Foods That Only Exist In Canada
By Juliet S
6 months ago
Canada is known for many things: beautiful national parks, the Rocky Mountains and amazing food! And we mean more than just maple syrup. If you're looking for some of the best menu items from this country, you might just have to book those plane tickets...
Because, bad news for other countries, a lot of items only exist in Canada - and nowhere else in the world! So unless you have a friend to send you a delicious food package or two in the mail, you might have to drool over this list instead...
Because, bad news for other countries, a lot of items only exist in Canada - and nowhere else in the world! So unless you have a friend to send you a delicious food package or two in the mail, you might have to drool over this list instead...
1. Cadbury Caramilk
The good: It has both chocolate and caramelThe bad: The cake version is so not ideal for on-the-go snacking!Not one person will ever dispute that Caramilk chocolate bars are the yummiest of them all. You have the creamy milk chocolate outer covering, which wraps around the soft, gooey caramel middle and results in a bar that gives even the biggest self-confessed chocoholic the rush they need!
Image source: Reddit
This one is always going to hit the spot for that chocolate craving. It also has a special place in the hearts of all Canadians... And, needless to day, takes a lot of country-wide willpower if they're walking past a store aisle or vending machine and see this sweet treat staring out at them!Original content sourced from Femanin.com2. President’s Choice White Cheddar Mac And Cheese
The good: It's easy to make for any occasionThe bad: Too much cheese can get a little sickly!If there was ever a Mac and Cheese competition, President's Choice White Cheddar would win hands down. It's ever so creamy and supremely rich in flavor, sticking to the macaroni pasta perfectly when cooked. You may have been one of those kids that treated it as a staple food on a cold, snowy day.
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Or had your parents whip it up for an easy and delicious dinner! There's a reason Canadians love this for those colder days. The creamy white cheddar cheese ingredient compliments the rest of the hearty dish, making sure you eat every last morsel - and even go back with an empty plate for seconds!3. Canadian Smarties
The good: They're Smarties! Enough saidThe bad: You can go through a bag very quicklyOf course, we know that Smarties are available in other countries in the world, including the USA and the United Kingdom. Everyone loves a good box of Smarties for a snack! But in Canada, this favored chocolate offering is actually slightly different to the Smarties you can find in the US.
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The colors aren't quite the same, and you'll also find extra brown Smarties in Canadian ones only. Not that brown is very appealing... But we suppose that's the color of chocolate anyway! Also, unlike American Smarties, these are round, have a crunchy shell and that smooth milk chocolate center.4. Pickle Chips
The good: You can easily pick up a bag in most placesThe bad: You might offend everyone with the smell of pickle!Who doesn’t love Dill Pickle Chips? Well, if you're outside of Canada you might not because you've likely never been able to have them, but still! They have a great tang to them and do actually taste very similar to a dill pickle. They are a Canadian favorite!
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Crispy and thinly sliced pickles with a seasoned coating. They are either fried or baked, both textures hitting the spot and blowing it out the water. Mainly available in Canada, if you are able to visit the country then stock up on them. You won't be disappointed!5. Mars Bars
The good: They're quite filling so you likely won't overdo it!The bad: That being said, they're delicious, so you probably will overdo itMars Bars are a confectionary staple in other countries in the world, but the Mars Bars specific to Canada are truly iconic. They feature layers of caramel, nougat and milk chocolate so three of your favorite fillings are offered in one bar. It doesn't get any better than that!
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They are available in handy packages which can be lethal because, even though you promise yourself you'll only have two... you could end up eating ten! And then, if you even have any left, you wonder if you should just polish them all off because the remainder of them are still staring at you.6. Canned Zoodles and Alphagetti
The good: Coming in a can makes them easy to buy and cookThe bad: They're not the healthiestHey, we're not saying that all foods only available in Canada are nutritious - and these definitely aren't! That doesn't mean they aren't a delicious guilty pleasure snack. So they aren't too healthy, and breaking down the ingredients, they are basically noodles in a simple red sauce.
Image source: Toronto Mike
However, as a 10 year old kid, it would have been exciting to eat Zoodles pasta in the shape of zoo animals! And Alphagetti in the form of alphabet shaped pasta? Delicious. Heated and served in a bowl or on a couple of slices of toast, dinner was sorted (if you were having a lazy day!).7. Hickory Sticks
The good: They come in Original if you don't like BBQThe bad: Other people will expect you to shareIf you like chips (which of course you do), then you’ll love hickory sticks. These moreish snacks are small slices of potato fries and are then seasoned with a stunning smoky BBQ flavor - which we all love, let's face it! Especially in Canada. Such a crowd pleaser for sure!
