Cyclists who share breakfasts and snacks
You make cocoa drinks for several people and want a pack size that suits how often you drink them, without mistaking the product for something intended to fuel a cycle ride.
Who is this choice for?
Cyclists keeping an eye on sugar and ingredients
You want to compare the sugar content, cocoa proportion and ingredients of each product, while also considering how much powder goes into each drink.
Cyclists planning longer rides
You distinguish between a drink you have with a meal or snack and the drinks and food you plan to carry and consume during exercise.
What should you look for?
When choosing hot chocolate powder to share around your cycling plans, start with when you intend to drink it. Then compare the pack size, recipe and needs of the people sharing it.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Pack size for sharing | Bag weight and how quickly you’ll use it after opening. | If several people often make cocoa drinks, I want a pack size that suits us, without leaving the powder unused for too long. Around 22% of consumers would prioritise a pack for sharing. |
| Sugar and cocoa | Ingredients, sugar per 100 g of powder and the amount used per drink. | To adjust the sweetness of a drink enjoyed around a ride, I prefer to know exactly what’s in the recipe. Sugar levels and ingredients would be the main concern for around 28% of consumers. |
| Use during a ride | Carbohydrates in the prepared portion, liquid to take with you and whether you can drink it on the go. | For a longer ride, I need to plan what I’ll consume while cycling rather than relying on the weight of the bag alone. Suitability for fuelling would be the top priority for around 28% of consumers. |
| Recipe for the group | Declared allergens, possible traces and cereals in the product you choose. | Before serving the same drink to everyone, I need to know whether its ingredients suit the people in the group. Recipe suitability would be the main criterion for around 22% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming a large bag is suitable for fuelling an endurance ride
The weight of the pack doesn’t tell you how many carbohydrates you’ll consume in an hour of cycling, or whether you can take the prepared drink with you and drink it during your ride.
For a long ride, consider the portion you’ll actually prepare, how much water is available and the conditions in which you plan to drink it.
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Guessing the sugar content from the product name
A chocolate-style name or the presence of cocoa doesn’t, by itself, tell you how much sugar is in the recipe. Carrefour, for example, lists 68 g of added sugars per 100 g for its Carrefour Bio 500 g product.
Compare the nutrition information per 100 g of powder, then check how much powder is used per serving. Don’t apply figures for a drink made with milk to one made with water.
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Overlooking the ingredients when sharing
Recipes aren’t interchangeable: Carrefour lists wheat and barley in its 1 kg Banania bag, while Auchan lists soya lecithin in its 1 kg Nesquik product.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the specific pack before making a drink for several people.
Brands to know when comparing recipes
Nesquik
Auchan lists a 1 kg Nesquik product whose recipe contains 23% low-fat cocoa and soya lecithin.
- The 1 kg pack is suited to making drinks regularly for several people.
- Check the sugar per serving and the recipe on the specific pack before comparing it with another product.
Poulain
The products covered include Super Poulain 1 kg, listed by Auchan, and Grand Arôme 800 g, listed by Carrefour.
- Auchan’s Super Poulain product information gives a serving of 15 g of powder with milk.
- Compare recipes and pack sizes separately: details for one product don’t describe the whole range.
Banania
Carrefour’s 1 kg Banania bag contains cocoa and biscuit cereal made with wheat, barley and malted wheat, among other ingredients.
- The 1 kg pack is a good fit if you’re looking for a size to share.
- Bear these cereals in mind if anyone in your group avoids them.
Carrefour
The Carrefour products covered include Carrefour Bio 500 g and Carrefour Classic' Intense 800 g.
- Carrefour Bio’s product information lists 68 g of added sugars per 100 g; consider this figure in the context of that specific recipe.
- The 500 g Bio pack won’t meet the same need for volume as a 1 kg bag.
E.Leclerc / P'TIT DELI
E.Leclerc describes P'TIT DELI as an instant chocolate drink mix in a 1 kg pack.
- This pack size may suit a group that makes drinks regularly.
- Check the ingredients and allergen information on the specific product before sharing it.
Auchan
Auchan’s 1 kg Cao Kido product lists sugar, 21.3% low-fat cocoa, dextrose and soya lecithins, among other ingredients.
- The 1 kg pack may suit regular preparation for several people.
- The sugar and soya in this recipe are worth checking against the needs of your group.
Hot chocolate powders available on Joybuy
This selection mainly includes 1 kg chocolate powders for drinks to share around a cycle ride, as well as a 400 g pack for comparing a different recipe. Their inclusion here doesn’t mean they’re suitable for fuelling during exercise.
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VAN HOUTEN VH2, 34% cocoa powder, 1 kg
The 1 kg pack may suit households that regularly make drinks for several people. Check the ingredients and serving size if the recipe needs to suit everyone in your group.
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Bananina Original, chocolate powder 1 kg
This 1 kg pack is suited to regular shared use. Before serving it to your group, check the ingredients on the pack: this Bananina product is distinct from Banania products.
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Suchard, instant hot chocolate with 20% cocoa, 1 kg
The 1 kg pack is suited to making chocolate drinks regularly to share. Read the nutrition information and allergen details for the specific product before deciding on a shared serving size.
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VAN HOUTEN VH1F, 14.7% cocoa powder, 1 kg
The 1 kg pack may appeal to a group that regularly uses cocoa powder. The cocoa content stated in the title differs from the description for this product, so check the label before relying on the percentage shown or comparing its recipe with another.
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Poulain Rich Flavor, cocoa 400 g
The 400 g pack is an option if you make chocolate drinks less often and want a smaller quantity. It doesn’t offer the same volume as a 1 kg bag; check its recipe and allergen information if you plan to share it.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nutri-Score compulsory on hot chocolate powder sold in France?
No. Santé publique France says producers can choose whether to display Nutri-Score. Its absence doesn’t mean you should skip the nutrition information and ingredients when comparing two recipes.
Is a 1 kg bag suitable for fuelling during a long cycle ride?
Pack size alone can’t answer that. A paper in the Journal of Sports Sciences discusses carbohydrate intake for prolonged sport in amounts per hour. So consider the drink you’ll actually prepare, what you can carry and when you plan to drink it.
How should you store a large pack after opening?
Follow the storage instructions on the pack you buy. Auchan’s product information for Nesquik and Super Poulain recommends keeping them in a cool, dry place. Reseal the pack to stop the powder absorbing moisture.
Can you compare a drink made with water with the figures for one made with milk?
No, not directly: the amount of powder and the liquid used change the nutritional values per drink. Start with the powder’s nutrition information, the amount you actually use and the properties of your chosen liquid.