Households making several cups
You’re planning to serve several cups around Candlemas and are looking for an 800 g to 1 kg pack that you’ll also use after opening.
Who is this choice for?
People keeping an eye on the sugar in their powder
You’d like to compare the ‘of which sugars’ values per 100 g and are happy to consider a smaller pack if the recipe better suits this preference.
Families who need to check the ingredients
Before serving the same drink to several people, you check for ingredients such as cereals containing gluten, soya and milk, as well as any ‘may contain’ warnings on the exact product.
What should you look for?
First decide how much you’ll use, then compare the sugar content, recipe and allergens of each powder. A large pack won’t meet these other needs on its own.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Pack size | Net weight (800 g to 1 kg for the large packs considered here) and storage instructions after opening. | If I’m making several cups, I want a quantity my household can use without leaving an opened pack for too long. Around 31% of consumers put pack size at the heart of their choice. |
| Sugars | The ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g and the amount of powder recommended for one cup. | When choosing a recipe based on its sugar content, I compare powders on the same basis rather than relying on the product name alone. This is the top priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Recipe | The cocoa percentage stated for the exact product and whether it contains cereals, banana or honey. | Sometimes I’m looking for a particular recipe to go with crêpes, even if it comes in a smaller pack. Around 23% of consumers make their choice primarily based on the ingredients they’re looking for. |
| Allergens | The ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the packaging of the product you’ll be serving. | When a powder is going to be shared, I need to know whether its ingredients or possible traces could be a problem for anyone who’ll be drinking it. This is the main priority for around 15% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming the Nutri-Score is compulsory
According to economie.gouv.fr, the Nutri-Score logo is optional in France. The DGCCRF distinguishes this logo from the nutrition declaration, which is compulsory for most pre-packed foods. So, if a logo is missing, that doesn’t mean nutritional information is unavailable.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g, especially ‘of which sugars’, then check the ingredients.
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Choosing the largest pack without planning how you’ll use it
A family-size pack is only useful if you plan to use the powder after making your Candlemas drinks and can follow the storage instructions.
Choose a pack size that suits how you plan to use it, and check how to reseal and store the pack.
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Assuming that powder is automatically treated as a drink subject to the tax on sugary drinks
The Bulletin officiel des finances publiques describes a tax that applies, subject to certain conditions, to drinks or juices that are ready to consume. This description alone isn’t enough to automatically classify a dry powder that needs to be prepared as one of these products.
When comparing powders for your household, use their ingredients and nutritional information rather than making this tax assumption.
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Assuming one recipe is suitable for everyone you’re serving
Ingredients and trace warnings vary from one product to another. For example, the 1 kg Banania powder described by Carrefour contains wheat and barley.
Read the ingredients and allergen warnings on the exact pack before making a drink to share.
Chocolate powder brands to know
These brands offer recipes and pack sizes worth comparing product by product. Their inclusion here doesn’t mean that every product in their range has the same characteristics.
Nesquik
Carrefour lists, among other products, a 1 kg tin of Nesquik chocolate powder.
- The ingredients list for this tin states that it contains 23% low-fat cocoa.
- It also contains soya lecithin, so check the allergens and nutritional information on the tin you choose.
Poulain
Poulain offers Grand Arôme classique in several pack sizes, including 800 g. A 400 g Grand Arôme Moins de Sucres product is also among those considered here.
- According to Poulain, Grand Arôme classique contains 32% cocoa. Carrefour states that the Moins de Sucres product it lists contains at least 47% cocoa.
- These figures relate to different recipes. Check the full product name and nutritional information for the one you’re buying.
Banania
The 1 kg Banania chocolate powder listed by Carrefour combines cocoa, cereals, dried banana and honey.
- This ingredients list sets the recipe apart from a powder chosen solely on the basis of its cocoa percentage.
- It contains wheat and barley. Auchan states that its 1 kg Banania product contains 69 g of sugars per 100 g; check the label on your pack.
Carrefour Classic'
Carrefour lists an 800 g pack of Classic' chocolate powder.
- Its pack size falls within the 800 g to 1 kg range considered suitable for making several servings.
- Check the sugars per 100 g, ingredients and allergens for this product before comparing it with another recipe.
Marque Repère / P'TIT DELI
E.Leclerc lists a 1 kg pack of P'TIT DELI instant chocolate drink powder.
- The 1 kg pack size may suit households planning to serve several cups.
- Check the nutritional information and allergens for this exact product before choosing it for the whole family.
Chocolate powders to consider on Joybuy
This selection mainly features 800 g to 1 kg packs for making several cups, along with a 400 g Poulain pack to consider if you’d prefer a smaller quantity. For each recipe, compare the information on the packaging you receive.
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VAN HOUTEN VH2 Cocoa powder 34%, 1 kg
The 1 kg pack is worth considering if you’re planning to make several servings.
Before comparing the ‘34%’ figure with that of another powder, check which ingredient it refers to on the packaging.
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Suchard instant hot chocolate, 20% cocoa, 1 kg
This 1 kg pack is suitable if you’re planning to make several cups.
The product name states that it contains 20% cocoa. Check the sugars per 100 g and the allergens on the pack before serving.
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Bananina Original Chocolate Powder, 1 kg
Consider the 1 kg pack if you’re planning to make several cups.
Check the brand name, ingredients and allergens on the packaging before choosing this product.
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BENCO Original chocolate powder granules, 800 g
The 800 g pack may suit you if you’re planning to make several servings.
The product name describes it as granules. Check the nutritional information and allergens on the pack to compare the recipe.
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POULAIN Cocoa with Rich Flavor, 400 g
Consider this 400 g pack if you’d prefer a smaller quantity than an 800 g to 1 kg pack.
The Joybuy listing for this product states that it contains 52 g of sugars per 100 g. Check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging too.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Nutri-Score compulsory on hot chocolate powder?
No. According to economie.gouv.fr, Nutri-Score is optional in France. The DGCCRF explains that a nutrition declaration is compulsory for most pre-packed foods. So, even if there’s no logo, compare the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g, along with the other nutritional information.
How do you compare the sugar content of two chocolate powders?
First, compare the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g on the exact products. Then, when making your cups, check how much powder you’ll use: the drink’s ingredients also depend on what you add to it.
Should you choose a 1 kg pack for Candlemas?
A 1 kg pack is suitable if you plan to use it beyond the cups made for the celebration and can follow its storage instructions. If you’ll use less or want a different recipe, compare smaller pack sizes too.
What should you check before serving the same hot chocolate to the whole family?
Read the ingredients and allergen warnings on the exact pack. The 1 kg Banania product described by Carrefour contains wheat and barley, while the 1 kg Nesquik tin listed by this retailer contains soya lecithin. Don’t assume these ingredients lists apply to other recipes.
Does the tax on sugary drinks automatically apply to cocoa powders?
No. You can’t assume that it does simply because the powder is used to make a drink. The Bulletin officiel des finances publiques describes a tax that applies subject to certain conditions, including to drinks or juices that are ready to consume. Don’t base your comparison of dry powders on the assumption that they’re automatically treated as these products.