If you want to split the powder between several rucksacks or hiking days, choose individual sachets and check how many there actually are: 80 advertised servings does not mean 80 sachets. A bulk pack could work if you can portion it out and protect it from moisture. Then compare sugars per 100 g, ingredients and the liquid needed to prepare it.
If you need a portion for each day on the trail, individual sachets save you having to measure out the powder on the spot. With a bulk pack, plan to use suitable containers to portion it out and keep it dry.
The number of drinks you can make matters more to you than the number of sachets. Auchan advertises 88 servings for the 1 kg Nesquik pack it features, but notes that it does not contain individual sachets.
Compare sugars per 100 g and read the ingredients list for the product you choose, especially if you’re catering for a group. The DGCCRF reminds shoppers that allergens in prepacked foods must be listed and highlighted on the label.
First, distinguish the pack format from the number of drinks it can make. Then check the recipe and what you’ll need to carry to prepare it.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Portioning and carrying | The number and weight of individual sachets, or the containers you’ll need to portion out loose powder. | Some shoppers prioritise portioning so they can prepare doses before setting off and share them between rucksacks; around 31% would put this need first. |
| Sugars and ingredients | The ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g, plus the ingredients and allergens in the product you’re buying. | If the recipe matters more than the format, comparing nutritional information can help you choose between the powders you’re considering. Around 38% of shoppers would make this their priority. |
| Preparing it on the trail | The liquid and quantity specified in the instructions, and whether you can mix the powder in the conditions you’ll encounter while hiking. | If I can’t carry milk or heat the drink, I need to know how to prepare my powder before I set off; around 23% of shoppers would make this their first criterion. |
| Total quantity | Net weight, recommended serving size and advertised number of servings, without confusing these with the number of sachets. | For regular breaks or a group, having enough powder may matter more than the pack format. Around 8% of shoppers would prioritise the total quantity. |
The 1 kg Nesquik pack featured by Auchan advertises 88 servings, while stating that it does not contain individual sachets. It may offer close to the quantity you’re looking for, but it won’t meet the need for pre-portioned servings.
Check the number of sachets, their weight and the recommended number of servings separately. If you choose loose powder, plan how you’ll portion it out and keep it dry.
On its own, this claim doesn’t tell you how much sugar is in the powder or in the drink you’ll prepare.
Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g across products, then take into account how much powder and liquid you’ll use per serving.
According to the product pages featured by Auchan, the instructions for Benco Less Sugar and Poulain Grand arôme call for 15 g of powder and 200 ml of semi-skimmed milk. The nutritional information for the prepared drink is based on this recipe.
Decide before setting off which liquid you’ll take with you. If you plan to use water or make the drink cold, check the instructions for your chosen product and try it out that way first.
You’ll also need to make room in your rucksack for the liquid and something to mix the drink with.
RappelConso issued a recall for a 255 g pack of Van Houten unsweetened cocoa powder because it exceeded the safety limit for mineral oil hydrocarbons. This recall does not, by itself, apply to every powder from the brand.
If you buy or already have this product, compare the identifying details and batch number on the packaging with the RappelConso notice. Do not consume a batch covered by the recall.
Two products featured by Auchan illustrate different options: a 1 kg bulk pack and a 350 g ‘less sugar’ variant.
The 680 g Grand arôme pack featured by Auchan gives you a chance to consider a recipe with a declared cocoa content.
The 1 kg original recipe featured by Carrefour combines chocolate powder with cereal ingredients, banana and honey.
The 400 g ‘less sugar’ granules featured by Auchan give you a product whose nutritional information can be compared per 100 g.
Cao Kido 1 kg offers a useful comparison with a supermarket own-brand bulk pack.
These products include sachets or sticks to split between hiking breaks, as well as larger packs of powder to portion out before setting off. Check the pack format of each product if you’re specifically looking for 80 individual sachets.
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You can split the sachets between several breaks without having to measure out the powder on the spot. There are 10 sachets in the pack, so check how many packs you’ll need if you’re aiming for 80 servings.
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The stick format is handy for carrying individual portions on shorter outings. The pack contains 6 sticks, not 80; check the nutrition label too if sugar content is part of your decision.
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This bulk pack could be an option if you’re happy to portion out what you’ll carry. The name states 34% cocoa and 1 kg of powder; check the recommended serving size and pack format before estimating how many servings you’ll get. The recall of a 255 g Van Houten cocoa product mentioned above does not, by itself, apply to this VH2 product.
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For a hike, you’ll need to plan how to measure out and carry portions from this pack. The name states 20% cocoa and 1 kg of powder; check the serving size and preparation instructions on the packaging before planning your drinks.
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This variant lets you compare a different recipe if the ingredients matter more to you than a larger quantity. For the 400 g product featured by Auchan, the nutrition information lists 50 g of sugars per 100 g; check the label and pack format of the product you choose before preparing your portions.
No. The DGCCRF explains that nutrition declarations are compulsory for most prepacked foods, while displaying Nutri-Score is voluntary. To compare two powders, read their nutrition information per 100 g, whether or not they carry the logo.
You can’t determine that for a dry powder from the scale published by the Official Bulletin of Public Finances – Taxes alone: it applies to non-alcoholic drinks and sets contributions per hectolitre of drink. Check the sugars on the label to compare recipes, but don’t use that information to infer the product’s tax status.
Check the label of each product you actually buy. Among the products featured by retailers, the 1 kg Nesquik lists soya, the original Banania lists wheat and barley, and Auchan Cao Kido lists soya and may contain traces of milk. The DGCCRF says that allergens must be highlighted on prepacked foods.
Check the instructions for your chosen powder before relying on water alone. The preparations featured by Auchan for Benco Less Sugar and Poulain Grand arôme call for semi-skimmed milk; using a different liquid changes the recipe for the prepared drink. Trying it before you set off will help you decide whether you like the result.
RappelConso issued a targeted recall for a 255 g pack of Van Houten unsweetened cocoa powder because it exceeded the safety limit for mineral oil hydrocarbons. If you have this product, compare the identifying details and batch number on your pack with the recall notice. Do not consume a batch covered by the recall.