Chocolate beverage powder, light, dry mix, not reconstituted
Common food
Photo: Wikipedia
This is a finely milled, dry powder designed to be whisked into hot or cold milk or water, creating a sweet, chocolatey drink. It has a light, almost frothy texture when mixed, delivering a comforting, nostalgic chocolate flavor that is both sweet and slightly bitter. Nutritionally, it's a significant source of carbohydrates and sugar, but also provides a notable amount of fiber and a decent protein boost for a beverage mix.
Calorie split: 10% protein · 78% carbs · 12% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love it for its instant, comforting chocolate flavor that evokes childhood nostalgia and provides a quick, warm pick-me-up. Its versatility is a major draw, as it can be easily mixed into milk, water, or even used as a dry ingredient in baking for a chocolate boost.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The high sugar content (27.27g per 100g) can lead to rapid blood-sugar spikes, making it less suitable for those managing diabetes or seeking low-sugar options. To counteract this, pair it with a source of protein or fat (like a handful of nuts or a splash of full-fat milk) to slow sugar absorption, or use a smaller portion (1-2 tablespoons) mixed into a larger volume of liquid. Also, be mindful of potential allergens like dairy or soy if the mix contains them.
Key benefits
- Provides a quick source of energy from carbohydrates.
- Contains a surprisingly high amount of dietary fiber (9.1g per 100g).
- Offers a moderate protein content (9.09g per 100g) for a beverage mix.
- Convenient and shelf-stable for instant preparation.
- Can be a comforting, low-fat treat when mixed with water or skim milk.
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The first commercially produced chocolate beverage powder was likely created in the 19th century as a way to make drinking chocolate more accessible and affordable, evolving from the solid chocolate tablets that required grating and melting.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 7.4 g |
| Energy | 350 kcal |
| Protein | 9.1 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 4.5 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 68.3 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 9.1 g |
| Total Sugars | 27.3 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 909 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 3.3 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 410 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 500 mg |
| Potassium, K | 1705 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 500 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 13.6 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 1.8 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 21.8 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 54.5 mg |
| Thiamin | 1.5 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.35 mg |
| Niacin | 25.6 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 1.8 mg |
| Folate, total | 7.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 7.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 7.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 267 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 0.00 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 0.00 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 1.0 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 0.00 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 2.1 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.06 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 2.0 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 1.8 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 1.6 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.20 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 0.00 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
Estimated from Beverages, Malted drink mix, chocolate, powder, prepared with whole milk — USDA does not publish this profile for Chocolate beverage powder.
| Tryptophan | 0.07 g |
| Threonine | 0.14 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.17 g |
| Leucine | 0.27 g |
| Lysine | 0.14 g |
| Methionine | 0.07 g |
| Cystine | 0.02 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.15 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.15 g |
| Valine | 0.19 g |
| Arginine | 0.09 g |
| Histidine | 0.08 g |
| Alanine | 0.11 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.25 g |
| Glutamic acid | 0.68 g |
| Glycine | 0.08 g |
| Proline | 0.35 g |
| Serine | 0.12 g |
FAQ
Is this the same as cocoa powder?
No. This is a sweetened, pre-mixed powder that includes sugar, milk solids, and often other additives. Cocoa powder is unsweetened and made purely from roasted cacao beans.
Can I use this to bake with?
Yes, but remember it is already sweetened and contains other ingredients. You may need to adjust the sugar and other dry ingredients in your recipe accordingly.
Why is the fiber content so high?
The high fiber likely comes from added ingredients like inulin, chicory root fiber, or other soluble fibers often included in 'light' or 'diet' mixes to improve texture and add nutritional value without extra calories.
Is it suitable for a low-carb diet?
Generally, no. With 68.31g of carbohydrates per 100g, it is very high in carbs and sugar, making it incompatible with strict low-carb or ketogenic diets.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 3.50 kcal/g · 10% calories from protein · 9.1 g fiber · 27.3 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 0.29 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.