Parents who want to control what they add
If you prefer to decide how much sugar to add and which milk to use, 100% cocoa gives you the freedom to make the drink your own. The trade-off is that you’ll need to measure and prepare it yourself.
Who are these options for?
Busy parents looking for a chocolatey flavour
Instant powder may be just what you need for quick preparation. If you’re looking for a less sweet taste, check the ingredients and sugar content too—not just the cocoa percentage shown on the pack.
Households mindful of allergens
Gluten, soya and milk declarations, as well as warnings about possible traces, vary from product to product. Check the label of the exact product you plan to use, even if you’re switching from your usual recipe.
What should you look at first?
First, decide whether you want the freedom to make your own drink or the convenience of instant powder. Then narrow down your choice based on the flavour you’re after and the sugar content, comparing products on the same basis.
100% unsweetened cocoa
Choose this if: you want to control the additions and cocoa flavour yourself.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to measure and prepare it yourself; the instructions for Auchan 100% cocoa call for it to be cooked with milk.
Instant powder with a higher cocoa content
Choose this if: you want something quick to prepare while still looking for a stated cocoa content on the pack.
Bear in mind: a high cocoa content doesn’t mean there’s no sugar; sugar is listed first among the ingredients in the Poulain Grand arôme version featured by Auchan.
Classic chocolate drink powder
Choose this if: you prefer a familiar flavoured recipe, such as Banania Original’s blend of cocoa, cereals, banana and honey.
Bear in mind: this blend isn’t a substitute for pure cocoa if your priority is to choose each addition separately.
| Consideration | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars and ingredients | Where sugar appears in the ingredients list and the sugar content per 100 g of powder. | If I want to decide for myself what goes into my cup, a powder that’s already sweetened gives me less freedom. Around 45% of consumers would make this their priority. |
| Quick to prepare | The recommended serving amount and the steps needed before you can serve the drink. | When I’m making a hot drink while looking after my child, I prefer to keep the number of steps to a minimum. Speed would come first for around 22% of consumers. |
| Cocoa flavour | The stated cocoa content and other ingredients that contribute to the flavour, particularly cereals and flavourings. | I’m looking for a stronger cocoa flavour, without assuming that a powder described as “intense” will contain less sugar. This flavour profile would be the priority for around 33% of consumers. |
Common misconceptions to avoid
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Assuming “intense” means “low in sugar”
Auchan Intense powder, featured by Auchan, contains 32% cocoa and lists 68 g of sugars per 100 g. The name and cocoa content don’t replace a careful look at the nutritional information.
Compare the “of which sugars” figure per 100 g of powder, then check the recommended amount for one cup.
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Ruling out a powder without a Nutri-Score
According to Santé publique France, producers can choose whether or not to display the Nutri-Score. Its absence alone isn’t enough to judge a powder’s ingredients.
Read the ingredients list and nutritional values, even when a Nutri-Score is shown.
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Forgetting to check allergens in a new recipe
Banania Original contains gluten and may contain traces of milk and soya, according to information from Banania and Joybuy. Other products may carry different declarations.
Check the packaging of the product you buy, including any “may contain” statements.
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Comparing powder with a prepared drink
Values per 100 g of powder and per 100 ml of prepared drink don’t describe the same amount of powder. The prepared drink may also include milk.
To compare recipes, use the same nutritional basis, then take the recommended amount of each product per cup into account.
Brands to compare
Auchan
Two distinct options: 100% unsweetened cocoa and Intense powder with 32% cocoa.
- The 100% cocoa featured by Auchan contains 1.9 g of naturally occurring sugars per 100 g, so you can choose separately what to add to your drink.
- Auchan Intense powder contains sugar and has 68 g of sugars per 100 g. Also check the chosen product for warnings about possible allergen traces.
Poulain
The Grand arôme range includes an instant powder with a stated cocoa content.
- The Grand arôme version featured by Auchan lists 47% cocoa in its ingredients.
- Sugar is listed first in the ingredients for this version, so compare the nutritional values for the pack size you’re buying.
Banania
Banania Original chocolate drink powder blends cocoa with cereals, banana and honey, rather than offering pure cocoa.
- Its ingredients list clearly shows what contributes to the flavour of this recipe.
- According to Banania, the Original product contains 69 g of sugars per 100 g. For the pack featured, Joybuy lists gluten and possible traces of milk and soya.
Nesquik
Original chocolate drink powder is a mix to prepare, rather than 100% cocoa.
- The Joybuy listing for the pack viewed details the ingredients, including sugar, 23% low-fat cocoa and soya lecithin.
- The same listing flags soya and possible traces of milk. Its values per 100 ml of prepared drink aren’t directly comparable with values per 100 g of powder.
Hot chocolate powders on Joybuy
These products include powders, granules and sachets for making hot chocolate. If you’re mainly looking for a stronger cocoa flavour or more control over what you add, check the ingredients of each recipe rather than treating these formats as interchangeable with 100% unsweetened cocoa.
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POULAIN Rich Flavor chocolate drink powder, 400 g
If you want a quick-to-prepare powder with a stated cocoa content, the Joybuy listing for this pack says it contains at least 47% cocoa. Check the sugars and allergens on the packaging of the product you choose.
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BENCO Less Sugar chocolate granules, 400 g
If you prefer granules for making hot chocolate, this pack contains 400 g. The variant name alone isn’t enough to compare nutritional values, so check the sugars per 100 g before you choose.
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Columbus Intense chocolate drink powder, 320 g
When comparing a powder described as “Intense” with other recipes, look at the ingredients rather than relying on that description alone. The pack contains 320 g; also check the allergens and the basis used for the nutritional values on the label.
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VAN HOUTEN VH2 hot chocolate powder, 34%, 1 kg
If you’re comparing recipes by their cocoa percentage, check which ingredient the “34%” in the name refers to: don’t assume it’s the cocoa content of the entire mix. This pack contains 1 kg of powder.
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DAMTUH Pokémon hot chocolate, 10 sachets of 20 g
If individual sachets matter to you, this box contains ten 20 g sachets. To assess the recipe, check the ingredients list and nutritional information rather than trying to work out what’s in it from the product name alone.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Nutri-Score compulsory on hot chocolate powder?
No. According to Santé publique France, producers in France can choose whether or not to display it. Whether or not a Nutri-Score is shown, check the ingredients list and nutritional values to compare recipes.
How do I get started with 100% unsweetened cocoa?
Start by following the instructions for the product you’ve bought, then adjust the milk and any additions to suit your taste. For its 100% cocoa, Auchan recommends mixing 10 g of powder with milk and heating gently for five minutes.
Are the allergens the same in all chocolate drink powders?
No. Ingredients and allergen warnings vary from recipe to recipe. Joybuy lists gluten in Banania Original and soya in the Nesquik Original product viewed. Always check the declarations on the specific pack you’re buying.