Coffee & Tea
February 2, 2023

The TRUTH Behind Ilegal Iced Coffee in Canada

If you usually have Tiktok occupying a big chunk of your screen time, you might have come across the myth of the Iced Coffee Ban in Canada from at least one or two content creators in the app. Is Canada iced coffee illegal? Let’s find out!

Joana Regulacion
Table of Contents:

Why is iced coffee ‘banned’ in Canada?

Canada has an average daily temperature of -5.6C. Pretty dang cold. 🥶

Could this be why they banned iced coffee?

Save yourself the embarrassment of asking one of your Canadian friends if the police show up when they put some ice cubes in their caffeinated drink. 

Let’s be honest, rumors claiming iced coffee is banned in Canada are something you would expect to be circulating in Tiktok. With how its users are crazed by short videos of hacks and instant information, it’s unsurprising to find that it is the origin of this extreme story.

The origin 👇

The Tiktok video in question was posted by a user under the handle @taylorjacksonphoto.

He claimed that iced coffee is illegal in Canada since a signed trade deal with the top three countries that supply coffee beans to the country in 2007.

It further claims that the reason behind this is that making iced coffee was deemed an unnecessary expense by the prime minister at that time. This leading to the eventual ban of the beverage.

Check out this video below.  👇

Is ice coffee illegal in Canada?

A lot of people quickly believed this outrageous story, making its rounds beyond Tiktok and into different social media platforms. Fortunately, a quick web search for the menu in any coffee shop in Canada will immediately debunk this “weird” fact as the circulating Tiktok video claims to be true.

At around 2 CAD you can get yourself a cup of iced coffee in one of the popular coffee franchises. Skeptical people went to Reddit and other social media sites to confirm the credibility of the rumor.

Their research was met with hard testimonies by other users that it is perfectly legal to get your cold caffeine fix any time in Canada.

But because of how absurd this is, some answers are a little sarcastic if not hilarious.

Take a look at this thread below:

So yes, people can rest assured, iced coffee is not illegal anywhere in the world.

Can you get iced coffee in Canada?

Canada has one of the most intense winter climates of any country in the world. So would a coffee shop in the country even sell iced coffee?

Almost 75% of Canadians who were surveyed by Statista drank coffee in the last 24 hours. So they pretty much love coffee. In fact, the coffee market in Canada is worth more than 18 billion USD.

Where to get the best iced coffee in Canada?

Now we have established that iced coffee is indeed legal in Canada. Absolutely no one will cuff you for purchasing iced coffee when you’re craving one. 👮

It is actually quite a popular drink across the country, with coffee shops like Starbucks and Tim Hortons dominating the market. 

As of October 2022, there are 1,391 Starbucks locations in Canada. With Ontario having the most Starbucks locations at 606 stores. This accounts for approximately 44% of all Starbucks locations in Canada.

Tim Hortons Inc. is Canada's largest quick-service restaurant chain as of June 30, 2022 with 5,352 locations in 15 countries. Canadians also call it Tim's or Timmie's.

This multinational Canadian coffeehouse and restaurant chain is based in Toronto. Aside from coffee, they also sell doughnuts, and other fast-food stuff.

Although coffee shops are more convenient sources of fresh iced coffee in Canada, there are also pre-made caffeinated beverages you can purchase in local stores. 

So what kind of coffee do canadians love? 57% of respondents like to make the usual drip coffee at home. The second favourite is espresso, followed by latte.

You can also find powdered ones that you can prepare for yourself at home. Canadians seem to prefer a milder and creamier flavor as they tend to use slightly different (although not too different) ingredients and methods for their iced coffee.

If you love making coffee at home, you can check out the amazingly delicious coffee at Dripshipper.

There is nothing more Canadian than maple syrup iced coffee though, and it is quite accessible and easy to prepare even in your own kitchen or mini coffee bar if you have one.

FAQ

Now that were done with the talk of iced coffee legality, here are a few frequently asked questions about our favorite coffee.

Is it weird to get iced coffee in winter?

Iced coffee and cold brew coffee might be the best to quench your thirst during the hot summer days. But there is absolutely nothing wrong about driving to your favorite coffee shop chain for a cup of iced americano even on the coldest of winter nights.

56% of people even said in a Dunkin Donuts poll that it is never too cold for an iced coffee.

Do Europeans drink iced coffee?

They do, but it’s definitely not the first drink that comes to mind for Europeans. Reddit users claim that the coffee culture in European countries can differ a lot.

Most cafes only serve coffee hot, if they are even available.  

What is the base in Tim Hortons iced coffee?

Tim Hortons’ iced coffee is made with 100% Arabica coffee beans. Their iced coffee varieties include Mocha, Vanilla, and Caramel, and these contain skimmed milk, cane sugar, and natural flavors, and are high in fat.

Is Dare iced coffee healthy?

This Australian iced coffee brand is made of a blend of Robusta and Arabica coffee beans. It has a higher caffeine content with less sugar than most brands. They claim that this is what makes it a healthier option than other caffeinated drinks.

Caffeine can promote weight loss through appetite control and boosting metabolism. Other ingredients in iced coffee can even possibly lower the risk of heart disease.

Conclusion

Is Canada iced coffee illegal? definitely not. And it never had a time that it ever was banned. 

Canadians enjoy iced coffee just like most parts of the world, and they even have their own flavor and combinations that they are particular with.

So take what your favorite content creator in Tiktok says with a huge grain of salt. Go ahead and take a quick google search yourself before you add fuel to the wildfire that is misinformation online. 

About the author
Joana Regulacion
Joana is an engaging content writer and dynamic virtual assistant. ✍️ She helps business owners and entrepreneurs deliver a clear message to everyone and attract and engage the perfect audience. She is a proud wife, mom, and animal lover.‍ She believes that her love for learning new things is her key to writing engaging content.

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