Iced tea - why no unsweetened version in Canada

[lead82]

When traveling to the US, I always enjoy drinking unsweetened iced-tea because I find the regular (sweetened) iced-tea to be too sweet.

Yet in Canada, where generally we have healthier food options than the US, no restaurant of store sells unsweetened iced-tea.

Does anyone know why this is the case?

 

[W. K. Lis]

I'll bet the answer will be "market research" dictates that. I have never been asked any "market research" questions. Must keep asking people who have a sweet tooth.

Also, must be asking the same people who prefer the oversize laundry scoops one gets inside laundry detergent boxes. No one asked me if I want a scoop that are 1½ times the required amount for a single load. I could have ended up using more detergent than required, which results in using up the box faster, if I forget.

 

[lead82]

Haha, maybe the dentists association of Canada banded together to offer more sugar into beverages such as iced-tea.

 

[khris]

The US version of iced tea has always been different than the Canadian version. Unless you're in the north or north east US. Then they usually have the sweet stuff, and the non sweet stuff.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iced_tea#Canada

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iced_tea#United_States

 

[kettal]

If it's unsweetened you crave, just brew a jug of teabags and put it in your fridge.

 

[ganjavih]

Or better yet, loose tea.

 

[khris]

I think Second Cup's iced tea is of the none sweetened variety. It's nasty.

 

[PinkLucy]

If it's unsweetened you crave, just brew a jug of teabags and put it in your fridge.

Exactly. That's what I do.

 

[Tuscani01]

I have issues with the US never having sweetened iced tea. Every time I order iced tea in the US, I forget about the whole sweetened/non sweetened thing and end up with a drink that I cant drink. I don't like the taste of unsweetened iced tea at all. The worst case of this was in Chicago when I ordered a large iced tea from McD's. Ended up tossing it out.

 

[CDL.TO]

It would be great if unsweetened iced tea was offered in Toronto. There is a serious lack of low-sugar, non-"diet" beverage options other than water or overpriced Perrier.

 

[Urban Shocker]

I am surprised that instant tea never caught on over here.

 

[PinkLucy]

I'm not. Any that I have tried is nasty.

 

[Urban Shocker]

That's what I mean - it is no less awful than most tea bag tea, which is made from fannings, or iced tea.

 

[PinkLucy]

Ah, true enough. I use loose leaves actually. I'm very fussy about my tea. I always make my own iced tea because I find the stuff in bottles tastes like chemicals and the stuff in cans ... well, it tastes like the can.

 

[golodhendil]

I have issues with the US never having sweetened iced tea. Every time I order iced tea in the US, I forget about the whole sweetened/non sweetened thing and end up with a drink that I cant drink. I don't like the taste of unsweetened iced tea at all. The worst case of this was in Chicago when I ordered a large iced tea from McD's. Ended up tossing it out.

Actually just a few days ago, I ordered an iced tea (without specifying) and got one that was nastily sweet. I still finished it though.