20 Iconic Canadian Snacks Every Newcomer Must Try
Ever wondered why Canadians argue about raisins in pastries or hoard bright orange cheese snacks?
From sticky-sweet butter tarts to polarizing chip flavors, Canada’s snack culture is a delicious collision of nostalgia, regional pride, and quirky ingenuity.
For newcomers, these treats aren’t just snacks – they’re edible icebreakers that spark conversations (and friendly debates) at coffee shops and hockey rinks.
Let’s dive into 20 iconic Canadian snacks to try that’ll make you feel like a true Canadian – even if you’re still figuring out Celsius temperatures.
20 Iconic Canadian Snacks To Try
Canadian Classics (Baked Goods)
1. Butter Tarts
A tiny pastry that divides the nation. These gooey, syrup-filled tarts come in three factions: raisin loyalists, pecan purists, and plain rebels.
Local bakeries like Toronto’s Bake Shoppe or rural Ontario farm stands serve the best versions, where flaky crusts balance the sugary lava center.
Pro Tip: Freeze them for a firmer texture. Avoid grocery store versions – they’re like hockey pucks with identity crises.
Where to buy: Farmers’ markets, specialty bakeries, Walmart’s bakery section.
2. Nanaimo Bars
Named after a British Columbia city, these no-bake bars are Canada’s edible trifecta: crumbly chocolate-coconut base, custard middle, and glossy chocolate top.
Perfect with black coffee to cut the sweetness.
Warning: Cheap versions taste like “sugar mortar” – splurge on brands like Mabel’s Labels or homemade batches at coffee shops.
Where to buy: Loblaws, Metro, independent cafés.
3. Beaver Tails
Don’t panic – no actual beavers harmed. These fried dough pastries (stretched to resemble tails) shine at winter festivals.
Classic toppings: cinnamon-sugar, maple butter, or Nutella.
Pro Tip: Eat them fresh – day-old tails turn into hockey stick leather.
Where to buy: BeaverTails stands (Ottawa ByWard Market, ski resorts), summer fairs.
4. Timbits
Tim Hortons’ bite-sized doughnut holes are Canada’s unofficial currency.
Order a 20-pack “Assorted” for the full experience: jelly-filled chaos, chocolate-glazed diplomacy, and the elusive sour cream glazed.
Hot debate: Are “birthday cake” Timbits genius or culinary war crimes?
Where to buy: Any Tim Hortons (there are 4,000+ locations – you’ll smell the coffee first).
“But wait,” you say, “what about savory snacks?” Fear not – Canada’s chip game is weirder than a moose in sunglasses.
Up next: crunchy obsessions that make ketchup-flavored anything seem normal.
Crispy & Crunchy (Savory Snacks)
5. Hawkins Cheezies
Forget Cheetos – Canada’s 73-year-old cheesy crunch is made in Belleville, Ontario, using a pressurized “popping” method.
These cornmeal sticks pack a smoky cheddar punch and a shatter-crunch texture that lingers like a polite Canadian apology.
Quick Tip: Freeze them for a next-level snacking experience.
Where to buy: Look low on grocery shelves (they don’t pay for prime placement) – Loblaws, Sobeys, Dollarama.
6. All Dressed Chips
Canada’s Frankenstein chip combines ketchup, BBQ, salt & vinegar, and sour cream flavors.
Ruffles’ ridged version traps maximum seasoning dust under fingernails – a true national sacrifice.
Verdict: “The S-tier chip that makes other flavors look basic.”
Where to buy: Everywhere – gas stations, Walmart, Costco’s industrial-sized bags.
7. Hickory Sticks
These shoestring-thin potato sticks bathed in hickory smoke seasoning are Canada’s underdog snack. Perfect for:
- Emergency road trips
- Pretending salads are boring
- Crushing over poutine
Fun Fact: The 99¢ vending machine bag delivers more joy per gram than Bitcoin.
Where to buy: Circle K, bulk food stores, movie theater snack bars.
8. Dill Pickle Chips
The ultimate “sounds gross, tastes glorious” gateway drug to Canadian snacking.
Lay’s version balances vinegar zing with garlic undertakes, while Old Dutch offers a brine-forward punch.
Pro Tip: Crush them onto tuna sandwiches.
Where to buy: Convenience stores (7-Eleven), Walmart’s chip aisle.
“But what about chocolate?” Oh, we’ve got bars so iconic they should be on Mount Rushmore – if Canada had one.
Up next: cocoa creations that make Swiss chocolate seem overly polite.
Chocolate Bar Legends
9. Coffee Crisp
This isn’t just a chocolate bar – it’s a cultural handshake. Introduced in 1938, Coffee Crisp layers coffee-flavored whipped filling between crispy wafers, all cloaked in milk chocolate.
Unlike hyper-sweet American bars, it’s subtly bitter, like a barista’s wink in candy form. Canadians abroad hoard them like gold.
Pro tip: The “mini” version at Dollarama lets you pretend you’re not eating six in one sitting.
Where to buy: Convenience stores (look for the yellow wrapper), Canadian-themed gift shops.
10. Caramilk
Cadbury’s caramel-filled enigma has fueled playground debates since 1968: How do they get the caramel inside?
The answer (a chilled chocolate shell injected with liquid caramel) matters less than the experience – cracking the thick milk chocolate to release the amber lava within.
Quick Hack: Microwave for 8 seconds to create a “caramel hot tub” effect.
Controversy: Purists argue the 2020 “Caramilk White Chocolate” edition should be banned under the Geneva Convention.
Where to buy: Gas stations (perfect road trip fuel), Walmart’s checkout impulse racks.
