If you want to take a portion of chocolate powder with you, choose sachets if you can make the drink where you’re going: Auchan says that one 13.5 g Nesquik sachet mixes with 200 ml of semi-skimmed milk. A multipack of tins is better suited to making drinks regularly at home or in the office, but you’ll still need to measure out the powder and pack it for transport. Whichever format you choose, compare the sugar per 100 g, the prepared serving, the ingredients and the allergens.
If you’re putting a portion in your lunchbox or bag, sachets mean you don’t need to carry a spoon or measure out the powder. However, the preparation instructions Auchan gives for Nesquik sachets require you to have milk where you’re taking your break.
A tin or larger format may suit you if you make hot chocolate often, provided you have somewhere dry to store it and can measure out each drink. Carrefour, Auchan and E.Leclerc offer products in sizes from 800 g to 1 kg.
If sugar, ingredients or allergens influence your choice, compare the exact product rather than just the format. The DGCCRF notes that nutrition declarations are required for most prepacked foods; according to Santé publique France, displaying Nutri-Score is voluntary.
For a break on the go, first check how you’ll prepare your drink. If you’ll be making it regularly in the same place, choose a size that suits your needs. Then compare the ingredients in the recipes you’re interested in.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Portions to take with you | Number of sachets, amount per sachet and liquid required. Auchan says that Nesquik sachets contain 13.5 g of powder, to be mixed with 200 ml of semi-skimmed milk. | If I’m putting a portion in my lunchbox, I want to avoid measuring out the powder and be able to make the drink where I’m going; around 20% of consumers would prioritise portability. |
| Sugar and allergens | Sugar per 100 g, amount used per drink, ingredients and allergens for the exact product. If displayed, Nutri-Score doesn’t replace this information. | When comparing recipes, I want to check the sugar and allergens before choosing; around 33% of consumers would prioritise the ingredients. |
| Size and storage | How much you’ll use regularly, whether you can store the powder somewhere dry and whether you’ll need a small container to take it with you. | If I make hot chocolate regularly at the office, I want a size I can store and use regularly; around 27% of consumers would prioritise a larger size for keeping in stock. |
| Recipe profile | Cocoa percentage and ingredients list. A higher cocoa percentage alone doesn’t tell you how much sugar the product contains. | To choose a recipe I’ll enjoy, I look at the cocoa content and whether it contains cereal or banana; around 20% of consumers would prioritise the recipe profile. |
Three tins of powder are still three containers from which you’ll need to measure out each drink. A multipack doesn’t mean each portion is ready to pop into a lunchbox.
For a break on the go, choose sachets or measure out a portion into an airtight food container. Then check that you’ll have the liquid you need.
Taking powder sold in a tin with you may also mean carrying a small container and a spoon.
According to Santé publique France, displaying this logo is voluntary. Its absence doesn’t change the fact that you should read the nutrition information, which the DGCCRF says is required for most prepacked foods.
Whether or not the logo is displayed, compare the sugar per 100 g, the amount used per drink, the ingredients and the allergens.
The cocoa percentage tells you about the recipe, but not its sugar content on its own. Auchan lists, for example, Poulain Grand Arôme products containing 32% cocoa and at least 47% cocoa.
To compare two products, check the cocoa percentage and the ‘of which sugars’ line in the nutrition table separately.
The Banania Original product information lists wheat and barley gluten, as well as possible traces of milk and soya. Auchan’s product information for Nesquik sachets lists soya and possible traces of milk.
If you have an allergy or avoid certain ingredients, check the packaging of the exact product every time you buy it, even if you already know the brand.
Nesquik offers powder in tins, as well as a product comprising 12 sachets of 13.5 g, listed by Auchan.
The Grand Arôme range includes recipes with different proportions of cocoa, depending on the product.
Banania Original chocolate powder combines ingredients including cocoa, cereal, banana and honey. Banania offers several sizes, including 400 g and 1 kg.
Carrefour offers several own-brand chocolate powders, with different sizes and recipes.
E.Leclerc offers P’tit Déli and Tablette d’Or chocolate powders in larger sizes, among other products.
Auchan’s range includes 100% unsweetened cocoa as well as separate chocolate drink mixes.
No. A multipack of tins contains powder that you still need to measure out and carry in individual portions. Sachets save you that step, but the Nesquik preparation described by Auchan requires 200 ml of semi-skimmed milk where you’re making it.
No. According to Santé publique France, displaying it is voluntary. The DGCCRF notes, however, that nutrition declarations are required for most prepacked foods. If the logo isn’t displayed, compare the nutrition information and ingredients directly.
The provision published by Légifrance applies to drinks and liquid drink preparations packaged so they can be consumed as sold; a tin of dry chocolate powder doesn’t fit that description. Even so, when choosing between powders, compare the sugar per 100 g and the amount used per drink.
The Banania Original product information lists wheat and barley gluten, with possible traces of milk and soya; Auchan’s product information for Nesquik sachets lists soya and possible traces of milk. Check the packaging of the product you’re buying, as the format and recipe should be checked separately.
A size of 800 g to 1 kg is worth considering if you make the drink regularly and can store the powder somewhere dry. If you’re taking it with you, you’ll still need to measure out a portion and pack it in a suitable container.