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Especially for trick or treating during Halloween in this country. The sound of a satisfying crunch as you bite into them? Perfection. This is also a snack that truly lets you savor the flavor, and it's always enough to get the taste buds standing to attention.8. Kinder Surprise
The good: The chocolate is some of the best tastingThe bad: You don't get much of it!It was quite a shock for all of us to find out that Canada have Kinder Eggs and the US doesn't! All the youngsters in Canada would be begging for these when they were at the grocery store with their parents. Opening each one was exciting as you never knew what toy would be inside.
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It would be a small plastic toy that you put together yourself with the enclosed instructions. In recent years, there's been a greater health and safety concern with the small plastic toys inside something you're supposed to bite into, with Kinder Eggs having to re-evaluate!9. President's Choice Chips
The good: They'll make you feel a bit posherThe bad: They're addictive!For those individuals who consider themselves to be connoisseurs of chips, then you already know that it's got to be President’s Choice flavored chips all the way, every day of the week! Forget "normal" flavors as you can choose from Indian Sweet Chilli and Blue Menu Ancient Grains...
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To name but two of the vast variety! President's Choice have always been premium quality snacks. One of the biggest selling points for this Canadian snack is the innovative amount of flavors for fans to choose from, meaning something for every snacking occasion!10. Beaver Tails
The good: They're easily paired with everythingThe bad: They can be messy to eat on-the-goIt can't get anymore Canadian than Beaver Tails - even the name just makes you think of Canada! Don't be put off by the idea of it, though, as - needless to say - it's not an actual animal tail! The deep fried pastry gets its name from the shape only (which resembles a beaver's tail, of course!).
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You can then pair the pastry with a delicious variety of toppings, which are usually things like Nutella or Reece's Pieces. You can then top this off with some whipped cream, and even pretend it's actually a healthy snack by adding some chopped banana or other fruit on there to finish it off!11. Bagged Milk
The good: They're more eco-friendlyThe bad: Bags are more likely to rip in transitSure, we know what you're thinking if you live outside of Canada - why on earth would I need milk in a bag? Why is this a thing? Aren't bottles enough? For anyone outside Canada, buying milk in bags would seem a world away but this is how they actually mainly purchase it.
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You can buy holders that have three separate pouches for the bagged milk, each pouch holding just over one litre of liquid milk. It's convenient, efficient and certainly an eco-friendly method of distributing it this way to eliminate plastic bottles. Other countries should be encouraged to follow suit.12. Nanaimo Bars
The good: They're easy to makeThe bad: You'll have to make loads of them for other peopleAn absolute favorite Canadian dessert is the deliciously chocolatey Nanaimo Bar. Each delight has a crumbly nutty base and a yummy custard filling, topped off with thick milk chocolate - yep, that's right, custard too! You don't often get that with chocolate snacks.
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You can buy them from the grocery store but many Canadians make their own in order to put their own spin on things! They're also a favorite Canadian snack for having people round. As soon as family or friends gather in the house, out they come and they are demolished within minutes!13. Chapman's Ice Cream
The good: Everyone loves ice creamThe bad: Brain freeze!If you insist on the best ice cream and no other will do (and of course we don't blame you), then Chapman's ice cream ticks all the boxes. It's made in southern Ontario using real cream. As all the flavors are peanut free, they are popular with everyone without having to worry about allergies!
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The brand was born fifty years ago and is still going strong due to the delicious, creamy flavor. Despite being only available in a few different flavors, it's popularity has never waned. Give their delicious frozen yogurts a try as well if you're not a fan of ice cream!14. Peameal Bacon
The good: It's a step up from regular baconThe bad: It's not too healthy if you have all the timeCanada is known for its bacon, and there are very few things that come close to a hot peameal bacon sandwich at the weekend, especially if it's to soak up the cocktails from the night before! That isn't to say you can't have it any day of the week, though - it's that good!
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Also known as back bacon, peameal is a wet-cured unsmoked back bacon. It is prepared from succulent boneless pork loin for the perfect flavor. The pork loin has been rolled in cornmeal to give peameal bacon that more crispy edge to every slice. It's thought that this bacon originated in Ontario.15. Swiss Chalet Sauce
The good: It's perfect for friesThe bad: No other dipping sauce is going to compare after thatWhat I'm about to tell you may be a bold statement but I stick by it (and let's hope you agree, too!). Swiss Chalet Sauce is a stunning dipping sauce and Canadians don't realise how lucky they are to have it. The rest of the world only wishes it could!
