Anyone who wants to control the sugar
If your crêpes already have a filling, making your drink with unsweetened cocoa lets you choose how much sugar to add separately.
Who are these options for?
Families who want to prepare several mugs with ease
A ready-made chocolate powder means you don’t have to measure out cocoa and sugar separately. It’s still worth checking the ingredients and preparation instructions.
Anyone who also wants to cook with cocoa
Cocoa designed for both drinks and desserts can be used for more than just hot chocolate at Candlemas. Auchan’s unsweetened cocoa product page lists both uses.
What should you look for first?
First decide whether you want to sweeten the drink yourself or use a ready-made mix. Then check its ingredients and choose a pack size that suits how you’ll use it.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Controlling the sugar | Compare the sugars per 100 g and check whether the powder is explicitly labelled as unsweetened. | When the crêpes are already filled, I prefer to choose how much sugar goes in my drink; around 45% of consumers would make this their top priority. |
| Preparing several mugs | Read the preparation instructions and choose a pack size that suits your needs. | If I’m serving several mugs and don’t want to mix each one from scratch, I look for a ready-made powder; around 33% of consumers would prioritise this convenience. |
| Cocoa flavour and use in cooking | Check the product name, the cocoa content if it’s stated, and the suggested uses on the pack. | I want a strong cocoa flavour or a powder I can also add to desserts; around 22% of consumers would make this their top priority. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming that no Nutri-Score means poor nutritional quality
According to Santé publique France, displaying the Nutri-Score is voluntary. So, the absence of the logo doesn’t tell you anything about a powder’s ingredients on its own.
Check the nutritional information and ingredients list for the specific product you’re considering. If the Nutri-Score appears on the pack, treat it as additional information.
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Judging the sugar content by the cocoa percentage alone
For Grand Arôme, Poulain states that the powder contains 32% cocoa, but also 67 g of sugars per 100 g. These two figures tell you different things about the recipe.
If you want to control the sugar yourself, look for cocoa that is explicitly labelled as unsweetened and check the “of which sugars” figure per 100 g.
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Forgetting about cereals in a biscuit-flavoured powder
Banania Original contains, among other things, wheat, barley and malted wheat flours; the recipe identifies wheat and gluten.
If allergens or gluten are important to your choice, check the ingredients and any “may contain” warnings on the pack you buy.
Brands to know when comparing recipes
Poulain
The brand’s range includes Grand Arôme, a chocolate powder that states its cocoa content.
- Poulain states that Grand Arôme contains 32% cocoa and is available in 250 g, 450 g and 800 g packs.
- The recipe also contains 67 g of sugars per 100 g, with sugar listed first in the ingredients.
Banania
The Original recipe combines cocoa, cereals, banana and honey for a flavour profile that differs from pure cocoa.
- Wheat, barley and malted wheat flours are listed among the ingredients in Original.
- Banania lists 69 g of sugars per 100 g for this recipe and identifies wheat and gluten.
Auchan
The 100% pure unsweetened cocoa product is presented as suitable for hot drinks and desserts.
- This product states that it contains 100% cocoa powder and 1.9 g of sugars per 100 g.
- You’ll need to add sweetness separately. The packaging warns that it may contain traces of gluten, milk, eggs, soya and nuts.
Carrefour
The retailer’s range includes Classic’ chocolate powders, Original cocoa powder and Bio products.
- These product names help you spot different types of recipe within the brand’s range.
- Check the ingredients and nutritional information for the specific product: the range name alone doesn’t tell you what it contains.
Nesquik
Standard chocolate powders and a “Moins de Sucres” (“Less Sugar”) version are available from Carrefour and Auchan.
- These retailers’ online ranges list several pack sizes.
- To compare two versions, check the sugars per 100 g and the allergens on each pack.
Chocolate powders available on Joybuy
These products are suitable for making hot chocolate for Candlemas. Before choosing one to suit the way you’ll serve the drink, compare the pack size and the information on each product’s packaging.
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VAN HOUTEN VH2, 34% chocolate drink powder, 1 kg
Worth considering if you’re looking for chocolate powder for hot chocolate and want to compare a larger pack. The product name states 34% cocoa and the pack contains 1 kg; check the sugars and allergens on the packaging.
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Poulain Cocoa with Rich Flavor, 450 g
Worth considering if you want to make a drink with a ready-made chocolate powder. This pack contains 450 g; check the sugars per 100 g before choosing it to go with filled crêpes.
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Poulain Cocoa with Rich Flavor, 400 g
Worth considering if you want a 400 g pack of chocolate powder for a hot drink. To compare it with the 450 g size, check the ingredients and sugar content stated on each pack.
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BENCO Less Sugar, chocolate granules, 400 g
Worth considering if you prefer a chocolate drink mix in granule form. The pack contains 400 g; the “Less Sugar” wording alone isn’t enough to compare its sugar content with another recipe.
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DAMTUH Pokémon “Sugar Free” hot chocolate, 10 sachets of 20 g
Worth considering if individual sachets suit the number of drinks you need to make: the pack contains 10 sachets of 20 g each. Before choosing this product because it says “Sugar Free”, check the ingredients and sugars listed on the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Nutri-Score compulsory on hot chocolate powder?
No. According to Santé publique France, displaying it is voluntary in France. When comparing powders, also check their ingredients lists and nutritional information, whether or not they carry the logo.
What should I read on the pack before buying?
Check the product name, ingredients, allergens and nutritional information, especially the sugars per 100 g. The DGCCRF says these are among the details to check on prepacked foods. Also check the net quantity and preparation instructions to make sure the product suits your needs.
Can you make hot chocolate with 100% unsweetened cocoa?
Yes. Auchan presents its 100% pure unsweetened cocoa as suitable for chocolate drinks and desserts. To make a sweet-tasting drink, add a sweetener separately and adjust the amount to suit your recipe.