Someone on their own who wants a ready-to-use portion
If you want to make one drink without measuring the powder or opening a large tin, a sachet gives you a pre-measured portion. You’ll still need to check how much liquid is required.
Who are these formats for?
Someone who pays close attention to ingredients
If sugars, ingredients or allergens influence your choice, compare the labels on chocolate drinks and unsweetened cocoa. With the latter, you’ll need to measure out anything you add yourself.
Someone buying for an occasional need
Before buying a tin, think about how many drinks you’ll actually make. Also check which formats are available at the shop you’re using for your top-up shop.
What should you look for first?
For a single drink, start with the number of portions you need, then check how to prepare your chosen product and what it contains.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Portion and preparation | Number of sachets, amount per sachet and the liquid specified in the instructions. | If you’re making one mug without measuring the powder, a ready-to-use portion matters more than the size of the tin. Around 42% of consumers are said to put pre-measured portions at the top of their list of needs. |
| Sugars, ingredients and allergens | Sugars per 100 g, ingredients list and allergens for the product you’re buying. | If I want to decide what goes into my drink, I need to distinguish between a chocolate drink mix and unsweetened cocoa. Having control over the ingredients is said to be the main priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Useful quantity and availability in store | Total amount in the tin and the format available at your chosen shop. | If I’m planning to make several drinks, I want an amount I’ll use, rather than choosing a large format for an occasional need. Around 25% of consumers are said to prioritise how well the format suits their top-up shop. |
Common mix-ups to avoid
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Assuming a sachet contains everything you need for a drink
The portion contains powder, but you may still need to provide the liquid. For the NESQUIK sachets it lists, Auchan says to mix one sachet with 200 ml of semi-skimmed milk.
Check the instructions for the product you choose and make sure you have the specified liquid.
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Confusing chocolate drink mix with unsweetened cocoa
Their ingredients and nutritional values differ: Auchan lists 75.1 g of sugars per 100 g of powder for the NESQUIK sachets it sells, while the Bio Village low-fat cocoa featured by E.Leclerc contains 0.5 g per 100 g.
Compare the nutritional values and ingredients list, then consider how much you’ll use and what you’ll add yourself.
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Assuming a product is unusual if it doesn’t have a Nutri-Score
According to Santé publique France, displaying a Nutri-Score is voluntary. The European Commission says that nutritional information is required for the vast majority of pre-packed foods.
Check the product’s nutritional information and ingredients, whether or not the packaging displays a Nutri-Score.
Brands to know
NESQUIK
Carrefour and Auchan list a box of 12 sachets, each weighing 13.5 g, for making a chocolate drink.
- Auchan says to mix one sachet with 200 ml of semi-skimmed milk, so the amount of powder is already measured out.
- For this product, Auchan lists 75.1 g of sugars per 100 g of powder. Check the label for soya too.
Banania
Banania Original chocolate drink mix is available in tins of 250 g, 400 g and 1 kg, among other sizes. Measure out the amount to suit your drink.
- According to Banania, the Original recipe includes cocoa and cereal flours, including wheat and barley.
- This isn’t a ready-to-use individual portion. Check the ingredients if cereals are a consideration for you.
Carrefour Classic’
Carrefour lists a 1 kg tin of Kaomix Carrefour Classic’, which is better suited to repeated use than a single portion.
- A tin lets you measure out the amount of powder you need each time you make a drink.
- If you only need enough for one drink, check that you’ll use the rest of the tin.
Bio Village
E.Leclerc lists a 250 g tin of Bio Village low-fat cocoa powder, with low-fat cocoa as its stated ingredient.
- The product contains 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g of powder, and you can choose what to add when making your drink.
- You’ll need to measure out the cocoa and make up the drink yourself; this isn’t an individual portion format.
Individual portions on Joybuy
These two packs of individual portions are handy when you want to avoid measuring the powder on a quick top-up shop. Check the instructions for each product before choosing which liquid to use.
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DAMTUH Pokémon hot chocolate, 10 sachets, 20 g each
If you want an occasional drink without measuring the powder, this pack contains ten 20 g sachets. Before buying, check the packaging for preparation instructions, sugars per 100 g, and information about milk and soya.
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AGF Blendy Stick Cocoa with milk, 6 portions, 66 g
If you want to make a drink without measuring the powder, the pack contains six portions weighing 66 g in total. Check the packaging for preparation instructions, sugars per 100 g, and information about milk and soya.
Frequently asked questions
Is one sachet enough to make a chocolate drink?
It provides a portion of powder, but not necessarily the liquid. For the NESQUIK sachets featured by Auchan, the instructions say to use 200 ml of semi-skimmed milk per sachet. Follow the instructions on the product you buy.
Do you measure out chocolate drink mix and unsweetened cocoa in the same way?
Don’t assume they’re prepared in the same way: a sachet contains a pre-measured amount of powder, while you’ll need to measure out cocoa from a tin yourself. With cocoa, you’ll also need to decide what else to add to your drink.
Is a Nutri-Score compulsory on hot chocolate powder?
No. Santé publique France says that displaying one is voluntary for producers. The European Commission says that nutritional information is required for the vast majority of pre-packed foods. Check it to compare the sugars and other nutritional values shown.
Which allergens should you check before choosing chocolate powder?
Read the ingredients list and allergen information for the product you’re buying. The Banania Original recipe includes wheat and barley flours, among other ingredients; other products may have a different composition.
Does the so-called ‘soda tax’ apply to a tin of dry chocolate powder?
The rates published by the Bulletin officiel des finances publiques-Impôts apply to levies on non-alcoholic drinks, including those containing added sugars. They shouldn’t be treated as a tax on a tin of dry powder. When choosing between powders, look instead at their ingredients and nutritional values.