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It's savory and tangy and for delicious French fries and filling rotisserie chicken, it's the perfect accompaniment which takes food to another level. What's weird, though, is that this product actually isn't available in American Swiss Chalet restaurants! We sure wish that it was!16. Butter Tarts
The good: Perfect for pastry loversThe bad: Flaky pastry means lots of crumbs!Hands up if you fancy a flaky pastry that's stacked with a thick, gooey caramel filling and then topped with raisins or nuts. Yep, of course you do - we see your hands in the air! A Butter Tart is a perfect match with a mug of hot coffee at a Canadian family gathering - or, to be honest, alone!
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Because there doesn't need to be an excuse for it... it's just too good! Consumed still warm out of the oven can be lethal... And the reason for that is how addictive they are! As one Butter Tart will expose those taste buds and you'll have to go for another... We hope you have serious willpower.17. All Dressed Chips
The good: Your new favorite chips flavorThe bad: They won't last very longWhen you struggle to decide which flavor of chip you're completely yearning for, the answer is simple. Ruffles All Dressed Chips are layered in a cheesy smoky seasoning, layered with salt and vinegar. The combination is to die for!
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And you're guaranteed to end up finishing the whole bag, without offering them round for other people! This is when your friends find out just where your loyalties lie... The other flavor is salt and vinegar mixed with ketchup and BBQ. Just wow!18. Shreddies Cereals
The good: A great breakfast stapleThe bad: You might get lazy and eat them for dinner, too!No Canadian morning is complete without a bowl of Shreddies. They are nutritious, high in fibre and low in sugar. Shreddies are square in shape with a knitted appearance and a slight nutty flavor. They are best enjoyed with a generous amount of cold milk.
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But if you'd rather not have milk, they are equally as tasty with yogurt as alternative. Not just for the start of the day, Shreddies go down well when you feel peckish while watching tv in the evening for a filling snack, or in the afternoon - why not!19. Tourtiere
The good: Very filling so you don't need much elseThe bad: You have to make the whole pie!QQuite similar to a meat pie that you can get in other parts of the world, Tourtiere is a French Canadian meal - specifically, French Canadian pie! It has a pie-like pastry crust that is filled with ground pork and seasonings for extra special taste. It's a great comfort food!
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And goes down well with mashed potatoes and vegetables on the side. It's an easy meal option for both lunch and dinner - or whenever you fancy it! Tourtiere actually has a cultural meaning to it, too, and is often served on religious occasions, much to the delight of everyone!20. Cream Soda Crush
The good: It hits the spotThe bad: It's not very good for youOne of the biggest food and drink items that can vary all over the world has to be soda. Not only do you covet other countries for certain brands, but certain exclusive flavors, too! Cream Soda is a sugary, fruity soda and it's bright pink, that you can only really find on Canadian shelves.
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Adults see it as a bit of nostalgia from their childhood, as they recall the creaminess and fizz whereas kids like it purely for the taste. Even though it does contain a certain amount of sugar, at least it doesn't have the chemical sweeteners that have been creating a lot of negative press lately.21. Jos Louis
The good: For when you want cake instead of chocolate barsThe bad: It's a whole cake! The temptation...Is there anything better than a snack cake? You can indulge in this one any time of the day - provided you're in Canada, of course! A Jos Louis is the type of school snack that cool kids would have in their lunch box! If they didn't, they would try and trade in their own dessert for that one.
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They are similar to a Twinkie but the Canadian snack cake has way more chocolate around it. It's manufactured by Mahon. And each of the two layers of sponge in this particular cake have a creamy filling. All of that is then wrapped up in chocolate resulting in a snack that's delectable!22. Coffee Crisp
The good: It's both coffee and toffee!The bad: Coffee flavor isn't popular with everyoneIf you love coffee, your new choice of chocolate bar is going to be Coffee Crisp. Granted, coffee-flavored snacks mostly have a love-hate fanbase, as it's definitely an acquired taste. But luckily, if you do love coffee and live in Canada, boy do we have the snack for you!
