Parents keeping an eye on sugar
You want something convenient to prepare while comparing lower-sugar options, nutritional values per 100 g and the amount of powder used in each cup.
Who are these options for?
Households looking for convenience
You’re after a quick-to-prepare powder for breakfast or a snack. However, sugar may be one of the first ingredients in a classic recipe, so check the label of the product you choose.
People who want to control the recipe
You’d rather add any sugar yourself to your cocoa, or need to check the ingredients and allergen information carefully before buying.
What should you prioritise?
The key difference is how much of the preparation you want to do: chocolate powder gives you a ready-made recipe to mix, while unsweetened cocoa lets you choose what to add. Either way, compare drinks prepared with the ingredients and quantities you actually plan to use.
‘Less sugar’ powder
Consider this: if you want to keep using a mix-in powder while looking at a formula marketed as lower in sugar.
Bear in mind: the brand’s claim compares the product with a specific product and serving; it doesn’t mean it contains no sugar.
Classic chocolate powder
Consider this: if a ready-made recipe suits your priority of keeping preparation simple.
Bear in mind: recipes vary. In the classic Nesquik and Banania Original products reviewed, sugar is the first ingredient listed.
Unsweetened cocoa
Consider this: if you want to decide separately how much cocoa to use and what to add.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to make up the drink yourself. Its taste and nutritional values depend on the recipe you prepare.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar | Compare sugar per 100 g across similar products, then check how much powder you use per cup. Read what a ‘less sugar’ claim is being compared with. | I want to reduce the sugar in my usual drink without giving up a quick preparation method; around 42% of consumers would put this need first. |
| Preparation | Check the preparation instructions, pack size and the first ingredients in the recipe. | When breakfast time is short, I’d choose a ready-made recipe that my household will find easy to use; around 33% of consumers would put this criterion first. |
| Ingredients | Read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact product. With unsweetened cocoa, remember that you’ll need to measure out any additions yourself. | I want to choose what goes into my cup or carefully check the ingredients used by my household; around 25% of consumers would put this need first. |
Common misconceptions to avoid
-
Assuming every powder has to display a Nutri-Score
According to Santé publique France, displaying the Nutri-Score is voluntary. The DGCCRF distinguishes this label from the information required on prepacked foods, including the ingredients list and nutrition declaration.
If a Nutri-Score appears on the packaging, use it to compare similar products. In all cases, check the ingredients, sugar content and serving as prepared.
-
Taking ‘less sugar’ to mean ‘sugar-free’
The comparison shown for Nesquik Moins de Sucres is based on the sugar per mug compared with the average in cocoa drinks for children. It doesn’t, by itself, describe the sugar content of every recipe or of a cup prepared differently.
Check which product it is compared with, the nutritional values, and the amount of powder and liquid used.
-
Overlooking cereals or soya
According to its ingredients list, Banania Original contains wheat and barley, among other ingredients. The classic Nesquik product shown by Carrefour contains soya lecithin.
If there are ingredients your household needs to avoid, read the label for the exact variant, including any ‘may contain’ warnings.
-
Confusing unsweetened cocoa with a ready-made drink mix
Unsweetened cocoa lets you choose what to add, but it isn’t the same recipe as a sweetened chocolate powder.
Choose this option if you want to control the cocoa, liquid and any sugar you add. Otherwise, compare chocolate powders based on the drink as prepared.
Brands and products to know
Nesquik
A classic chocolate powder and a ‘Moins de Sucres’ version to compare product by product.
- Carrefour’s product information for the classic version lists sugar followed by 23% low-fat cocoa; the ‘Moins de Sucres’ version reviewed lists 35% low-fat cocoa.
- The reduction in sugar per mug is a comparison made for that particular version, not a feature of the whole brand. Both recipes reviewed contain soya lecithin.
Banania
A chocolate powder whose Original recipe combines cocoa, cereals, banana and honey.
- Banania lists pack sizes of 250 g, 400 g and 1 kg for this range.
- The Original recipe published by Banania contains wheat and barley, so it isn’t suitable for avoiding gluten. The brand also warns that it may contain traces of milk and soya.
Carrefour Classic'
A Classic' chocolate powder available in a 400 g tin on the Carrefour website.
- Its pack size can be compared with other chocolate powders while you shop.
- To assess the recipe, check the ingredients and nutritional values on this specific tin rather than those of another Carrefour product.
Marque Repère / EQUADOR
Unsweetened cocoa powder for making your own chocolate drink.
- The EQUADOR product shown by E.Leclerc lists cocoa powder and acidity regulator E501 in its ingredients.
- This isn’t a sweetened chocolate powder that’s ready to mix: you choose what to add and how much.
Chocolate powders available on Joybuy
These products are chocolate drink powders sold in sachets, granules or tins. To choose between them, start with what matters most to you — preparation, sugar or ingredients — then check the nutritional values and label for the variant you’re considering.
Image unavailable
DAMTUH Pokémon hot chocolate, 10 sachets of 20 g
The individual sachets may suit you if you want to make one cup at a time. The original product name includes a ‘sugar-free’ claim. Before choosing it, check the nutritional values, ingredients and allergen information for this product.
Image unavailable
POULAIN Cocoa with Rich Flavor, 400 g
This 400 g tin is worth considering if you’re looking for a chocolate powder to mix and want to compare different recipes. Check the sugar per 100 g, serving as prepared and allergen information on the label. Don’t confuse it with the 450 g variant.
Image unavailable
BENCO Less Sugar chocolate granules, 400 g
This 400 g pack of granules can be included in a comparison of mix-in powders. The ‘Less Sugar’ claim doesn’t tell you how much sugar is in each cup: check the nutritional values and how much you plan to use.
Image unavailable
POULAIN Cocoa with Rich Flavor, 450 g
This 450 g variant may suit you if you’re looking for a ready-made chocolate powder. Compare its ingredients list and sugar per 100 g with those of the 400 g POULAIN tin: the shared product name doesn’t guarantee that the recipes are identical.
Image unavailable
VAN HOUTEN VH2, 34% chocolate powder, 1 kg
The 1 kg pack may suit a household planning to use it regularly and with room to store it. Check what the ‘34%’ refers to in the ingredients, as well as the sugar and allergen information for this variant.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nutri-Score compulsory on chocolate powder in France?
No. According to Santé publique France, Nutri-Score can be displayed voluntarily. For prepacked food, the DGCCRF sets out labelling requirements, including an ingredients list and nutrition declaration. Check these even if a Nutri-Score is shown.
Does the ‘soda tax’ automatically apply to a tin of chocolate powder?
Don’t assume that a dry powder is covered just because of the name of the tax. The scale cited here from the Official Bulletin of Public Finances relates to levies on non-alcoholic drinks. When choosing a powder, check its listed ingredients and sugar content directly.
How can I compare the sugar in classic powder, a ‘less sugar’ version and unsweetened cocoa?
Compare the sugar per 100 g across similar products, then check how much powder and liquid are used for each cup. ‘Less sugar’ refers to a specific comparison for that product; with unsweetened cocoa, any additions depend on your recipe.
Which ingredients should I check if my household needs to avoid certain allergens?
Read the highlighted allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the exact product packaging. The Banania Original recipe published by the brand contains wheat and barley and warns that it may contain traces of milk and soya. The classic Nesquik product shown by Carrefour contains soya lecithin.