DarkinsMalt & Health Drink Mixes

Darkins Chocolates Dark Hot Chocolate Mix

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A realistic serve of Darkins Chocolates Dark Hot Chocolate Mix (1 sachet, 30 g) has 135 kcal, 3 g protein, 20.3 g carbohydrate, 5.4 g fat, 13.2 g added sugar and 0 mg sodium. Per 100 g it has 449 kcal, 10 g protein, 67.8 g carbohydrate, 17.9 g fat, 9 g saturated fat, 44 g added sugar, 16.6 g fibre and 0 mg sodium.

Summary

Darkins Chocolates Dark Hot Chocolate Mix is a sweetened cocoa powder sold in sachets to stir into hot or cold milk. It scores CB4: middling on nutrition, clean on ingredients with only three listed, and high on risk because of the sugar and saturated fat. Best as an occasional treat, made with a little less powder.

Full summary

Darkins Chocolates Dark Hot Chocolate Mix

Darkins Chocolates Dark Hot Chocolate Mix scores CB4 on CleanPlate: nutrition C, ingredients B, load risk 4.

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Tap a slice or a name to see what it is made of.

Share of calories, per 100 g

  • Protein: 10 g per 100 g, 9% of the calories.
  • Carbs (not counting sugars and fibre): 7.3 g per 100 g, 7% of the calories.
  • Sugars: 44 g per 100 g, 40% of the calories, of which 44 g is added.
  • Fat: 17.9 g per 100 g, 37% of the calories, of which 9 g is saturated.
  • Fibre: 16.6 g per 100 g, 8% of the calories (fibre counts at 2 kcal per gram).
Added sugar44 g
Saturated fat9 g
Sodium0 mg

The tick is the “high” line

Watch
High added sugar (44g per 100g); High saturated fat (9g)
In its favour
High fibre (16.6g); Low sodium
On the pack
5 claims checked: 3 hold, 2 need care

Last reviewed November 3, 2026

Ingredients, decoded

3 listed
  • Unrefined Cane Sugar
  • Naturally Farmed Cacao
  • Cocoa Powder
High concernModerate concernLow concernNo concernIn label order. Tap a highlighted one to learn more. How we rate additives
Darkins Dark Hot Chocolate Mix pack, front view

9 teaspoons of sugar in every 100 g · 44 g total sugar, 5 g a teaspoon

Score and nutrition facts for Darkins Chocolates Dark Hot Chocolate Mix:

High sugarHigh saturated fatHigh calories (over 400 kcal per 100 g)Nutrition per 100 g
CNutrition densityBIngredient integrity4Load risk
Nutrition facts
Energy449.3 kcal
Protein10 g
Carbohydrates67.8 g
Total sugars44 g
Added sugars44 g
Dietary fibre16.6 g
Total fat17.9 g
Saturated fat9 g
Sodium0 mg
Highlighted values exceed the FSSAI and UK front of pack thresholds.

Think this score is wrong?

Why Darkins Chocolates Dark Hot Chocolate Mix scores CB4

Nutrition is a C on 10 g protein and 16.6 g fibre per 100 g. Ingredients are a B for a short, additive-free list. Risk is a 4, driven mostly by 44 g sugar per 100 g.

How we score →
01 Nutrition densityA to E
C

Adequate nutrient density

Protein
10 g
Fibre
16.6 g
Vitamins and minerals
None declared
Energy
449 kcal

01 Nutrition density: why C

Protein is 9.97 g per 100 g and fibre is 16.57 g, so one 30 g sachet gives about 3 g protein and 5 g fibre. Most of the protein comes from the cocoa powder.

No vitamins or minerals are declared, so the grade rests on protein and fibre alone, with a lot of sugar alongside.

Scored on protein, fibre and twelve vitamins and minerals, against the Codex and FSSAI "source" and "high" levels, per 100 g and per 100 kcal. Protein also has to supply at least 12.5% of the calories to count, and 25% for full credit.

02 Ingredient integrityA to E
B

Good, few concerning additives

Base
Unrefined Cane Sugar
Sweeteners
Unrefined Cane Su...
Additives
0
Flagged
None

02 Ingredient integrity: why B

Only three ingredients are listed: unrefined cane sugar, naturally farmed cacao and cocoa powder. No additive is present and no label promise is hollow, so nothing costs ingredient points.

