Fans of deeply dark cocoa
If you value cocoa flavour over sweetness, compare unsweetened pure cocoa with mixes labelled as containing 47% or 70% cocoa. With pure cocoa, you can choose what else to add.
Who are these powders for?
Festival-goers keeping an eye on sugar
The word ‘intense’ doesn’t tell you how much sugar a powder contains. Check the nutritional information per 100 g and see where sugar appears in the ingredients list.
Campers making their drink on site
Your choice also depends on the liquid and utensils available. If a powder needs to be kept dry, protect it from moisture while you’re travelling.
What should you look for?
For a drink with a pronounced cocoa flavour, first compare pure cocoa with sweetened mixes, then check whether they’ll be practical for your trip.
Unsweetened pure cocoa
Choose this if: you want to control what you add to the cocoa.
Bear in mind: this isn’t a ready-to-use sweetened mix; check that you’ll be able to prepare it according to the instructions.
Powder with 47% or 70% cocoa
Choose this if: you’re looking for a sweetened chocolate drink mix with a stated cocoa content.
Check: a high cocoa content doesn’t mean the powder is low in sugar.
32% cocoa mix
Consider this if: you’d prefer a sweetened chocolate mix to pure cocoa.
The downside: the Auchan and Carrefour recipes mentioned here list sugar before cocoa.
| Factor | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars | Compare the sugars per 100 g and the order of the ingredients, rather than relying on the word ‘intense’ alone. | If I want to control the sugar in my drink, the ingredients matter more than the product name; around 50% of consumers prioritise this control over sugar. |
| Cocoa flavour | Look for pure cocoa or the stated cocoa content of the mix, then check its sugar content separately. | If cocoa flavour is the most important thing in my drink, I compare the recipes first rather than relying on their names alone; this intensity is the priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Preparation and transport | Read the instructions and storage guidance; check what liquid you’ll need and whether you can keep the powder dry. | If I can’t be sure what preparation equipment will be available on site, I want to know what I’ll need to bring and protect from moisture; around 20% of consumers put these practical considerations first. |
Mistakes to avoid
-
Assuming ‘intense’ means ‘low in sugar’
In the Auchan and Carrefour mixes with 32% cocoa featured here, sugar appears before cocoa in the ingredients list.
Before choosing based on the cocoa percentage, compare the sugars per 100 g and the ingredients.
-
Expecting pure cocoa to work like an instant sweetened powder
The instructions for Auchan pure cocoa call for hot milk and stirring, so you’ll need to be able to prepare your drink on site.
Check the instructions on the pack you choose and what equipment will be available.
Depending on your recipe, you’ll also need to carry the milk and any ingredients you want to add separately.
-
Forgetting about moisture and allergen information
Powder that isn’t well protected from moisture is less practical to store in a bag. The product information for Carrefour Original cocoa says it may contain traces of gluten, milk, eggs, soya and nuts.
Keep the powder in a clean, dry, tightly sealed container, and check the information on the exact pack you’re taking with you.
Brands to compare
Auchan
Two different recipes let you compare 250 g of unsweetened pure cocoa with a 500 g chocolate drink mix containing 32% cocoa.
- The product information for the pure cocoa lists cocoa powder and an acidity regulator.
- In the mix with 32% cocoa, sugar is the first ingredient.
Carrefour
Carrefour Original is described as cocoa powder with no added sugars; Classic' Intense is a mix labelled as containing at least 32% cocoa.
- The ingredients list for Carrefour Original lists cocoa powder.
- For Classic' Intense, check the ingredients list if you want to avoid a recipe where sugar comes first.
Poulain
The Grand Arôme products featured here are labelled as containing at least 47% cocoa for one and 70% for the other.
- These stated cocoa contents make it easy to tell the two recipes apart when choosing.
- The 47% option is still sweetened: the product information for the 400 g pack states that it contains 52 g of sugars per 100 g.
Banania
The classic recipe described by Carrefour combines cocoa and cereals, making it a different choice from pure cocoa.
- Its ingredients list tells you what kind of mix it is before you buy.
- Sugar is listed first, and heavily defatted cocoa makes up 19% of the stated recipe.
An option on Joybuy
This selection features a Poulain mix labelled as containing at least 47% cocoa, for anyone looking for a sweetened chocolate powder to take along. Compare its ingredients and instructions with the conditions you’ll have on your trip.
Image unavailable
Poulain intense-flavour chocolate powder 400 g
Worth considering if you want to take a chocolate drink mix with a stated cocoa content. The description says it contains at least 47% cocoa; sugar is the first ingredient, and the nutritional information states that it contains 52 g of sugars per 100 g. The powder is described as instant and should be stored in a cool, dry place. Check the instructions and make sure the container is sealed before you set off.
Frequently asked questions
Is a tin of dry hot chocolate powder automatically subject to the French tax on sugary drinks?
No. Its sugar content alone isn’t enough to determine whether it is subject to the tax. Article 1613 ter of the French General Tax Code, published by Légifrance, applies to drinks and liquid drink preparations that meet the conditions set out in the legislation; a dry powder shouldn’t automatically be treated as a liquid drink.
Does hot chocolate powder have to display the Nutri-Score?
No. Santé publique France states that displaying the Nutri-Score is voluntary. If it is shown, you can consider it alongside the ingredients list and nutritional information, but its absence shouldn’t be a reason to rule a product out.
Does powder with more cocoa always contain less sugar?
No: cocoa content and sugar content are two separate pieces of information. The 400 g Poulain mix, labelled as containing at least 47% cocoa, also states that it contains 52 g of sugars per 100 g. Check the nutritional values for each recipe.
What should you take to prepare pure cocoa at a festival?
First, check the pack to see what liquid you’ll need and whether it needs to be heated. The instructions for Auchan pure cocoa call for hot milk and stirring; you’ll also need a way to keep the powder dry and any ingredients you want to add.