Families who often make hot chocolate
An 800 g to 1 kg pack could be a good choice if you serve several mugs over the course of your meals and have somewhere suitable to store it.
Who are these pack sizes for?
Families keeping an eye on sugar
Compare the sugars per 100 g of powder, then check how much you use in each drink. The milk you add also contributes to the finished drink.
Households choosing between recipes
Ingredients and allergen information matter if someone in your household avoids wheat, milk or soya, for example. Taste preferences may also help you choose between a cocoa-based recipe and one made with cereals.
What should you look for?
If you’re serving hot chocolate at family dinners, start by considering how often you’ll make it, then check the ingredients on the exact pack you’re thinking of buying.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Pack size and storage | Compare 800 g to 1 kg packs with how often you’ll use the powder, and read the storage instructions for after opening. | If I make several mugs regularly, I’d rather choose a pack my household can finish and store properly. Around 40% of consumers put this need for a larger pack at the heart of their choice. |
| Sugars and serving size | Compare the “of which sugars” figure per 100 g of powder, then check how much powder is recommended for each drink. | I want to know how much powder goes into each mug, rather than judging the recipe by its packaging. Keeping sugar in check comes first for around 30% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and taste | Read the ingredients list and allergen information for the exact pack; in particular, distinguish cereal-based recipes from other hot chocolate powders. | Before serving everyone, I need to find a recipe that suits the ingredients my household avoids or its taste preferences. This compatibility is the top priority for around 30% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming a family-size pack contains less sugar
The size of the pack doesn’t tell you what’s in the recipe. Product listings for Poulain Grand Arôme and Banania Original give sugar contents of 67 g and 69 g per 100 g of powder respectively; Auchan’s listings show 75.1 g for Nesquik and 75 g for Cao Kido.
Compare the nutritional values per 100 g and take into account how much powder you use in each mug.
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Confusing Nutri-Score with mandatory nutrition information
According to the Ministry of the Economy, displaying Nutri-Score is voluntary in France. The DGCCRF explains that prepacked foods must carry a nutrition declaration, subject to the applicable exemptions.
If the pack displays a Nutri-Score, use it as additional information; also read the nutritional values and ingredients list.
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Assuming two family-size recipes have the same allergens
Banania Original contains wheat and barley, among other ingredients, while the Nesquik listing specifies soya lecithin. Other products may mention milk or the possible presence of traces of allergens.
Check the ingredients and precautions on the exact pack before serving it to anyone who needs to avoid certain ingredients.
Brands to compare
These products show how pack sizes and recipes can differ; always check the label on the variant you choose.
Nesquik
An Auchan listing features a large-format Nesquik powder, advertised as a 1 kg pack with 20% extra free.
- The listing states that it contains 23% cocoa and gives serving guidance for different age groups of children.
- It also lists 75.1 g of sugars per 100 g of powder and specifies that it contains soya lecithin.
Poulain
Poulain offers Grand Arôme in an 800 g pack and states that this product contains 32% cocoa.
- The 800 g pack gives you another size to consider before opting for a 1 kg pack.
- The brand’s listing gives a sugar content of 67 g per 100 g and states that the product may contain milk.
Banania
Banania Original comes in a 1 kg pack and combines cocoa, cereals, banana and honey in its recipe.
- Knowing what’s in the recipe helps you decide whether this flavour profile is right for your household.
- According to the Banania listing, it contains wheat, barley and malted wheat, has 69 g of sugars per 100 g and may contain traces of milk and soya.
Carrefour
Carrefour Classic’ KaoMix is one of the hot chocolate powders available in a 1 kg tub.
- The Carrefour listing states that it contains 20% cocoa.
- It mentions the possible presence of traces of milk; check the ingredients and nutritional values on the tub you choose.
Leclerc
E.Leclerc offers P’TIT DELI instant chocolate drink powder in a 1 kg pack.
- The listing states that it contains 21% cocoa and displays a Nutri-Score B, which should be considered alongside the other nutritional information.
- The listing mentions traces of milk; check the packaging of the product you choose.
Auchan
Auchan Cao Kido comes in a 1 kg pack, which its listing says makes 50 servings.
- The listing states that it contains 21.3% cocoa.
- It lists 75 g of sugars per 100 g, contains soya lecithin and may contain traces of milk.
Hot chocolate powders available on Joybuy
These 1 kg packs could be handy if you plan to make hot chocolate at home on several occasions. Compare the recipes and pack information before choosing the one that suits your household.
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VAN HOUTEN VH2 hot chocolate powder, 34% cocoa, 1 kg
This 1 kg pack could suit households that make hot chocolate regularly. The product title states that it contains 34% cocoa; check the packaging for ingredients, sugars and the recommended serving size for your mug.
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Suchard instant hot chocolate, 20% cocoa, 1 kg
This 1 kg pack is suited to households that regularly make instant hot chocolate. The product title states that it contains 20% cocoa; check the ingredients list and nutritional values for the variant before serving it.
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Bananina Original hot chocolate powder, 1 kg
This 1 kg pack could be considered for serving hot chocolate at home on several occasions. Check the ingredients, allergens and preparation instructions on its own packaging; don’t assume it has the same ingredients as a similarly named Banania product.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nutri-Score compulsory on hot chocolate powder in France?
No. According to the Ministry of the Economy, displaying Nutri-Score is voluntary in France. It is separate from the nutrition declaration required for prepacked foods, subject to the applicable exemptions set out by the DGCCRF. If the logo isn’t shown, check the “of which sugars” figure in the nutrition table, among other details.
How do you compare the sugar content of two hot chocolate powders?
First compare the sugars listed per 100 g of powder, then check how much powder you put in each mug. The contents of the prepared drink will also depend on what you add, including milk.
What should you check if someone avoids gluten, milk or soya?
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack before serving the drink. The Banania Original listing mentions wheat and barley, for example, while the Nesquik listing specifies soya lecithin. Other products mention milk or possible traces of milk. Don’t assume this information applies to another recipe or a similarly named brand.
Can the “soda tax” help you choose between two hot chocolate powders?
No, it doesn’t tell you what’s in the pack. The scale published in the official bulletin of public finances concerns a tax on non-alcoholic drinks containing added sugars. To compare powders, check their ingredients, sugars per 100 g and recommended serving size instead.