Canadian e-Liquids, EH!
Cloud Barista’s origins in the Canadian vape industry began with e-liquid manufacturing before expanding into retail in 2019. Today, we still develop and offer our own Canadian e-liquid brands. We’re passionate about Canadian e-Liquids' quality, robust flavour, and unique selection. Straight-up Canadian flavour junkies!
With the rise in popularity of disposable vapes over the last 5 years or so, disposable vape companies have started offering standalone bottled e-liquids; most of these disposable-derived e-liquids are manufactured in China and the U.S., which has long been a point of contention for us here at The Barista. As experienced and dedicated e-liquid manufacturers, we can say with certainty that Chinese and American e-Liquid manufacturing standards pale in comparison to Canadian e-Liquid manufacturing standards.
At first glance, it may seem hypocritical that we sell Chinese- and American-made disposables, yet rail against their standalone bottled e-liquid counterparts. Fair point! Strong consumer demand for the convenience and ease of use of disposables dictates that we must offer them to our clients. But when it comes to the bottle of e-liquid sitting on our shelves, this is where we can draw a distinction in quality in The Barista’s selection of nicotine products.
As such, we here at The Barista have decided that, from this point forward, we will support and supply ONLY Canadian-made e-liquids.
Continue reading for some comparisons between the three main contributors to the Canadian e-Liquid market.
Canadian e-Liquid Manufacturing
Canadian e-liquid manufacturing stands out for its commitment to safety, quality, and consumer protection, backed by rigorous standards. In the early years of the Canadian e-liquid industry, the Electronic Cigarette Trade Association (ECTA) of Canada promoted voluntary industry standards, including laboratory testing for impurities such as diacetyl, acetyl propionyl, formaldehyde, and diethylene glycol, to avoid harmful compounds and verify nicotine content precisely. Many of these practices remain industry standards today. The Canadian Vaping Association further supports responsible practices, advocating for compliance and quality among manufacturers. Together, these frameworks encourage the use of only the best, highest-quality ingredients, along with GMP protocols, batch traceability, and third-party testing. The result is consistently safer, more transparent products that build consumer trust and distinguish Canadian-made e-liquids in a regulated market focused on harm reduction and reliability.
Chinese e-Liquid Manufacturing
Simply put, we at Cloud Barista have ethical and safety concerns about promoting trust in e-Liquids from China. Concerns about Chinese e-liquid manufacturing often center on limited transparency in production processes, where factories may operate with inconsistent quality controls and potentially introduce impurities, heavy metals, or unlisted additives. While China introduced national standards and licensing rules in 2022 for domestic products, enforcement for export-oriented goods has drawn criticism for weaker oversight, allowing items that do not fully meet destination-country requirements to enter global markets. Broader supply-chain risks also include reports of state-linked forced labour programs involving Uyghur and other minority workers in various Chinese industries, raising ethical questions about possible exposure in complex manufacturing networks.
American e-Liquid Manufacturing
Concerns surrounding American e-liquid manufacturing include inconsistent quality control and variable ingredient standards among producers. Many products have shown discrepancies between labelled and actual nicotine levels and ingredients. The 2019 EVALI outbreak, which caused thousands of lung injuries and dozens of deaths, was strongly linked to vitamin E acetate used as a diluent in illicit THC vaping products rather than regulated nicotine e-liquids. Nonetheless, the episode highlighted broader risks of unapproved additives and limited oversight in parts of the U.S. market, where numerous unauthorized black market products continue to circulate, some exported to Canada despite FDA premarket requirements. Although a step up certainly from Chinese e-liquid manufacturing, is it worth the risk? We at Cloud Barista don’t believe so and cannot, in good conscience, support American e-liquids.
In the end, if it doesn't say “Made in Canada” on the bottle of e-Liquid, you won’t find it on The Barista’s shelves.
- Team Barista
