Yummy Canadian Products You Can’t Get Elsewhere

We spent eight months in the US last year. When I returned, I wrote a post about all the American products that I like to bring back to Canada after a visit to the US. It’s become a popular post on my blog. Then I started wondering about the Canadian products that people love. You might be surprised by some of the products made in Canada.

I love taking Canadian products to my family and family in the US. When I first moved here, candy bars were my favorite things to take back. Since then, I’ve sent Canadian products to friends in other countries and took things South that I would miss. So here are some ideas if you want to do the same or if you are just looking to buy more products made in Canada. (I’ve added in Amazon links so you can see the products. Most of these things can also be found in grocery stores, etc in Canada easily.)

Yummy Canadian Products You Can’t Get Elsewhere

Hawkins Cheezies are Evan’s favourite. They are a crispy corn snack covered in real Canadian cheddar cheese. They were first produced in Ontario in 1949. Today, Hawkins Cheezies are made in Belleville, Ontario.

Swiss Chalet Sauce is a Canadian favorite. Swiss Chalet is a rotisserie chicken restaurant that was established in Toronto in 1954. Their sauce is made from a secret family recipe and Canadians can’t get enough. So much so that they sell packets of sauce mix to make your own to use at home.

Coffee Crisp “makes a nice light snack”. I tried this in the US for the first time in a supermarket that brought them in special. A Canadian friend told me that they were the BEST EVER and he was right. It is one of our favourite candy bars in Canada. While many of the candy bar companies are the same, chocolate in Canada often tastes different than those found in the US, even if they are the same kind.

Smarties in Canada are more akin to M&Ms than to what American’s call Smarties (Canadians call the Rockets). As an American, I prefer M&Ms but most Canadians would draw and quarter me for saying that (or at least feed me to a Canada Goose).

Hickory Sticks are another of Evan’s favorite chips. They are basically jullienned potato sticks with hickory smoke flavouring. Produced by Hostess, a chip manufacturer started in 1935 in Breslau, Ontario. The company was bought by Lays but Hickory Sticks are still marketed as a Hostess product (but not the same Hostess of Twinkies fame) and is only available in Canada.

The Kinder Surprise Egg is the quintessential Canadian item that you can NOT get in the US. You see, it is a hollow egg made out of chocolate with a plastic toy inside. This goes against the US rules against non-edible items inside food. They are much loved by Canadian children and some US parents want to spread the joy. I don’t recommend it, though, because people have actually been arrested for trying to bring them into the country. Kinder Joy is now available in the US but it isn’t quite the same. It’s a two-part egg-shaped container with chocolate frosting in one side and a toy in the other. Yummy and fun but just not the same. Yay, Canada. Sorry American friends.

Ketchup chips were one thing that I thought was SUPER WEIRD when I first moved here. I didn’t like them the first time I tried them but I tried them again and I was hooked. I don’t even like ketchup that much but I love ketchup chips. Something about that neon red dust that I can’t get enough of. Lays are my favourite brand but many swear by Old Dutch.

All Dressed is another favourite Canadian chip flavour. I’ve heard that both flavours can now be found in the US but I haven’t tried them for myself.

Fudgee-Os are a Canadian favourite. In fact, I took these back for friends in the US in the past. Chocolate cookies and chocolate cream. Yummy!

I will admit that I’ve never had a Jos Louis but now I have to. They are like a Ding Dong but were actually developed in 1932 in Canada.

Maple Syrup is still very Canadian and a thing that many people like to gift to those not living here. I like it for a lot of things but for pancakes….NOPE. I know many will skewer me for that too but I said what I said.