We Tried Tim Hortons’ New Grocery Store Iced Coffee Syrups
This summer you might be able to get your morning iced mocha latte sans drive-thru. Heck, you can even have two if you want—and all from the comfort of your back porch. That's because Tim Hortons has recently launched a line of ready-to-drink iced coffee syrups in mocha and cappuccino flavours that are now on shelves at most major grocery stores. (They're also available for purchase online at timshop.ca.)
The idea is to mix the coffee-extract syrups with milk for a pour-over flavoured iced coffee, or to blend them with milk and ice for the full frappé treatment.
I managed to get my hands on the mocha and cappuccino syrups, which were at my local grocery store, for a taste test.
Tim Hortons Mocha Iced Coffee Syrup, $9.99 for 470 mL
Call me a stickler for branding, but this syrup’s plastic container is giving motor oil vibes. Packaging concerns aside, however, the instructions are simple to follow and the result is on par with what you would get if you ordered an iced mocha from the drive-thru. To enjoy, just pour two tablespoons of the syrup into a cup with milk and ice. The result is a straightforward flavoured iced coffee that sips like an over-the-top chocolate milk with some undertones of coffee. I also took the option to blend it into a frappé-like consistency and—hey-o—the result was decadently dessert-like.
Tim Hortons Cappuccino Iced Coffee Syrup, $9.99 for 470 mL
The cappuccino syrup follows the same instructions as the mocha, and offers the same two mixing options: over ice with milk or blended into frappé. While the cappuccino syrup naturally has more burnt-sugar undertones and coffee-flavoured depth, this option also sips like a grown-up version of a kids’ drink. It’s creamy and super-sweet, which is a rather intoxicating combination that sends you back for another sip despite better your judgment. I liked the over-ice version of both syrups overall, but the blended option is where the syrups really shine.
Overall Rating
The syrups get a solid "B" grade for fulfilling the brief. They taste like Tim Hortons drinks, and they’re not shy about it. Are they ridiculously sweet? Yes: each serving contains 24 grams of sugar. If that’s your bag, then you’re going to like them a lot. You're also likely going to enjoy saving yourself a drive and the extra costs associated with a daily iced coffee habit.
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For the Tims-curious who aren't keen on a sugary sip, the grocery store syrup gives you a little freedom to play around, too. You can dial down the sweetness by adjusting your ratios, for example, or using the syrups as a dessert drizzle. Personally, I' would go with the I'll be opting for dialled-down going forward. After drinking both, I experienced intense feelings of sugar overload.
Want more Tim Hortons reviews? Here's what we thought of the new Timbit flavours and protein lattes.
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Flannery Dean is a writer based in Hamilton, Ont. She’s written for The Narwhal, the Globe and Mail and The Guardian.
