People who make their drink at home
If you often make hot chocolate around your workouts and don’t take the pack with you, a larger size can save you from having to restock so often. Store it somewhere dry and reseal it after use.
Who are these options for?
People keeping an eye on sugar
Compare the ‘of which sugars’ line in the nutritional information on the same basis, such as per 100 g of powder. ‘Less sugar’ doesn’t mean ‘sugar-free’; and if there’s a Nutri-Score on the pack, it isn’t a substitute for checking the nutritional information.
People who take a serving to the gym
You can carry a serving of dry powder in a sachet or an airtight container, but you’ll also need to bring the liquid and equipment required to make your drink. A drink made with milk needs to be stored with extra care.
What should you look for?
First decide whether the powder will stay at home or travel in your bag. Then compare sugar content across products whose nutritional values are shown on the same basis.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar | Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g of powder, or per 100 ml of prepared drink made using the same method. Check the serving size too. | If I want to keep an eye on the sugar in my chocolate drink, a claim on the front of the pack isn’t enough to help me choose. Around 40% of consumers make this comparison a priority. |
| Transport and preparation | Check the serving size, the liquid you’ll need and the storage instructions if you’re taking a drink that’s already been made. | When I want a drink after a workout, I need to be able to carry a serving without it leaking and make the drink when I’m ready. Around 30% of consumers put ease of transport first. |
| Pack size | Compare the net weight and storage instructions after opening. If you’re keeping the pack at home, consider using a smaller container. | When I make hot chocolate at home regularly, I’d rather keep a larger pack than have to buy more frequently. Around 30% of consumers prioritise avoiding frequent restocking. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Confusing ‘less sugar’ with ‘sugar-free’
A stated reduction is based on a particular comparison product and serving size. On its own, it doesn’t tell you how much sugar will be in the drink you make.
Compare the ‘of which sugars’ line on the same basis and check how much powder is recommended for one cup.
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Putting a large pack straight into your bag
An 800 g or 1.2 kg pack takes up a lot of room if you only want to bring enough for one drink.
Keep the large pack at home and measure out just the amount you need into a suitable container.
You may need to buy a small, extra airtight container for this.
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Overlooking the ingredients in the exact product you’re buying
Recipes vary: the Carrefour France product pages we consulted list soya in one Nesquik product, and wheat and barley in one Banania product.
If you have an allergy or intolerance, check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack of the product you’re buying.
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Treating a milk-based drink like dry powder
Once made with milk, the drink needs to be transported differently from the powder. The French Ministry of Agriculture notes that keeping food chilled slows the deterioration of perishable foods.
Where possible, carry the powder separately and make your drink shortly before you plan to have it. If you’re taking a chilled product with you, follow its storage instructions.
Brands to know
Nesquik
The range includes an 800 g tub of powder and a 350 g ‘Moins de Sucres’ product, as featured by Carrefour France.
- The 800 g pack may suit people who regularly make hot chocolate at home.
- The ‘Moins de Sucres’ claim applies to a specific recipe, not all Nesquik powders. Compare the nutritional information for each product.
Poulain
Grand Arôme and Grand Arôme Moins de Sucres are different chocolate powder recipes.
- The Carrefour France product page for Grand Arôme Moins de Sucres states that it contains at least 47% cocoa.
- The page notes that it may contain milk and soya. Check the packaging of the product you choose.
Banania
The chocolate powder recipe featured by Carrefour France includes cereals, banana and honey, among other ingredients. The product pages we consulted cover several pack sizes.
- A larger pack may suit regular use at home.
- The 400 g tub’s product page lists wheat and barley. Check the ingredients on the specific size you’re considering.
Carrefour Classic'
Carrefour France features Carrefour Classic' chocolate powder in an 800 g tub.
- This pack size lets you keep powder at home for several drinks.
- The pack size alone doesn’t tell you what’s in the product. Check the ingredients and nutritional values on the tub.
Chocolate powders available on Joybuy
These products include single-serve sachets to take with you and packs to keep at home. Choose based on where you’ll be making your drink, then check the ingredients and nutritional values for each recipe.
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DAMTUH Hot Chocolate Sugar Free Pokemon, 10 × 20 g
The individual sachets let you take a serving with you without carrying the whole box. Bring hot water or milk to make your drink. If the ingredients matter to you, check the ingredients and nutritional values on the packaging.
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DAMTUH Hot Chocolate Pokemon, 10 × 20 g
This sachet pack is a good choice if you want to take a serving with you and make your drink later with hot water or milk. If you’re comparing this recipe with the ‘Sugar Free’ version, check the nutritional information for each separately.
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NESTLÉ NESQUIK Instant Cocoa Drink Powder, 800 g
This 800 g pack is worth considering if you regularly make the drink at home and only take a small serving with you to the gym. The Joybuy France product page suggests making it with hot or cold milk. Only compare its sugar content with other powders when the nutritional information is given on the same basis.
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Bananina Original Chocolate Powder, 1 kg
The 1 kg pack is better suited to keeping in stock at home than carrying around in your bag every day. Check the ingredients and preparation instructions for this exact product, rather than assuming they’re the same as for another chocolate powder.
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BENCO Less Sugar Chocolate Powder in Granules, 400 g
This 400 g tub is suitable for keeping powder at home and measuring it out as you make your drink. If the ‘Less Sugar’ claim is what interests you, check the ‘of which sugars’ line and the basis for comparison on the packaging, rather than assuming the sugar content from the claim alone.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nutri-Score compulsory on chocolate powder?
No. In France, Nutri-Score labelling is voluntary, as the DGCCRF explains. Nutritional information is generally compulsory for prepacked foods. Use it to compare sugar content, for example, on the same basis.
Can you put a drink made with milk in a gym bag?
Yes, as long as you follow the storage instructions for the prepared drink. If you can’t keep it at the required temperature during your journey, take the powder separately and make the drink when you’re ready to have it.
Which ingredients should you check before choosing a chocolate powder?
Read the ingredients list and allergen information for the exact product, especially if you have an allergy or intolerance. The Carrefour France product pages we consulted list soya in some Nesquik recipes, wheat and barley in Banania, and possible traces of milk and soya in Poulain Grand Arôme Moins de Sucres. Always check the packaging of the product you buy.