Who are these pack sizes for?

Hosts who want ready-to-serve portions

If each guest needs their own portion, sachets save you measuring out powder at the table. Check how many sachets are in the pack you choose before planning how you’ll serve everyone.

Households that make hot chocolate often

A family-size powder lets you make several cups over the course of multiple Sundays, as long as you measure out each serving. Carrefour, Auchan and E.Leclerc catalogues include packs ranging from 800 g to 1 kg.

Shoppers who pay attention to ingredients

If sugar, cocoa or allergens matter to you, compare the labels on the specific products you’re considering. The DGCCRF points out that Nutri-Score is voluntary, so its absence is no substitute for checking the nutritional information and ingredients.

What should you compare?

First decide whether you need individual portions or are happy to make each cup from a family-size pack of powder. Then check the ingredients of the product you choose.

What to compare What to check Who is it for?
Individual portions The number of sachets and the amount in each portion on the specific pack. If I’m serving several guests, I’d rather open one portion per cup than measure out the powder; around 40% of shoppers would put individual servings first.
Family-size supply Net weight and the amount of powder recommended for one cup. If I’m making hot chocolate on several Sundays in a row, I can measure out the cups myself; a family-size supply would be the priority for around 30% of shoppers.
Ingredients Sugars per 100 g, ingredients and allergens for the product you choose. Before serving my guests, I want to know what’s in the product and spot anything they need to avoid; for around 30% of shoppers, ingredients would matter more than the pack format.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Assuming every box of sachets contains 80 portions

    The number of individual portions varies by product. If you haven’t checked how many portions are in the box, it may not cover the number of cups you’re planning to serve.

    If you need exactly 80 individual portions, check the sachet count for the specific product before you buy; a powder you have to measure out is not an equivalent replacement.

  • Expecting every box to display a Nutri-Score

    According to the DGCCRF, displaying a Nutri-Score is voluntary. Even when it appears on the packaging, it doesn’t tell you everything about the ingredients or allergens.

    Compare the nutritional information, particularly the sugars per 100 g on a like-for-like basis, then read the ingredients list and check the allergens.

  • Relying on the product category rather than the recipe to check for allergens

    Ingredients vary between chocolate powders. The Banania Original recipe listed by the brand includes wheat and barley; other products we looked at list soya or milk.

    If a guest needs to avoid an ingredient, check the allergen information on the packaging for the specific recipe and pack you’ll be serving.

Chocolate powder brands to know

These ranges give you examples of recipes and pack sizes to compare. A brand name alone won’t tell you how many portions a product contains or what’s in it.

Nesquik

The range includes family-size powders as well as a “Less Sugar” product listed by Carrefour.

  • A 1 kg pack appears in the Auchan catalogue we checked.
  • For the “Less Sugar” product, compare the sugars in the nutrition table and check the ingredients for the specific recipe.

Poulain

The range we looked at includes Grand Arôme, Grand Arôme Moins de Sucres and Super Poulain, in various sachet and powder tin sizes.

  • Carrefour’s product listing for Grand Arôme Moins de Sucres states that this product contains at least 47% cocoa.
  • The same listing warns that traces of milk and soya may be present; check the label on the product you choose.

Banania

Banania describes its Original chocolate powder as a recipe combining cocoa and cereals. It’s available in sizes including 250 g, 400 g and 1 kg.

  • The 1 kg pack could be a good choice if you want a supply of powder to measure out.
  • The Original recipe contains wheat and barley, so it isn’t suitable for people who need to avoid gluten.

Carrefour

The Carrefour Classic’ range appears in 400 g, 800 g and 1 kg sizes in the Carrefour catalogue we checked.

  • These different sizes let you choose how much powder to keep in the cupboard for making hot chocolate regularly.
  • Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information on the listing for each product rather than assuming they’re the same across the range.

E.Leclerc / Marque Repère

The E.Leclerc catalogue we checked includes P’TIT DELI and TABLETTE D’OR powders in several pack sizes.

  • The P’TIT DELI 1 kg listing states that this product contains 21% low-fat cocoa.
  • This is powder to measure out, not individual sachets; also check the allergen information on the packaging.

Joybuy products

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is a Nutri-Score compulsory on a box of hot chocolate?

No. According to the DGCCRF, displaying a Nutri-Score is voluntary in France. For the relevant prepacked foods, check the nutritional information, ingredients list and allergens, whether or not the logo is shown.

How can I compare the sugar content of two chocolate powders?

First compare the “sugars” line in the nutritional information on a like-for-like basis, for example per 100 g of powder. To compare prepared cups, also take into account the amount of powder recommended in each recipe and the drink you add.

Which allergens should I check before a family meal?

Check the allergens listed for the specific product before serving it. The recipes we looked at include soya or milk; Banania Original contains wheat, barley and malted wheat.

Can a 1 kg pack of powder make 80 cups?

A 1 kg pack doesn’t guarantee 80 cups: the number depends on how much powder you use for each one. Check the preparation instructions for the product you choose before working out how many portions you’ll need for the meal.