Who is this for?

Gym-goers looking for a dark-chocolate treat

A cold dessert may appeal after training, but a declared cocoa percentage and a snack intended to address recovery are different priorities.

Shoppers comparing individual portions

Check energy, sugars and saturates per choc ice or stick rather than judging the portion by the word “dark”.

Multipack buyers

Compare the number and size of portions, then check the current packaging for ingredients and nutrition.

What should you check?

Decide whether this is a dessert or the food you are counting on after exercise; then compare the coating description and each labelled portion.

Priority What to check Your needs
After-exercise food Check protein per serving and whether the rest of your food or drink addresses fuel needs. The UK Sports Institute identifies fuel depletion and muscle damage as recovery considerations. If I am relying on a snack after demanding exercise, I need more than a frozen dessert: the checked Tesco, Sainsbury’s and ASDA listings give 1.2g to 3.3g protein per serving.
Cocoa disclosure Look for a stated cocoa percentage rather than inferring one from “dark”. Tesco lists a 70% cocoa coating for Magnum Intense Dark; Sainsbury’s and ASDA describe dark-chocolate-flavoured coatings. I want to know whether the coating has a declared cocoa percentage, not just a dark-chocolate flavour description.
Serving nutrition Compare the stated portion sizes, sugars and saturates per serving. The checked retailer listings give 8.3g to 16g sugars and 6.2g to 11g saturates per portion across these three products. A small-looking choc ice can still contain sugars and saturates, so I want the figures for the piece I would eat.
Portion format Check pieces per pack and volume per piece: the listed Sainsbury’s and ASDA choc ices are 70ml each, while the listed Magnum sticks are 100ml each. Would I rather have a 70ml choc ice or a 100ml stick as my individual treat?
Allergens and storage Read the current pack’s allergen and storage instructions. ASDA lists milk and soya and says its choc ices may contain nuts; its instructions say to keep them frozen and not refreeze after defrosting. If ingredients matter to me, I need the declaration on the pack in hand. I also need to get frozen products into suitable storage.

What is easy to overlook?

  • Using a choc ice as the whole recovery snack

    The checked retailer listings give just 1.2g to 3.3g protein per serving. A frozen treat alone may leave other food needs after demanding exercise unaddressed.

    If recovery is your reason for eating, consider the rest of your snack or meal, including carbohydrate and protein, rather than choosing by the coating.

  • Assuming dark chocolate means less sugar or saturated fat

    In the checked retailer listings, the 70% cocoa Magnum stick has 16g sugars and 11g saturates per serving. A cocoa percentage does not tell you those nutrition values.

    Compare sugars and saturates for the portion you would eat on the current nutrition panel.

  • Relying on an older allergen listing

    Ingredients can change. The checked ASDA product lists milk and soya and says it may contain nuts; that declaration should not be assumed to apply to other choc ices.

    If you have an allergy or another ingredient restriction, read the packaging of the product you are about to eat.

Relevant brand references

Magnum

Tesco lists Magnum Intense Dark as three 100ml ice cream sticks with a 70% cocoa chocolate coating.

  • The cocoa percentage is stated for this specific variant.
  • Tesco lists 240kcal, 16g sugars, 11g saturates and 3.3g protein per stick. Magnum says its range can vary by store.

Sainsbury’s

Sainsbury’s lists its Dark Choc Ices as eight 70ml portions of vanilla-flavour ice cream in a dark-chocolate-flavoured coating.

  • Its listing gives 117kcal per choc ice, alongside 9.4g sugars and 6.2g saturates.
  • The checked coating description does not state a cocoa percentage; the listed protein is 1.2g per choc ice.

ASDA

ASDA lists its Dark Choc Ices as six 70ml portions with a dark-chocolate-flavour coating.

  • Its listing gives serving-level figures, including 124kcal, 8.3g sugars and 1.4g protein per choc ice.
  • The listing gives 7.3g saturates per portion and declares milk and soya; it says the product may contain nuts.

Joybuy product options

For a post-gym dark-chocolate treat, this Joybuy option is a 100ml ice cream stick with a stated cocoa percentage. Judge it as a dessert alongside, rather than a substitute for, the food you need after exercise.

Magnum Intense Dark Chocolate Ice Cream, three 100ml sticks

Magnum Intense Dark Chocolate Ice Cream 3 x 100ml

For a dark-chocolate-coated treat after training, this three-pack contains individual 100ml sticks, and its product description states a 70% cocoa coating. Tesco’s listing of the same variant gives 240kcal, 11g saturates, 16g sugars and 3.3g protein per stick. Check the current pack for nutrition and allergens before relying on those figures.

View on Joybuy

Common questions

Does “dark” mean a choc ice has a high cocoa percentage?

No. The checked Sainsbury’s and ASDA listings describe dark-chocolate-flavoured coatings without stating a cocoa percentage; Tesco’s listing of Magnum Intense Dark states 70% cocoa for its coating. Check the description of the particular product you are buying.

Can a dark choc ice be my only post-gym snack?

If you are eating to address recovery after demanding exercise, do not rely on one of these choc ices alone. The checked retailer listings give 1.2g to 3.3g protein per serving, while the UK Sports Institute identifies fuel depletion and muscle damage as recovery considerations. Consider a snack or meal containing carbohydrate and protein, with the choc ice as an optional dessert.

What should I check if I have a food allergy?

Read the allergen declaration on the current pack, even if you have bought the product before. The checked ASDA Dark Choc Ices listing declares milk and soya and says the product may contain nuts; other products can have different ingredients.

How should I store dark choc ices?

Follow the storage instructions on the pack and keep the product frozen. ASDA’s instructions for its Dark Choc Ices say not to refreeze them after defrosting.