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It tastes of coffee and toffee, as well as an abundance of chocolate and sugar! Some say it is like a Macchiato but in candy bar form! The slim wafer sticks have a coffee cream center and are protected by a chocolatey coating. They have a great texture to them and are a popular Canadian snack.23. Poutine
The good: It's poutine!The bad: It's a carb overloadOne of the most famous foods - and general things - to come out of Canada has to be poutine. When you are feeling hungry after a Saturday night out dancing, then the ultimate late snack is Poutine. But don't worry - it's not just for late night. It's for any time of day, because it's just that good.
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It's not a healthy option but it satisfies the desire for something naughty. In a nutshell, its hot, greasy and cheesy, smothered in gravy. This food stuff is actually crispy fries with cheese curds on the top which are then soaked in belly-warming gravy. This dish originated in Quebec.24. Caesar Cocktail
The good: If normal cocktails bore youThe bad: It's a bit weird, let's be honestThis savory cocktail has to be the number one choice in Canada - and yes, that's right, we said savory cocktail! It couples as both food and drink, but a savory meal offering instead of sweet. It is garnished with anything from an olive to a full lobster tail (yep, a full tail!).
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The latter turns the drink into a full blown meal, as you can imagine. Quintessentially Canadian, it's made up with vodka. The vodka is then also paired with tomato and clam juice, Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce. The garnish of a stick of celery is used to mix the ingredients - and is edible!25. Kraft Peanut Butter
The good: When is peanut butter ever a bad thing?The bad: You'll easily go through a whole pot of itIf there's one thing known in both America and Canada, it's peanut butter. But in Canada, they specifically have Kraft peanut butter. However, this peanut butter is controversial! It splits peanut lovers as some insist on the smooth and creamy one while others say it's crunchy all the way.
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Whichever is your preference, it's a Canadian favorite - whether it's for breakfast, lunch or as a post gym snack. This particular brand is not available in the States which is a real shame as the texture is perfect on toast, crackers or as a dip with crudites. Hey, try it next time in Canada!26. Montreal Bagels
The good: It's peak bagel game!The bad: They're not the healthiestThere is so much competition with bagels in general but, to be honest, there really is nothing quite like the Montreal bagel. The wood fired bagels are sticky and ever so slightly sweet, which makes them delicious on their own without any filling...
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If you are looking to fill them, then it has to be with Ontario cream cheese and Nova Scotia smoked salmon, with seasoning of cracked black pepper and lemon juice. And we know it's not just Canada that has a deep-set love for bagels, either as breakfast or lunch.27. Ketchup Chips
The good: It's the ketchup flavor you loveThe bad: You might not want ketchup all the timeMuch like bagged milk, the concept of chips that are ketchup flavored is a hard one to grasp if you live outside Canada because you probably won't have heard of them. There was a time this particular flavor made an appearance in the UK, but it's biggest in Canada as a regular item.
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Lay's Ketchup Chips are available in single size bags or family packs, perfect for those ketchup-loving families if it's passed down the generations! This snack also brings a lot of nostalgia with it as you indulge in the light sweet taste of ketchup with a tangy kick to it.28. Crunchie
The good: They don't feel too heavyThe bad: You can easily devour a whole packThe confectionary known as the Crunchie bar was created by Cadbury Canada and isn't on sale to its southern neighbors, unfortunately (we know, sob!) Thinking about it, it's a travesty that there is no honeycomb centred, toffee flavored, chocolate bar in the States.
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Once you've tasted a Crunchie, you'll know why it's so unique and unbeatable in both texture and taste. The only way to sample it is to order it online if you aren't in Canada. Or you can even get this chocolate bar outside of Canada in the UK where it's also a chocolate lover's go-to!29. Hawkins Cheezies
The good: They're cheesy and crunchy - what's not to love?The bad: Someone else in the family is going to eat them if you don't get there first!Hawkins Cheezies have been around forever - at least if you're in Canada, that is. This snack was invented after the Second World War and it continues to be sold right across Canada, going down in history as a firm favorite. The corn based, crunchy chip alternative, has a cheddar cheese flavor.
Image source: Daily Mail
Manufactured by Hawkins Gourmet & Snack Foods, Cheezies aren't just a snack - they are part of Canadian culture! So much so that they should definitely be cherished, and a staple for any family get-together table or Thanksgiving snack. Maybe even weekend BBQ must-have! Get the bowls ready.30. Big Turk
The good: It's nice that Turkish Delight is getting deserved recognitionThe bad: Not everyone loves Turkish DelightBig Turk, as the name gives away, is Turkish delight wrapped up in a chocolate bar. Now, we know Turkish Delight is an acquired taste, though! It was created by Nestle and is divine with its chewy rose flavored center encased in creamy milk chocolate.
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