The percentages of the three ingredients are not declared, so the reader cannot see how much cocoa sits behind the sugar.

Scored on how processed the ingredients are, which additives are used and why, and whether the label keeps its promises.

03 Load risk1 to 5
4

High risk

Added sugar
44 g
Sodium
0 mg
Saturated fat
9 g

03 Load risk: why 4

Sugar drives the risk number: 44 g of added sugar per 100 g, about 13.2 g in a sachet. Saturated fat from the cocoa is 9 g per 100 g, about 2.7 g per sachet.

Energy of 449 kcal per 100 g adds a smaller share. Sodium is printed as 0 mg, so it plays no part. The risk grade lands on a 4.

Scored on free sugar, sodium, saturated fat and trans fat, each weighed by how strong the evidence of harm is.

Red flags

  • Red flag: High added sugar (44g per 100g)
  • Red flag: High saturated fat (9g)

Green flags

  • Green flag: High fibre (16.6g)
  • Green flag: Low sodium
  • Green flag: No additives

Does Darkins Chocolates Dark Hot Chocolate Mix live up to its claims?

Natural, vegan and gluten-free all hold against the three-item list. Dark and balanced natural sweetness are framed more kindly than the numbers, since sugar leads and a sachet has 13.2 g added sugar.

  • Product name

    “Hot Chocolate Dark”

    Be careful

    Cocoa is in the list, but unrefined cane sugar comes first and no cocoa percentage is declared. A sachet has 13.2 g added sugar.

  • On the pack

    “Natural”

    Holds

    The list is cane sugar, cacao and cocoa powder, with no additives, colours or flavourings.

  • On the pack

    “Vegan”

    Holds

    No milk or other animal ingredient is listed, and the pack carries the green vegetarian mark.

  • On the pack

    “Gluten-free”

    Holds

    None of the three ingredients is a gluten grain.

  • Retail listing

    “Perfectly balanced natural sweetness”

    Be careful

    The sweetness is real cane sugar, but it is still 44 g added sugar per 100 g, 13.2 g in a sachet.

What's in Darkins Chocolates Dark Hot Chocolate Mix?

Unrefined cane sugar, cacao and cocoa powder, with no additives. The sugar leads the list, and that is the number to watch.

How we rate additives →

3 ingredients listed. None of them is an additive or watched ingredient in our research.

The ingredient list, read for you

Unrefined cane sugar leads, then naturally farmed cacao and cocoa powder. Sugar sweetens the drink, and the cacao and cocoa give the chocolate flavour, colour and fibre. No percentages are declared, so the split between sugar and cocoa is not shown.

The label numbers, read for you

Sugar is the number that decides the score: 44 g added sugar per 100 g, which is 13.2 g in one 30 g sachet. Saturated fat is 9 g per 100 g, or 2.7 g per sachet, and energy is 135 kcal per sachet before milk.

Fibre is the strong point at 16.57 g per 100 g, about 5 g per sachet. Protein is modest at about 3 g per sachet. Sodium is printed as 0 mg, and no vitamins or minerals are declared.

What it doesn’t have

  • No vitamins or minerals are declared on the panel.
  • No cocoa percentage is given, so the dark claim cannot be checked against a number.

What to know about Darkins Chocolates Dark Hot Chocolate Mix

Three ingredients, but sugar leads the list

Darkins Dark Hot Chocolate Mix is a pack of six 30 g sachets (180 g) of drinking chocolate powder. The list is short: unrefined cane sugar, naturally farmed cacao and cocoa powder, with no percentages declared. You empty a sachet into a cup of hot milk and stir, or blend it with chilled milk for a cold version.

One sachet gives 135 kcal, 3 g protein, 5 g fibre, 5.4 g fat and 13.2 g added sugar, before any milk. Per 100 g the powder has 449 kcal, 44 g sugar and 9 g saturated fat. The fibre is high for a drink mix, and it comes from the cocoa.

The name says dark, but sugar is the first ingredient and the cocoa share is not stated. The pack says natural, and the list backs that up, with no additives at all. CleanPlate scores it CB4.

