Anyone making several cups
If you’re serving hot chocolate with a stack of crêpes, a powder you can mix with milk saves you the step of melting chocolate. Check the pack size against the number of servings you’re planning to make.
Who are these options for?
Anyone keeping an eye on sugar
Compare standard and ‘less sugar’ powders, or choose cocoa labelled as unsweetened so you can control how much sugar you add. The product name alone doesn’t tell the whole story, so check the nutritional information too.
Anyone who prefers to melt their chocolate
Grated chocolate is gradually stirred into hot milk to melt, as Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse advises. Allow time for this step rather than treating it like an instant powder.
What should you look for?
First decide whether you want a powder to mix in, cocoa that lets you control the sugar, or chocolate to melt. Then compare the labels of recipes that suit your preferred preparation method.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars and ingredients | Compare ‘of which sugars’ on the same basis, per 100 g or per serving, then read the ingredients list for the exact recipe. | I want to choose how much sugar to serve with my crêpes, without confusing ‘less sugar’ with ‘sugar-free’. Around 43% of consumers put this control over sugar first. |
| Preparation and pack size | Check the preparation instructions, pack weight and recommended amount per cup. | When serving several cups at once, I prioritise easy preparation and a suitable pack size. Around 29% of consumers are thought to prioritise ease of serving. |
| Type of recipe | Look for unsweetened cocoa or grated chocolate to melt; check the stated cocoa content and allergen information. | I prefer to measure out the ingredients myself or take the time to melt chocolate into the milk. For around 28% of consumers, the type of recipe matters more than speed. |
Things to watch out for
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Assuming ‘less sugar’ means ‘sugar-free’
Carrefour France’s description of Nesquik Less Sugar says it is compared with the average for cocoa drinks for children per mug; the recipe still contains sugar.
Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure on the same basis and check what the claim refers to. If you want to control the sugar separately, look for cocoa explicitly labelled as unsweetened.
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Using grated chocolate like an instant powder
The grated chocolate from Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse needs to melt in hot milk before it can be mixed in smoothly.
Choose it if you’re happy with this preparation method. For a more straightforward option, check the instructions for a chocolate drink powder instead.
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Relying on the Nutri-Score alone
Santé publique France explains that using the Nutri-Score is voluntary. If it appears on a pack, this overall nutritional quality indicator doesn’t tell you everything about the ingredients or allergens.
Also check the nutritional information, recommended serving size and ingredients list for the product you choose.
Brands to know when comparing recipes
Nesquik
Carrefour France lists standard Nesquik chocolate drink powders and a Less Sugar version.
- The Less Sugar version offers a different recipe to compare with the standard powder.
- Its comparative claim doesn’t mean it contains no sugar; its ingredients list includes soya lecithin.
Poulain
Carrefour France lists Grand Arôme and Grand Arôme Less Sugar powders as two different recipes.
- The product pages consulted state a minimum cocoa content of 32% for standard Grand Arôme and 47% for Grand Arôme Less Sugar.
- These percentages apply to these specific products; their product pages also warn that they may contain traces of milk and soya.
Banania
The 400 g Banania chocolate drink powder listed by Carrefour France combines cocoa and cereals.
- Its ingredients list specifies 19% highly defatted cocoa and also mentions banana and honey.
- The recipe contains wheat and barley, so check the label if you need to avoid these ingredients.
Carrefour Classic'
This own-brand chocolate drink powder is one of the products listed by Carrefour France.
- The product page for the 400 g pack states that it contains 21% low-fat cocoa.
- Sugar is the first ingredient listed, and the product may contain traces of milk.
Joybuy products
Products related to this topic will be available soon.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Nutri-Score compulsory on hot chocolate powders in France?
No, its use is voluntary, as Santé publique France explains. If it appears on the pack, also check the sugars, serving size, ingredients and allergens for that specific product.
How can you tell chocolate drink powder, unsweetened cocoa and grated chocolate apart?
Check the product name, ingredients and preparation instructions. Chocolate drink powder may already contain sugar; choose cocoa labelled as unsweetened if you want to control the amount yourself. The grated chocolate from Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse is melted in hot milk.
Which allergens should you check in hot chocolate served with crêpes?
Read the ingredients and any ‘may contain traces of’ warnings for each product, as well as those for the crêpes served with the drink. Carrefour France’s product pages mention soya in Nesquik Less Sugar, wheat and barley in Banania, and possible traces of milk and soya in the Poulain products cited.