Fans of rich cocoa
You’re mainly looking for a cup with a pronounced cocoa flavour at the weekend. The stated cocoa content helps you compare recipes, but it can’t predict the flavour of the drink once prepared.
Who are these options for?
Households keeping an eye on sugar
You want to compare the sugar in a prepared cup or choose unsweetened cocoa so you can decide what to add yourself.
Families drawn to blended recipes
You like a recipe that combines cocoa with other ingredients, such as the cereals in Banania Original. Checking the ingredients is especially important if someone in your household needs to avoid certain allergens.
What should you look for?
For a weekend breakfast, first decide between a ready-made, high-cocoa recipe, unsweetened cocoa you can measure out yourself, or a powder labelled ‘less sugar’. Then compare the ingredients and nutritional values on the same basis: these three options don’t meet the same needs.
| What matters | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Pronounced cocoa flavour | Compare the stated cocoa content and ingredients; how much you use will also affect the drink in your cup. | I want cocoa to take centre stage at breakfast. Around 36% of consumers make this intensity their priority. |
| Managing sugar | Check the sugar per 100 g and, if provided, per prepared serving; take into account anything you add to your cup. | I prefer to choose how much sugar to add, or compare the sugar in my usual drink. Around 29% of consumers prioritise this control. |
| A family-friendly recipe | Check the cereals, other ingredients and allergen information for the recipe you choose. | When sharing a more complex recipe, I care about its ingredients as much as its flavour. Around 21% of consumers put this type of recipe first. |
| A handy format | Check the net weight and choose a pack size that suits how often you have breakfast at home. | Once I’ve chosen a recipe, I want a pack size that suits my household. This is the main priority for around 14% of consumers. |
Common misconceptions to avoid
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Assuming ‘intense’ means the same thing across products
The name alone isn’t enough to compare two recipes: Chocolat Poulain states that Grand Arôme Intense contains 70% cocoa, while Carrefour France says Carrefour Classic’ Intense contains at least 32%.
Check the cocoa content and ingredients for each product, then adjust the amount you use to suit your cup.
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Assuming a high cocoa content means no sugar
Poulain Grand Arôme Intense also contains sugar. With unsweetened cocoa, the ingredients in your drink will depend in part on what you add.
Compare the sugar figures on the packaging and factor in anything you add when preparing your drink.
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Comparing two ‘less sugar’ claims directly
Brands don’t necessarily use the same product as a benchmark for their sugar-reduction claims. For example, Nestlé compares NESQUIK Moins de Sucres per mug with the average for cocoa drinks for children.
To compare the powders themselves, look at their sugar values per 100 g, then compare prepared servings if these are listed.
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Forgetting to check the ingredients in a blended recipe
Banania says its Original recipe contains wheat, barley and malted wheat. Poulain Grand Arôme Intense and Carrefour Classic’ Intense state that they may contain milk.
If someone in your household needs to avoid an ingredient, check the ingredients list and allergen information on the pack you buy.
Brands to compare
Poulain
Grand Arôme Intense is for those looking for a recipe with a pronounced cocoa flavour.
- Chocolat Poulain states that this product contains 70% cocoa.
- The recipe also contains sugar and may contain milk.
Nesquik
NESQUIK Moins de Sucres is designed for those looking to reduce their sugar intake compared with the benchmark used by the brand.
- According to Nestlé, this powder contains 35% less sugar per mug than the average for cocoa drinks for children.
- This comparison doesn’t tell you how cocoa-rich it tastes or allow you to rank all other powders by sugar content.
Banania
Original is a blended recipe for households looking for something other than a simple cocoa powder.
- Banania lists cocoa, wheat, barley, malted wheat, banana and honey in Original.
- The wheat and barley content matters for anyone who needs to avoid these cereals.
Carrefour Classic’
The Intense product’s stated cocoa content is worth checking when comparing powders.
- Carrefour France states that Carrefour Classic’ Intense contains at least 32% cocoa.
- The product information warns that it may contain traces of milk; the word ‘Intense’ is no substitute for checking the ingredients.
Marque Repère / EQUADOR
EQUADOR unsweetened cocoa lets you choose whether to add anything when preparing your drink.
- The E.Leclerc product information lists cocoa powder and an acidity regulator among the ingredients.
- The flavour of your cup depends on how much you use and what other ingredients you add.
Hot chocolate powders on Joybuy
These three products include two pack sizes of Poulain powder and a BENCO powder labelled ‘Less Sugar’. If you’re looking for a rich cup, compare the ingredients on the packaging; this claim alone doesn’t tell you how much sugar will be in your prepared drink.
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Poulain Cocoa with Rich Flavor, 400 g
Worth a look if you’re after a Poulain recipe for your weekend hot chocolate.
Stated pack size: 400 g. Check the cocoa content, sugar and ingredients on the packaging for this product.
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Poulain Cocoa with Rich Flavor, 450 g
This pack size may suit you if you’re looking for a Poulain powder to enjoy at breakfast.
Stated pack size: 450 g. Don’t assume its ingredients are the same as those in the 400 g pack: check both labels.
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BENCO Less Sugar Chocolate Powder in Granules, 400 g
Worth comparing if the ‘Less Sugar’ label catches your eye, but don’t mistake it for a guarantee of a rich cocoa flavour.
Stated pack size: 400 g. Check the sugar per 100 g and the recommended serving before judging how much you’ll use in a cup.
Frequently asked questions
How can you spot a rich hot chocolate powder?
Compare the stated cocoa content, then check the ingredients and recommended amount. Chocolat Poulain states that Grand Arôme Intense contains 70% cocoa, while Carrefour France says Carrefour Classic’ Intense contains at least 32%. These figures describe the powders, not how rich each prepared cup will taste.
Is a Nutri-Score label compulsory on chocolate powder?
No. In France, the Ministry of Health describes Nutri-Score labelling as voluntary. If it appears on a product, consider it alongside the ingredients list, sugar content and nutritional information rather than relying on it as your only guide.
What should you check if someone in your household needs to avoid certain allergens?
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging you buy. Banania says Original contains wheat, barley and malted wheat; Poulain Grand Arôme Intense and Carrefour Classic’ Intense state that they may contain milk.