To go with toast and jam, choose an instant chocolate drink powder if ease of preparation is your priority, or unsweetened cocoa if you’d rather decide how much sugar to add to your mug. Then compare the ingredients and sugars per 100 g of dry powder. Don’t assume that a higher cocoa percentage automatically means less sugar.
If jam already provides the sweetness you want at breakfast, unsweetened cocoa lets you decide what to add to your drink. With instant chocolate drink powder, check the “of which sugars” figure and the recommended serving size.
Instant chocolate drink powder is a simple choice when you’re making several mugs. Nesquik, Banania and Poulain offer different recipes and pack sizes, so check the specific product rather than assuming their powders are interchangeable.
The stated cocoa percentage can help you identify formulations to compare. Check the ingredients and sugar content too: cocoa content alone doesn’t tell you how sweet the prepared drink will be.
First decide whether you want a chocolate drink powder that’s ready to prepare or unsweetened cocoa that you can measure out yourself. Then check the recipe and preparation instructions for each product. Two powders made for hot chocolate may call for different choices in your mug.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar in your mug | Compare the “of which sugars” figure per 100 g of dry powder, then check the serving size and anything else you might add to your mug. | When I have jam on my toast, I like to decide for myself whether to sweeten my drink too. Around 36% of consumers prioritise having this control over added sugar. |
| Family-friendly preparation | Check the pack size, ingredients list and preparation instructions for the specific product. | When several people are having breakfast, I mainly look for a powder that’s easy to prepare regularly. This convenience is the priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Cocoa flavour | Check the cocoa percentage if one is stated, but don’t use it as a substitute for the sugar information. | If my toast is already sweet, I might prefer a drink with a stronger cocoa flavour. This is the top priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the product you’re buying. | When I need to avoid a particular ingredient, the recipe comes before taste or pack size. Around 14% of consumers put this check first. |
Unsweetened cocoa lets you control what you add to your mug; in some chocolate drink powders, sugar is already the first ingredient. The two products therefore give you different levels of control over how you prepare your drink.
Start by choosing the type of preparation you want, then compare the sugars per 100 g of dry powder and the recommended serving size.
The tax rules published by Légifrance apply to drinks and liquid preparations that meet the conditions set out in the legislation. The sugar content of a dry powder alone isn’t enough to establish whether it is subject to this contribution.
Choose your powder based on its ingredients and nutritional information. If its tax treatment affects your purchase, ask the manufacturer to confirm.
According to the Ministry of Health, Nutri-Score is voluntary. The DGCCRF distinguishes this label from the nutrition declaration required for prepacked foods.
Whether or not a Nutri-Score is shown, compare the nutritional values and ingredients of the products you’re interested in.
According to Banania, its Original chocolate drink powder contains cereals including wheat and barley. Other ingredient and “may contain” statements depend on the specific product.
Check the label on the product you’re actually buying if particular ingredients or allergens matter to your choice.
Chocolate drink powders available in several pack sizes; Carrefour lists a 350 g “Less Sugar” version, for example.
According to Poulain, Grand Arôme contains 32% cocoa and Grand Arôme Intense contains 70%.
According to Banania, its Original chocolate drink powder combines sugar, cocoa and cereals. The recipe also contains dried banana and honey.
The retailer stocks powders from different brands, as well as Carrefour Classic’ and Carrefour Bio recipes.
The retailer offers a chocolate drink powder with 32% cocoa, as well as unsweetened 100% cocoa products.
E.Leclerc stocks a 250 g pack of Equador “pure unsweetened cocoa”.
Compare the “of which sugars” figure per 100 g of dry powder on each pack, then take the serving size and anything you add to your mug into account. A figure for a drink already made with milk can’t be compared directly with one for dry powder.
No. The stated percentage tells you about the formulation, but not about sugar or allergens on its own. For example, Poulain states that Grand Arôme contains 32% cocoa and Grand Arôme Intense contains 70%. Check the nutritional values for the product you’re considering.
No. According to the Ministry of Health, Nutri-Score is voluntary. The DGCCRF explains that a nutrition declaration is generally required for prepacked foods, so you can use it to compare products even if no Nutri-Score is displayed.
No. The fact that a dry powder contains sugar isn’t enough to conclude that it is subject to the tax. The rules published by Légifrance apply to drinks and liquid preparations under the conditions set out in the legislation. If this affects your purchase, ask for confirmation about the specific product.
Follow the instructions on the packaging of the product you’ve bought. For Nesquik Original 300 g, Joybuy recommends storing it in a cool, dry place. Make sure you seal the pack properly after use.