If would like to learn more about Caotina, an iconic Swiss product, here are 10 facts about Switzerland’s drinking chocolate.

1. First, Caotina was first introduced in 1963, by a company called Wander.

Located in Neuenegg, in the canton of Bern, this company also produces another popular powdered drink in Switzerland, Ovomaltine.

2. The name, “Caotina,” is a portmanteau.

This means that It blends cacao (cocoa) and a version of the last syllable of Ovomaltine.

3. Caotina comes in three primary flavors:

These include: Original (milk chocolate), Noir (dark chocolate) and Blanc (white chocolate). Most recently, the Noir and Blanc flavors were introduced in 2005. Furthermore, the Noir has a cocoa content of 45 percent. The Blanc, in particular, was supposedly the first white chocolate powder of its kind on the market in Switzerland.

4. The signature color of the Caotina packaging used to be red,

…and it was first sold in a square-shaped box. Then, Wander changed it to a chocolate-brown color in 1984.

5. The vast majority of people in Switzerland are familiar with the Caotina brand.

According to an article in Coop’s Coopération magazine, 92 percent of Swiss people have reported that they know about Caotina. In addition, 65 percent of the 18-29 age cohort said they drank Caotina at least once during the last 12 months.

6. You can add Caotina to cold or warm milk.

Everyone has their preferences. You can add it to a steaming mug of hot chocolate or a cold, refreshing glass of chocolate milk. Wander also offers another product, Caotina Pronto. It can be used with water.

7. It’s possible to order a personalized container of Caotina.

In Switzerland, you can place an order online for a special Caotina container printed with the word or phrase of your choice.

8. Caotina contains seven vitamins.

The specific ingredients that make up Caotina include: sugar, fat reduced cocoa 19% (with emulsifier soy lecithine), glucose, chocolate 7% (sugar, cocoa, cocoa butter, fat reduced cocoa, cocoa mass, flavoring vanillin), calcium phosphate, flavoring vanillin, salt, and 7 vitamins (B1, B2, niacin, B6, folic acid, B12, pantothenic acid).

For people with allergies or intolerances, please note that Caotina may contain traces of hazelnuts and milk.

9. Each year, Wander produces approximately 2,100 tons of Caotina.

This equals about 4.2 million of its 500-gram containers. Beyond Switzerland, this company exports Caotina to about 20 countries.

10. Finally, you can find many different kinds of recipes that call for Caotina,

…and not just those for beverages. Personally, I’ve used Caotina in madeleines and cakes. However, on the Caotina website, I found some surprising recipes. For example, there are recipes that pair this chocolate powder with ingredients like scallops and endives.

Sources:

• Caotina (Official website – Switzerland)
• Caotina, Wander SA
• Article: Caotina: L’histoire d’un chocolat suisse a boire, Coopération, N° 22  du 30 mai 2017.

Updated: January 1, 2023