11. Aero Bar (Mint & Regular)
Britain may have invented Aero, but Canada made it cool. The regular milk chocolate version’s airy bubbles create a “melts on contact” texture, while Mint Aero is like brushing your teeth with a candy cane.
The bubbles aren’t just fun – they make the bar feel 20% bigger in your hand.
Weird fact: During WWII, Aero’s slogan was “As digestible as sunlight!” (We don’t get it either.)
Where to buy: Bulk Barn (stock up for Netflix binges), airport gift shops.
12. Crunchie
Origin: British (1929) → Canadian Twist: Cadbury Canada uses a darker chocolate coating and denser honeycomb to withstand our extreme humidity.
Fun fact: The Canadian version has 5% more sugar per gram – a necessity for surviving Tim Hortons lines.
The honeycomb toffee center isn’t just crunchy – it’s evaporative. Each bite starts with a satisfying snap before dissolving into caramelized sugar mist.
Canadians have strong opinions: 58% prefer it frozen, 32% microwaved for 5 seconds, and 10% crumbled over vanilla ice cream (per a 2023 Reddit poll).
History nugget: The bar was nearly named “Sponge” before marketers realized that sounded gross.
Where to buy: Shoppers Drug Mart (near pharmacy – ironic), Canadian Tire’s checkout lanes.
13. Oh Henry!
This protein bar in chocolate’s clothing divides the nation. Chopped peanuts, caramel, and fudge are pressed into a dense log that’s either “retro comfort” or “edible punishment,” depending on your dental work.
Fun Fact: 40% of fans only buy it for the peanut-studded caramel core, discarding the outer chocolate.
Did you know? It’s named after a 1920s electrician whose coworkers kept stealing his snacks.
Where to buy: Vending machines (the last bar standing), rural gas stations.
14. Mr. Big
The Mount Everest of chocolate bars – not because it’s fancy, but because conquering its sheer size (21 cm long!) is a Canadian coming-of-age ritual.
Layers of crispy wafer, caramel, and rice crisps hide under a chocolate blanket thick enough for Arctic expeditions.
Warning: The “fun size” version is a cruel joke.
Where to buy: Movie theaters (pair with a $6 water), roadside chip trucks.
“But I need something sour!” – said every newcomer after their third Coffee Crisp.
Coming up: Candies so puckeringly Canadian, they come with a free cheek cramp.
Sweet & Tart Candies
15. Sour Cherry Blasters
Canada’s answer to sour patch warfare. These grenade-shaped candies hit with a citric acid blast before revealing a cherry core sweet enough to forgive the cheek cramps.
Hot tip: Buy the 500g bulk bag – your dentist will love the job security.
Where to buy: Bulk Barn, Cineplex movie theaters (pair with a horror flick).
16. Smarties
Not to be confused with America’s chalky “Rockets” – these are chocolate discs in rainbow shells, basically edible hockey pucks.
Fun fact: Canadians sprinkle them on birthday cakes like they’re paying homage to the sugar gods.
Where to buy: Dollar stores (stock up for Halloween), Canadian-themed gift shops.
17. Fuzzy Peaches
The snack that proves Canadians enjoy masochism. These gummy peach slices come coated in sour sugar crystals that dissolve into a sweet, peachy surrender.
Genius hack: Freeze them for a “gummy peach slushie” texture.
Where to buy: Gas station checkout lines, bulk candy dispensers.
18. Swedish Berries
A Canadian invention that’s 0% Swedish and 100% berry-licious. These plump gummies burst with raspberry-lime flavor, striking a tart/sweet balance that makes Swedish Fish taste like pond water.
Where to buy: Shoppers Drug Mart, bulk food stores (grab tongs – this gets competitive).
Controversial But Iconic
19. Joe Louis
The snack cake that sparks family feuds: vanilla sponge sandwiching a “mystery cream” center, all enrobed in chocolate.
Fans swear by freezing them into hockey puck-textured delights; critics call them “sad Twinkies with commitment issues.”
Where to buy: Grocery discount bins, nostalgic grandparents’ pantries.
20. Kinder Surprise Eggs
Technically illegal in the U.S., these chocolate eggs with toy surprises inside are Canada’s sneaky middle finger to boring snacks.
Pro move: Gift them to American friends and whisper, “You didn’t get this from me.”
Where to buy: Corner stores near the border, airport duty-free shops.
FAQs
Where can I find these snacks?
Hunt at Walmart for budget hauls, Loblaws for premium brands, and gas stations for emergency cravings. Local bakeries rule for butter tarts – avoid anything sold next to motor oil.
Best for sharing back home?
Non-perishable legends: Coffee Crisp, Smarties, and vacuum-sealed bags of All Dressed chips. Avoid beaver tails – they’ll fossilize mid-flight.
Vegan/gluten-free options?
Smarties (accidentally vegan), some Hickory Sticks (check labels), and Swedish Berries. Local health stores carry gluten-free Nanaimo bars.
Canadian chip flavors?
We take BBQ, ketchup, and dill pickle, then crank them to “northern lights intensity.” If it sounds weird, it’s probably addictive.
Final Tips for Snack Hunters
- Top Stores: Walmart (budget), Farm Boy (artisan), and Rabba Fine Foods (24/7 butter tart access).
- Pro Hacks: Freeze Caramilk bars for caramel chews, microwave Joe Louis for 10 seconds to revive stale cakes.
- Diet Detective: Gluten-free? Many chips are safe (check Lay’s). Vegan? Swedish Berries are your BFFs.
Did we miss your favorite? Tag a Canadian friend and demand they mail you the ultimate snack care package! 🇨🇦🍁
