When doing your Christmas shopping, start with what your children like, then compare the ingredients and sugar content on a like-for-like basis: a recipe that tastes mild isn’t necessarily lower in sugar. If you’re considering a ‘less sugar’ option or a powder with a stronger cocoa flavour, check the ingredients and allergens for the exact product too, especially if several children will be sharing the drink.
For festive breakfasts or teatime treats, you’re looking for a recipe your children will enjoy drinking. The order of the ingredients and the nutritional information can help you choose between powders whose packaging suggests a similar level of sweetness.
You want to look at a ‘less sugar’ option without assuming that the claim describes the prepared drink as a whole. Compare the powder’s nutritional values on a like-for-like basis, then take into account how much you use per cup.
If the hot chocolate is for several children or guests, check each recipe before serving. The Carrefour product information reviewed flags soy, cereals containing wheat or barley, or ‘may contain milk and soy’ statements, depending on the product.
For hot chocolate for children at Christmas, start with a recipe that suits their tastes, then check the sugar content and allergens for each product. The cocoa percentage or a claim on the front of the pack is no substitute for these checks.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Sweetness and flavour | Check the ingredients list and the cocoa percentage, if stated; don’t judge the flavour by the recipe name alone. | If the children prefer a familiar-tasting hot chocolate, I want to avoid a recipe that might take them by surprise. Around 42% of consumers would make this acceptance a priority. |
| Sugars | Compare the ‘sugars’ figure per 100 g of powder, then check how much powder is used per cup; take into account any milk or other liquid added to make the drink. | When I’m making several cups over the festive season, I want to know what’s in each one rather than relying on the ‘less sugar’ claim. Around 33% of consumers would prioritise this comparison. |
| Allergens and ingredients | Read the allergens highlighted on the pack and check any ‘may contain’ statements for the exact product. | If a child or guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, I check the recipe before thinking about the flavour. Around 25% of consumers would prioritise this suitability. |
According to the DGCCRF, nutrition information is generally compulsory for prepacked foods, while displaying Nutri-Score is voluntary. So its absence alone isn’t enough to judge a hot chocolate powder.
To compare two recipes, start by reading their nutritional information and ingredients lists. If both display a Nutri-Score, use it as an additional guide when comparing similar products.
In the Carrefour product information reviewed, sugar is listed first in the ingredients for classic Nesquik and Banania’s cereal, banana and honey recipe. A sweet, mild taste doesn’t tell you how much sugar is in each cup.
Compare the sugar content on the same nutritional basis and check how much powder is used to make the drink.
Carrefour’s product information for Banania’s cereal, banana and honey recipe mentions wheat and barley, among other ingredients. Its listing for Poulain Grand Arôme says it may contain milk and soy. These details matter if the drink will be shared.
Check the ingredients list and any trace statements on the exact pack, rather than assuming the information for one recipe applies to the whole range.
A larger quantity may not be practical if the children don’t end up liking the flavour or your household rarely uses that powder.
If the recipe is new to you, choose a pack size that suits your needs. Also check the best-before date and the storage instructions on the packaging.
These brands offer recipes worth considering for your Christmas shopping. The features mentioned relate to the specific products listed, not every powder in each range.
The range includes a classic recipe and a ‘Moins de Sucres’ option.
Grand Arôme and its variants offer different cocoa-based recipes to consider.
A recipe combining cocoa, cereals, banana and honey, worth considering if those ingredients match the flavours you’re looking for.
Own-brand powders, including Kaomix, to compare recipe by recipe.
These powders include individual sachets and packs to keep at home. Their names distinguish classic recipes, options with a sugar-related claim and Poulain powders described as having a stronger cocoa flavour. Choose by checking each product’s ingredients and preparation instructions.
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Individual sachets may suit you if you want to prepare one cup at a time. Check the ingredients and recommended amount of powder before comparing the sugar content per prepared drink.
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This sachet option is for households looking to consider a recipe labelled ‘Sugar Free’. Don’t assume you know its ingredients or how the drink will taste based on this claim alone: check the pack’s ingredients, nutritional information and allergens.
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This pack size may be suitable for making several cups. To understand ‘Less Sugar’, check the sugar content per 100 g and what product or range it’s being compared with. If you need to avoid any allergens, read the exact product packaging.
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This pack may suit households considering a recipe described as more cocoa-forward rather than necessarily very mild. Compare the sugar content on the packaging for this option and check its allergens before serving it to children who need to avoid them.
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This 400 g option gives you another Poulain pack size to consider for the same occasion. Don’t assume it has the same ingredients as the 450 g pack: compare the ingredients, sugar content and allergens of each one separately.
No. In France, the DGCCRF distinguishes Nutri-Score, which is voluntary, from nutrition information, which is generally compulsory for prepacked foods. If Nutri-Score is shown, it doesn’t replace checking the sugar content, ingredients and allergens.
No. The contribution described by the Official Bulletin of Public Finances – Taxation applies in particular to non-alcoholic drinks that are ready to consume and contain added sugars. A powder that needs to be diluted shouldn’t automatically be treated as a ready-to-drink beverage; whether the rules apply to a specific product depends on its characteristics.
First compare the ‘sugars’ figure per 100 g of powder, then check how much is used in each cup. To compare the drinks you make, also take account of any milk or other liquid added. Read any ‘less sugar’ claim alongside its basis of comparison.
Read the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ statements on the packaging for the exact product. For example, the Carrefour product information reviewed says Poulain Grand Arôme 250 g may contain milk and soy, while Banania’s cereal, banana and honey recipe includes wheat and barley.
A large pack is best suited to households that already know the recipe and expect to use it. If you’re trying it for the first time, think about how much you’re actually likely to make, then check the best-before date and storage instructions on the pack you choose.