Who should eat Darkins Chocolates Dark Hot Chocolate Mix?

An occasional drink for most adults. Children and anyone watching blood sugar should have it less often, since one sachet has 13.2 g added sugar.

  • Most adultsOccasionally

    13.2 g added sugar and 2.7 g saturated fat per sachet, before the milk.

  • ChildrenOccasionally

    A sweet drink with 13.2 g added sugar in each sachet.

  • Diabetes or prediabetesRarely

    44 g sugar per 100 g, and the milk adds more carbohydrate.

  • Weight managementOccasionally

    135 kcal per sachet before milk, with sugar as the largest part.

Darkins Chocolates Dark Hot Chocolate Mix: common questions

Is Darkins Chocolates Dark Hot Chocolate Mix healthy?

Darkins Chocolates Dark Hot Chocolate Mix is high in sugar, saturated fat and calories, so occasional and moderate intake is fine and won't affect your health in any major way, but it shouldn't be a frequent treat.

How many calories and how much protein are in Darkins Chocolates Dark Hot Chocolate Mix?

Per 100 g, Darkins Chocolates Dark Hot Chocolate Mix has 449 kcal, 10 g protein, 67.8 g carbohydrate, 17.9 g fat and 9 g saturated fat. One serve (1 sachet, 30 g) has 135 kcal and 3 g protein.

What are the ingredients in Darkins Chocolates Dark Hot Chocolate Mix?

3 ingredients, in label order: Unrefined Cane Sugar, Naturally Farmed Cacao, Cocoa Powder.

Does Darkins Chocolates Dark Hot Chocolate Mix live up to its claims?

5 claims checked: 3 hold, 2 need care. "Hot Chocolate Dark" needs care: Cocoa is in the list, but unrefined cane sugar comes first and no cocoa percentage is declared. A sachet has 13.2 g added sugar. "Perfectly balanced natural sweetness" needs care: The sweetness is real cane sugar, but it is still 44 g added sugar per 100 g, 13.2 g in a sachet.

Who should limit Darkins Chocolates Dark Hot Chocolate Mix?

Most adults: occasionally. 13.2 g added sugar and 2.7 g saturated fat per sachet, before the milk. Children: occasionally. A sweet drink with 13.2 g added sugar in each sachet. Diabetes or prediabetes: rarely. 44 g sugar per 100 g, and the milk adds more carbohydrate.

How much sugar, salt and saturated fat does Darkins Chocolates Dark Hot Chocolate Mix have?

Per 100 g, Darkins Chocolates Dark Hot Chocolate Mix has 44 g added sugar, 0 mg sodium (about 0 g salt) and 9 g saturated fat. The FSSAI and UK FSA "high" lines are 10 g added sugar, 600 mg sodium and 5 g saturated fat per 100 g. It is high in sugar and saturated fat.

What does the CB4 score mean for Darkins Chocolates Dark Hot Chocolate Mix?

The first letter (C) grades nutrition density on A to E, the second (B) grades ingredient integrity on A to E, and the number (4) grades load risk on 1 to 5. A and 1 are best. Nutrition: Protein is 9.97 g per 100 g and fibre is 16.57 g, so one 30 g sachet gives about 3 g protein and 5 g fibre. Most of the protein comes from the cocoa powder. Ingredients: Only three ingredients are listed: unrefined cane sugar, naturally farmed cacao and cocoa powder. No additive is present and no label promise is hollow, so nothing costs ingredient points. Load risk: Sugar drives the risk number: 44 g of added sugar per 100 g, about 13.2 g in a sachet. Saturated fat from the cocoa is 9 g per 100 g, about 2.7 g per sachet.

Last reviewed November 3, 2026. Scored with the CleanPlate method from the published label. Spotted a mistake? .

Reference values: FSSAI labelling regulations, Codex Alimentarius, ICMR-NIN and the UK front of pack guidance. Where our label data comes from.

Label read on 3 November 2026, from photos of the pack. If the pack has changed since, tell us.

Score history (1)
DateScoreMethodWhy
3 November 2026CB4v5.0First scored

Every change to this score is logged. See corrections and the method changelog.

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