Who are these options for?

Anyone who wants to control the sugar

If you want to choose how much sugar and which liquid base to use in each cup, 100% organic cocoa gives you that flexibility when you make it. A powder that already contains sugar doesn’t.

Hosts serving several cups

For easy serving at an Italian evening, an instant or pre-sweetened mix could be a good fit if you’re happy for sugar to be part of the recipe.

Anyone who pays close attention to labels

If organic certification matters to you, look for the Euroleaf logo or the AB mark on the product you choose. Check the ingredients, sugars, allergen information and, if it appears on the packaging, the Nutri-Score separately.

What should you check before choosing?

For organic hot chocolate served at an evening get-together or at breakfast, the most useful distinction is between cocoa you sweeten yourself and a mix that already contains sugar. The cocoa content and information on the packaging can then help you compare products.

100% cocoa organic cocoa

Choose this if: you want to decide how much sugar to add to each cup.

Bear in mind: you’ll need to measure out the powder and add sugar yourself if you want it.

Instant organic chocolate with 50% cocoa

Choose this if: you prefer an instant mix whose recipe specifies at least 50% cocoa, such as the Ethiquable product sold by Auchan.

Bear in mind: this product also contains cane sugar. Its cocoa content alone isn’t enough to compare its sugar content with other powders.

Pre-sweetened organic mix

Choose this if: you’d rather have a ready-to-mix recipe for serving several cups.

Bear in mind: you can’t remove the sugar that’s already in the mix when serving. Carrefour says its mix, which contains 32% cocoa, has 68% organic cane sugar.

Criterion What to check Who is it for?
Controlling the sugar Read the ingredients and sugars per 100 g; distinguish 100% cocoa from recipes containing cane sugar. I want to sweeten each cup to my taste rather than start with a pre-sweetened recipe. Around 40% of consumers put control over sugar first.
Serving several cups Check the preparation instructions and the recommended amount of powder per cup. When I’m serving several guests, I prefer a preparation method that’s easy to repeat, even if the recipe already contains sugar. Around 30% of consumers prioritise this convenience over other criteria.
Ingredients and labelling Look for the Euroleaf logo or the AB mark, then check the cocoa content and allergen information for the specific product. When choosing my powder, I want to know what it contains and check that the labelling meets my dietary needs. Around 30% of consumers put this information first.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Assuming “organic” means “low in sugar”

    Organic certification doesn’t tell you how much sugar a recipe contains. Carrefour says its organic drinking chocolate contains 68% organic cane sugar, while Auchan states that its organic mix contains 67 g of sugars per 100 g.

    If you want to control how much sugar you add, look for 100% cocoa organic products. To compare mixes, check the ingredients and sugars per 100 g.

  • Ruling out a powder because it has no Nutri-Score

    According to Santé publique France, displaying a Nutri-Score is voluntary. Its absence alone doesn’t tell you what a powder contains.

    Start by comparing the ingredients list and nutritional information. Use the Nutri-Score as an additional guide when it’s shown.

  • Assuming the organic label tells you about allergens

    Organic certification doesn’t tell you whether traces of allergens may be present. Depending on the product, Carrefour Bio and Auchan Bio product information flags possible traces of milk, gluten, soya, eggs or nuts.

    If an allergen is a concern for you, check the information on the packaging of the product you buy, even if milk isn’t listed among its ingredients.

Brands to know

Carrefour Bio

The range includes a sweetened organic mix and organic cocoa powder.

  • According to Carrefour, its 500 g organic mix contains 32% highly defatted organic cocoa and 68% organic cane sugar, so the recipe is already sweetened.
  • The product information for this mix flags possible traces of gluten, milk, soya, eggs and nuts.

Bio Village

E.Leclerc’s brand offers organic cocoa powder with 32% cocoa, as well as 100% organic low-fat cocoa.

  • E.Leclerc’s product information for its organic low-fat cocoa states that it contains 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. This product lets you decide whether to add sugar yourself.
  • The Nutri-Score B shown on this product information applies to this specific cocoa, not to the whole Bio Village range.

Auchan Bio

The range includes a sweetened organic mix with 32% cocoa and 100% organic cocoa powder.

  • These two recipes suit different preferences: sugar is already included in the mix, while 100% cocoa lets you control how much you add.
  • According to Auchan, the mix contains 67 g of sugars per 100 g. Check the allergen-trace information for each product.

Ethiquable

The instant organic chocolate sold by Auchan combines fair-trade cocoa with organic cane sugar.

  • Auchan’s product information states that this mix contains at least 50% cocoa.
  • It also contains cane sugar, so the cocoa content alone doesn’t tell you how much sugar it contains per 100 g.

Poulain

Auchan’s range includes an organic drinking chocolate with at least 34% cocoa.

  • Auchan’s product information specifies a minimum cocoa content of 34% for this product.
  • It also states that the product contains 66 g of sugars per 100 g and may contain allergens. Check the label of the product you choose.

Joybuy products related to organic hot chocolate

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is a Nutri-Score compulsory on hot chocolate powder?

No. Santé publique France explains that producers display the Nutri-Score voluntarily. Check the ingredients and nutritional information for the powder you choose, whether or not it displays this logo.

Is sweetened powder automatically subject to the tax on sugary drinks?

No. Its sugar content alone isn’t enough to determine this. The guidance published by the Official Bulletin of Public Finances–Tax on 30 December 2019 applies, subject to several conditions being met, to drinks or juices that are ready to consume and contain added sugars. It doesn’t allow dry powder that needs to be diluted to be classified on this basis alone. When choosing between powders, compare the sugars listed per 100 g instead.

How do you make hot chocolate with 100% organic cocoa?

Measure the cocoa into a hot liquid base, then add sugar to taste if you like. For its 100% organic cocoa, Auchan recommends two teaspoons (10 g) with milk. Heat gently, stirring as you go. This guidance applies to this specific product.

Does the organic label guarantee there are no traces of allergens?

No. The organic label relates to how a product is made and doesn’t replace allergen information. Product information for some Carrefour Bio and Auchan Bio products flags possible traces, including milk, gluten, soya, eggs or nuts, depending on the product. Check the exact packaging before serving.