapt the recipe, it won’t taste the same as a sweetened chocolate powder.
People who pay attention to the cocoa content of a recipe
If the cocoa content guides your choice, look for a percentage given for the exact product. Carrefour, for example, lists 50% defatted cocoa in the ingredients for Poulain 1848.0. This figure does not apply to other Poulain powders.
What should you look at first?
Start with your main priority — controlling added sugar, choosing a suitable quantity or finding the right recipe — then check the other details on the pack you plan to buy.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars and what goes into your mug | Compare the sugars per 100 g and the ingredients, then consider how much powder you’ll actually use. | I want to choose how much sugar to add to my drink, even if that means adapting the recipe with unsweetened cocoa. Around 36% of consumers would prioritise this. |
| Pack size and how often you’ll make it | Check the quantity in the pack and the storage instructions after opening. | When I make several mugs over a few days, I prefer a pack size that suits how I’ll use it. Around 36% of consumers would have this as their priority. |
| Recipe profile and ingredients | Check the cocoa percentage if one is given, along with the ingredients and allergen information on the specific pack. | I’m looking for a recipe with a clear cocoa content, while also checking that the ingredients are suitable for the people I’m serving. Around 28% of consumers would put this recipe profile first. |
These criteria aren’t interchangeable: a higher cocoa percentage doesn’t necessarily mean a powder contains less sugar. To compare two recipes, use the same basis for your comparison, including the nutritional values per 100 g, before factoring in how much you use per mug.
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming ‘no added sugars’ means the drink is already sweetened
Carrefour Original cocoa is labelled ‘no added sugars’. That doesn’t mean it will taste like a sweetened chocolate powder when mixed into a drink.
Compare the sugars per 100 g and adjust your preparation to get the taste you want before choosing a larger pack.
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Choosing the biggest pack without thinking about how you’ll use it
A 1 kg pack may suit frequent use, but that quantity is only useful if it fits your routine and you can store it properly after opening.
Estimate how many mugs you’ll make using your usual amount, and read the product’s storage instructions.
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Judging the sugar content by the cocoa percentage alone
The cocoa content describes one aspect of a recipe; it doesn’t replace the nutritional information or ingredients list. Allergen information also needs to be checked separately.
For the specific product, compare the stated cocoa percentage with the sugars per 100 g and the ingredients.
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Using the Nutri-Score as your only criterion
According to the European Commission, displaying nutrition information on the front of a pack is not compulsory under the EU rules currently in force. So the absence of a Nutri-Score alone isn’t enough to judge a powder.
If it appears on the pack, use it as an additional guide and check the nutritional values, ingredients and allergens too.
Brands to know
Nesquik
The Carrefour range we reviewed includes Nesquik chocolate powders, including a 1 kg pack and a ‘Less Sugar’ variant.
- A choice of pack sizes and recipes makes it easier to find one that suits how often you’ll make it.
- The ‘Less Sugar’ label doesn’t replace checking the nutritional values for the specific variant.
Poulain
The range includes Grand Arôme and 1848.0. Carrefour lists 50% defatted cocoa in the ingredients for Poulain 1848.0.
- The stated proportion for 1848.0 helps you compare this recipe with others.
- It doesn’t describe other Poulain products and, on its own, doesn’t tell you how much sugar they contain.
Banania
According to Banania, its Original chocolate powder contains cocoa, cereals, banana and honey, among other ingredients, and comes in 250 g, 400 g and 1 kg packs.
- These ingredients and pack sizes set Original apart from powders made with a different mix.
- Original contains cereals with gluten. The brand also warns that it may contain traces of milk and soya. Check the specific pack before serving it to anyone with these allergies.
Carrefour
Carrefour Classic' and Carrefour Original are examples of two different recipes: a chocolate powder and a cocoa powder labelled as having no added sugars.
- Carrefour states that Classic' contains 21% defatted cocoa. Its Original cocoa lets you decide whether to add anything to your drink.
- The ‘no added sugars’ claim applies to Original cocoa and shouldn’t be taken to apply to Classic' or the whole range.
Hot chocolate powders and cocoa available on Joybuy
These products let you compare 400 g and 1 kg chocolate powders with a 1 kg cocoa powder for holiday drinks. Choose the pack size and recipe that suit you, then check the information on the pack for the product you’ve selected.
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Bananina Original chocolate powder, 1 kg
This 1 kg pack may suit you if you regularly make several mugs over the holidays. Check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack for this product before serving it.
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VAN HOUTEN VH2 chocolate powder, 34%, 1 kg
The 1 kg pack is suited to frequent use. To compare this recipe with another powder, check the packaging to see what the stated percentage refers to, and compare the sugars per 100 g.
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POULAIN Rich Flavor chocolate powder, 400 g
This 400 g pack may suit you if you make hot chocolate less often than someone buying a 1 kg pack. To compare its recipe, check the cocoa content, sugars per 100 g and allergens for this specific product.
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BENCO Less Sugar granulated chocolate powder, 400 g
This 400 g pack gives you a different option from the larger sizes featured here. ‘Less Sugar’ is part of the product name; to compare recipes, check the sugars per 100 g on the packaging.
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VAN HOUTEN VH1F cocoa powder, 1 kg
This 1 kg pack is for people who want to make several drinks or recipes with cocoa. Before choosing this product, check the ingredients and cocoa content on the pack, as the information associated with the product differs on this point.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nutri-Score compulsory on hot chocolate powders?
No. According to the European Commission, displaying nutrition information on the front of a pack is voluntary under the EU rules currently in force. If a powder has a Nutri-Score, you can consider it alongside the nutritional information and ingredients. Its absence doesn’t mean the product is non-compliant.
How can I check for allergens before serving hot chocolate to a child?
Read the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the specific pack you’re using, as recipes in the same category can differ. Banania Original lists wheat and barley, and may also contain traces of milk and soya. Carrefour Original cocoa warns that it may contain traces of gluten, milk, eggs, soya and nuts.