Hikers who love an intense cocoa flavour
If you’re looking for a pronounced cocoa flavour, compare the stated cocoa content of specific products rather than relying on the product name alone.
Who might these options suit?
Hikers keeping an eye on added sugar
If you want to control how much sugar goes into your drink, distinguish cocoa labelled “no added sugar” from powder marketed as “less sugar”. The ingredients list can help you decide.
Walkers who make a drink during a break
Powder is a good option if you’re bringing water and a container, and have time to mix it. It’s less suitable if you want a snack you can eat on the go without any preparation.
What should you look for when hiking?
First decide whether you want to make a drink during a break or bring a ready-to-eat snack. If you’re choosing a drink, compare the cocoa and sugar content of the recipe you’re considering.
| What matters to you | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Pronounced cocoa flavour | The stated cocoa content for the specific product and pack size you’re buying, along with its ingredients list. | When I stop for a break, I mainly want a drink with a strong cocoa flavour, even if it’s less sweet. Around 42% of consumers are said to prioritise this intensity. |
| Sugar in the recipe | The exact “less sugar” or “no added sugar” claim, followed by the ingredients and nutritional information per 100 g of powder. | I’d rather control how much sugar I add to my drink than choose an already sweetened recipe. Around 33% of consumers are said to prioritise this control. |
| Preparing it while hiking | Whether you can bring water, a container and something to mix the powder with when you plan to have it. | If I want to eat without stopping to make a drink, I’m better off with a ready-to-eat snack. Nearly 25% of consumers are said to prioritise this convenience. |
What common misconceptions should you avoid?
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Assuming “intense” or “dark” means pure cocoa
The name alone doesn’t tell you how much cocoa the powder contains. According to Carrefour’s product information, its Classic’ Intense chocolate powder contains at least 32% cocoa, with sugar as the first ingredient. Carrefour Original, on the other hand, is a cocoa powder labelled as having no added sugar.
Check the cocoa percentage and ingredients for the exact product before you choose.
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Reading “less sugar” as “sugar-free”
A claim that a product contains less sugar requires a point of comparison and doesn’t mean the product contains no sugar. “No added sugar” doesn’t mean the same thing as “less sugar”, either.
Check the comparison stated on the packaging, the ingredients and the nutritional information per 100 g.
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Taking powder with you without planning how to prepare it
Powder that needs mixing isn’t as convenient to consume as a ready-to-eat snack. It’s better suited to a break when you can make yourself a drink.
Pack a suitable portion, and bring water and a container. If you plan to eat while walking, choose a ready-to-eat snack instead.
A container, something to mix with and, if you want a hot drink, a way to prepare it all take extra kit and time.
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Overlooking allergens in cocoa-based recipes
The cocoa content doesn’t tell you about other ingredients or any stated traces. Carrefour’s product information for Poulain 1848 mentions possible traces of milk and soya, while its information for Banania Cacao Intense lists wheat and barley, among other ingredients.
Check the label on the pack you’re actually buying, especially if anyone who’ll be consuming it has an allergy.
Brands to compare by product
The differences below relate to the specific recipes mentioned, not to every product made by each brand.
Carrefour
Carrefour’s product information covers both pure cocoa and a Classic’ Intense chocolate powder.
- Carrefour Original is labelled as having no added sugar, while Carrefour Bio is described as being made from 100% organic low-fat cocoa.
- Classic’ Intense is a different recipe: Carrefour states that it contains at least 32% cocoa, with sugar as the first ingredient.
Poulain
Poulain 1848 and Grand Arôme Moins de Sucres give you two chocolate powders with stated cocoa contents to compare.
- Carrefour’s product information lists their cocoa content as 50% and at least 47%, respectively.
- Both recipes contain sugar. The product information also mentions possible traces of milk and soya.
Nesquik
The two Nesquik recipes reviewed don’t have the same cocoa content.
- According to Carrefour’s product information, Moins de Sucres contains 35% cocoa, compared with 23% for the standard recipe reviewed.
- Read the “less sugar” claim alongside its point of comparison: it doesn’t mean the product is sugar-free.
Banania
The Banania Cacao Intense recipe described by Carrefour combines cocoa, sugar and cereals.
- It’s worth considering if you’re looking for a recipe with cereals rather than pure cocoa.
- Carrefour’s product information lists 26.8% highly defatted cocoa and mentions wheat and barley.
Chocolate powder for a break
This Joybuy selection features a chocolate powder to make into a drink during a hiking break. It’s for anyone looking for a high stated cocoa content who’s happy with a recipe that contains sugar.
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Poulain Cacao Grand Arôme 400 g
A good option for making a chocolate drink during a break, with water and a container. According to the Joybuy product information for this 400 g pack, it contains at least 47% cocoa; the recipe also contains sugar. If allergens are a concern for you, check the packaging before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
Should you choose pure cocoa for a really strong cocoa flavour?
Pure cocoa is a good choice if you want a recipe with no added sugar and prefer to control how you make your drink. Carrefour’s product information describes Carrefour Original as a cocoa powder with no added sugar, and Carrefour Bio as being made from 100% organic low-fat cocoa. If you prefer a powder that’s already sweetened, compare the cocoa content and ingredients of each recipe instead.
Can hot chocolate powder replace a snack while you’re walking?
Powder that needs preparing is better suited to a drink during a break than to a snack you can eat as you walk. The Fédération Française de la Randonnée Pédestre recommends taking small snacks to have during physical activity. If you bring powder, remember to pack water and a container, and allow time to prepare it.
Is Nutri-Score mandatory on hot chocolate powder in France?
No. Santé publique France explains that displaying Nutri-Score is voluntary, while nutrition information is mandatory. If the logo isn’t shown, check the ingredients and nutrition information to compare the products you’re interested in.
Does the so-called “soda tax” automatically apply to sweetened cocoa powder?
No. The fact that a dry powder contains sugar isn’t enough to establish that the contribution applies to it. The text published on Légifrance covers drinks and liquid preparations that meet specific conditions, including packaging requirements. A ready-to-drink product must be assessed on its own characteristics.
Which allergens should you check in powder with an intense cocoa flavour?
Check the ingredients and any trace warnings for the exact product. Carrefour’s product information for Poulain 1848 mentions possible traces of milk and soya, while its information for Banania Cacao Intense lists wheat and barley. Always check the packaging of the product you buy, as these details may not reflect the current label.