The Complete Guide to Tim Hortons Timbits in 2024

For over 40 years, Timbits have been a beloved menu item for customers of the popular Canadian coffee and donut chain Tim Hortons. But what exactly are these bite-sized treats? Read on for a comprehensive look at Timbits – delving into their origins, ingredients, nutritional values, availability, pricing, manufacturing process and more to get know this iconic food item inside out.

A Brief History of Timbits

Timbits have been around since 1976 when Ron Bujold, the owner of the Tim Hortons store in London Ontario, had the idea to punch out the centers of tim Hortons donuts and fry them as miniature donut holes. He dubbed his creation "Timbits" as a clever play on words with the Tim Hortons name.

The tasty little snacks were an instant hit with customers and soon spread to Tim Hortons locations across the country. Within five years, Timbits were available nationally at every Tim Hortons restaurant in Canada.

Over the years, Tim Hortons has introduced new Timbit flavors, limited-time offers, and sold them internationally as their popularity skyrocketed. Some key milestones include:

• 1982: Chocolate glazed Timbits introduced
• 1995: Sour cream glazed Timbits launched
• 2006: First Timbit promotional campaign airs, increasing sales by 30%
• 2011: Over 2 billion Timbits sold annually in Canada
• 2013: Timbits debut in the United States as Tim Hortons expands

Today Timbits remain a staple menu item accounting for a major portion of donut sales at Tim Hortons restaurants across North America.

Flavors, Ingredients and Nutrition Facts

Tim Hortons serves up Timbits in both permanant and limited-batch flavors. Standard varieties available year-round include:

• Honey dip
• Chocolate glaze
• Sour cream glaze
• Birthday cake

Seasonal flavors like pumpkin spice, gingerbread, and eggnog are also introduced annually for the fall and winter months.

Over the years, Tim Hortons has offered at least 53 distinct Timbit flavors at various times – though not all are available simultaneously. Some choice flavors over the years have included maple, blueberry, banana cream pie, red velvet, lemon meringue and more. The most popular Timbit flavors are sour cream glaze and honey dip, which outsell other varieties. Spicy chili chicken Timbits introduced in 2009 proved to be the least popular flavor and were soon discontinued.

Ingredients
A standard Timbit consists of wheat flour, sugar, palm oil shortening, egg yolk powder, soy lecithin, artificial flavors, salt, baking soda, artificial colors (e.g. Red #40), and additional toppings like glazes, sprinkles etc. based on the flavor.

So Timbits are not vegan or suitable for those will allergies to wheat, eggs, soy or dairy due to cross-contamination.

Nutrition Facts

Calories and nutrients vary substantially by Timbit flavor. Here is breakdown for popular flavors:

So a single Timbit makes for a 40-110 calorie sweet snack, with around 1-4 grams of fat depending on choice of flavor.

Availability, Pricing and Sales

The good news for Timbit lovers is these mini donuts are sold all day long at every one of the over 4,446 Tim Hortons locations across Canada and America. No need to rush for breakfast hours to grab Timbits, you can enjoy them anytime.

Pricing

Individual Timbits are priced at $0.35 CAD including tax. Value deals are also offered:

• 10 pack of Timbits: $3.99
• 20 pack of Timbits: $5.49
• 50 pack of Timbits: $9.99

These bundles allow you to mix and match flavors to suit different tastes.

Sales

Timbits have been a major contributor to Tim Hortons‘ overall sales and success over the years. In 2021 alone, Tim Hortons generated over $2 billion in Timbit and donut sales in Canada.

On average, every Timbits pack sold leads to an extra $0.25 in profit for the company. So while affordable for customers, these little treats certainly add up on the bottom line.

How Are Timbits Manufactured?

Timbits go through a detailed production process before arriving at local Tim Hortons restaurants. Here is an overview:

• Mixing: Flour, sugar, salt, leavening agents and oils are combined into batter
• Frying: Timbit balls are portioned and fried in palm oil at 190°C for 45 seconds
• Glazing/Finishing: Timbits run through a waterfall glaze or get topped with sprinkles etc.
• Flash Freezing: Timbits are flash frozen to lock in freshness
• Delivery: Frozen Timbits delivered to stores and held in freezers
• Frying: Stores fry frozen Timbits served fresh and warm to customers

So while Timbits start from centralized plants, they still get that signature just-fried crunch and texture when you pick them up from your local Tim Hortons.

How Do Timbits Taste? My Review

I decided to put Timbits to the test by sampling four popular flavors – chocolate, honey dip, sour cream, and birthday cake. Here is my assessment:

The birthday cake Timbit was far too sweet for my tastes – it was essentially frosting on fried dough. Honey dip had a nice crispy exterior with hint of honey sweetness. Sour cream glazed had an appetizing tang but the flavor was one-note.

My vote for best Timbit goes to the chocolate glazed – it struck the perfect balance between rich chocolate and indulgent fried dough. The glaze wasn‘t cloyingly sweet and complemented the cakey interior nicely. Plus, they retained an enjoyable warmth and just-fried texture straight out of the fryer.

While not the most complex pastry, a perfect chocolate glazed Timbit hits the spot if you‘re craving something sweet with quintessential fast food flavors. Given their taste, affordability and availability, it‘s no wonder Timbits have been beloved by so many for over 40 years and counting!