Households making several mugs a week
If several people have a chocolate drink at breakfast, the net weight and recommended serving size can help you decide whether a larger pack suits your routine.
Who is this choice for?
People keeping an eye on sugar and cocoa
Compare the nutritional values per 100 g of powder and the cocoa content of the exact recipe to tell products apart, without confusing the powder with the prepared drink.
Households with ingredient requirements
When a drink is shared, the ingredients list and allergen information need to suit everyone who’ll be having it. Soy, milk and cereals containing gluten vary between the recipes reviewed.
What should you check before choosing?
For weekday breakfasts, start with what matters most to you: the ingredients, how much you’ll use, whether the ingredients are suitable for everyone, or the type of recipe you’re looking for.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar and cocoa | Check the sugar content per 100 g of powder and the cocoa percentage of the specific product. | If the recipe matters more than the size of the tub, I want to compare powders on the same basis, without milk or serving size affecting the figures. Around 31% of consumers would put ingredients first. |
| How much you’ll use | Compare the net weight, recommended serving size and storage instructions after opening. | If we make several mugs each week, I’m looking for a pack the household will use regularly and can store as directed. Quantity would be the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Check the ingredients list and any statements about allergens or possible traces on the pack you choose. | If someone in the household needs to avoid an ingredient, I start by ruling out unsuitable recipes, whatever the pack size. Around 25% of consumers would make suitability their top priority. |
| Type of recipe | Check whether it contains cereals and make sure you distinguish between different versions from the same brand. | If I’m looking for a cereal-based drink for breakfast, I want to make sure the product I buy has the right ingredients. This type of recipe would come first for around 19% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Comparing a prepared mug with 100 g of a different powder
The amount of powder used and, depending on the information shown, the milk you add will affect the figures for a mug. This comparison therefore doesn’t isolate the differences between recipes.
To compare powders, start with the values per 100 g of powder. Then check the recommended serving size to see how much you’ll use per mug.
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Assuming you know the ingredients from the brand name alone
Two products from the same brand can have different ingredients. For example, Carrefour lists 14.5% cocoa for Super Poulain 1 kg, while Poulain states that Grand Arôme contains 32% cocoa.
Check the ingredients list and allergen information for the exact variety and pack you’re buying, particularly if you need to avoid a specific ingredient.
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Assuming every pack displays a Nutri-Score
The European Commission says that front-of-pack nutrition labelling is voluntary under current EU rules. If there’s no Nutri-Score, you should still check the label.
If the pack displays one, use it as additional information, then check the nutritional values per 100 g and the recipe’s ingredients.
Brands to know when comparing recipes
Nesquik
A cocoa-based drink mix, available in a 1 kg tub for regular use.
- Carrefour’s listing for this tub states that it contains 23% cocoa.
- The same ingredients list mentions soy lecithin; check the label if you need to avoid this ingredient.
Poulain
The range includes different recipes, including Grand Arôme and Super Poulain.
- Poulain states that Grand Arôme contains 32% cocoa and is available in an 800 g pack, among other sizes.
- Carrefour lists 14.5% cocoa for Super Poulain 1 kg, so the figures for Grand Arôme don’t apply to this different recipe.
Banania
The Original recipe combines cocoa and cereals; Banania says it is available in packs of up to 1 kg.
- Banania states that the Original recipe contains 19% cocoa and 12% cereals.
- These cereals include wheat, barley and malted wheat, so this recipe isn’t suitable if you’re looking for a gluten-free product.
Carrefour Classic’
KaoMix is available in a 1 kg tub and should be considered as a recipe in its own right.
- Carrefour’s listing states that KaoMix contains 20% cocoa.
- It mentions possible traces of milk; check the pack if this information affects your choice.
Hot chocolate powders available on Joybuy
This selection includes 1 kg packs for regular use and 400 g packs if you need a smaller quantity. Check each recipe and its ingredients separately: the same weight doesn’t mean the same composition.
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Suchard instant hot chocolate, 20% cocoa, 1 kg
The 1 kg pack may suit households that regularly make hot chocolate. The listing for this product says it contains milk and may contain traces of soy and cereals containing gluten. Check this information before choosing a drink to share.
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Van Houten VH2, 34% cocoa drink mix, 1 kg
This 1 kg pack is worth considering if you make several mugs each week. In the product description, the 34% cocoa refers to a component that makes up 59% of the product, not the product as a whole. The listing says it contains milk and may contain traces of nuts.
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Bananina Original, hot chocolate powder, 1 kg
Worth considering if your household is looking for a cereal-based recipe in a 1 kg pack. The listing for this product mentions wheat, barley and malted wheat, so it isn’t suitable for a gluten-free diet. It also states that the product may contain traces of milk and soy.
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Poulain, rich-tasting cocoa powder, 400 g
The 400 g pack may suit you if a kilo is more than your household will use. When comparing this recipe with another Poulain product, check the label for this specific variety rather than relying on the figures for Grand Arôme or Super Poulain. Also check the allergen and trace information on the pack.
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Benco Less Sugar, chocolate granules, 400 g
This 400 g pack may suit you if you don’t use enough during the week to need a larger pack. To assess the “Less Sugar” recipe, check the sugar content per 100 g for this product and compare it with other powders on the same basis; the name alone isn’t enough.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nutri-Score mandatory on hot chocolate powder?
No. The European Commission says that front-of-pack nutrition information is voluntary under current EU rules. If a Nutri-Score is shown, also check the nutritional values per 100 g and the ingredients list for the product in question.
When comparing two powders, should I check the sugar per mug or per 100 g?
First compare the sugar per 100 g of powder on both labels. The figures per mug depend on the serving size and may include milk, so they answer a different question from a comparison of the powders on their own.
How should you store a larger pack after opening?
Follow the instructions on the pack and reseal it after use. For Poulain Grand Arôme, Auchan recommends keeping it away from heat and moisture; check the instructions on any other product you buy.