Distinctly Canadian

[Pam R]

Smarties

Smarties? These? If so, I beg to differ on their Canadiality.

Canadianity.

Canadianess.

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Yes. as everybody said those were the wrong smarties.

British - feh!

All I know is that when I went to university in the US I was forced to bring sacs of the things down for my American dormmates.... British, Canadian, British, Canada.... she's our Queen too - does it matter??

Edited June 28, 2005 by Pam R (log)

[lexy]

Wow, I had no idea some of these things were not available outside of Canada - and so many good things too! (mmm, beaver tails).

I've never heard of Clamato juice outside of Canada (I always get funny looks if I try to explain - "Clam juice? You want clam juice?").

Also, la tire, Nanaimo bars (well, I'm guessing - they're named for a Canadian city after all), a sort of pickle/relish called chow-chow that only seems popular with Nova Scotians of my grandmother's generation.

Red River cereal is a mix of grains (mostly cracked wheat and flax seeds I think). I mix some with steel cut oats to make porridge, some people make a porridge just using Red River cereal.

[malcolmjolley]

White vinegar on our fries.

[carswell]

Also, la tire, Nanaimo bars (well, I'm guessing - they're named for a Canadian city after all), a sort of pickle/relish called chow-chow that only seems popular with Nova Scotians of my grandmother's generation.

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La tire = maple taffy, right? Not uniquely Canajun, I'm afraid. Though incorporating it into vanilla ice cream is, as far as I know.

Can't vouch for the Nova Scotia product, but chowchow is a fairly common condiment in at least some parts of the US (e.g. the southern Midwest).

Red River cereal is a mix of grains (mostly cracked wheat and flax seeds I think). I mix some with steel cut oats to make porridge, some people make a porridge just using Red River cereal.

Cracked wheat, rye and flax. I make porridge with Red River and a few raisins and serve it with warm milk and brown or maple sugar. Yum.

Another candy to add to the list: Cherry Blosom. Only in Canada.

And what about KitKat, Mr. Big and Aero? Are they distinctly Canadian?

Edited June 28, 2005 by carswell (log)

[piperdown]

Beaver tails!

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I hate to admit this, as it's a little embarrassing, but if anyone will understand it's you guys. So here's the story:

I lived in Indiana for a year (a year too long), and went with a few friends to the Indiana State Fair. We had had a bit to drink wandered around eating, since I really only go to fairs for the food. We came across a booth selling 'Elephant Ears', which my friends said were awesome, so I get one, and it's a God damn Beaver Tail. I lost it, and went on a 15 minute rant on American's trying to lay claim to everything, and misappropriating the beaver tail, and how they were trying to hide the Canadianness of the Beaver Tail by changing its name, just like they do with everything else and there aren't even any elephants in America and blah, blah, blah fishcakes.

Did I mention that I had been drinking?

Not the most shining moment of my life, but sometimes you just got to set the record straight.

[Marlene]

Made specifically for Canada Cadbury's Maple Caramel bars

Canadianism's. Things you'll only find in Canada scroll down to the food part.

[ludja]

...

I've never heard of Clamato juice outside of Canada (I always get funny looks if I try to explain - "Clam juice? You want clam juice?").

...

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It's available in the U.S., maybe just more or less in some places...

[Marlene]

It is true you are starting to see Clamato in parts of the US, particularly the parts that Canadians flock to, like Florida in the winter. However, go into any US bar and ask for a Bloody Ceasar and like as not, you'll get a blank stare.

[piperdown]

My ex-girlfriends family would rent a house in Cape May every summer, and they would have to bring cases of Clamato Juice with them. It was actually quite funny to see a trunk half-full of suitcases, and half-full of Clamato. Those people liked their Caesars.

[carswell]

Screech

Caribou (the drink, not the animal)

[lexy]

Caribou (the drink, not the animal)

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Oh god, I'd forgotten about Caribou. That's something the rest of the world does not need to experience.

[carswell]

Oh god, I'd forgotten about Caribou. That's something the rest of the world does not need to experience.

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The only drink that comes with its own cane!

[Mooshmouse]

Badabing, badaboom... Canadian Favourites - A Unique Taste of Home.

Timmy Ho's coffee. It really isn't all that good.

Tetley Tea

Dad's Cookies

Mr. Christie Cookies - Arrowroot, Social Tea, Coffee Breaks, Pirate, Maple Leaf to name a few

Dare Cookies

Canadian Oreos (are sweeter according to this article)

Crunchie Bars

Cadbury Fruit & Nut Bars

Clodhoppers!

Vachon Cakes

[jayt90]

There are some excellent fish easily available in Canada and not in the U.S. (except possibly Alaska): Arctic Char, and Greyling. And there are superb small shrimp from Newfoundland, and great but larger shrimp from Vancouver Island (most go to Japan) without that musty farmed taste.

Then theris Buckwheat Honey; is that still sold in the U.S.?

Edited June 28, 2005 by jayt90 (log)

[Mayhaw Man]

It is true you are starting to see Clamato in parts of the US, particularly the parts that Canadians flock to, like Florida in the winter.  However, go into any US bar and ask for a Bloody Ceasar and like as not, you'll get a blank stare.

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Not in New Orleans. They'll have that and they'll have beef bullion as well if it is a reputable joint ( I wouldn't know, I don't hang in reputable joints).

[Dave the Cook]

Clamato has been around for a long time. I know (good) bartenders who make their Bloody Marys with it and just don't tell their customers why the drink is so good. And clam juice is available everywhere -- look on the shelf above the canned tuna, in close proximity to the smoked oysters.

As for the blank stare, these days you can invoke that by asking for any number of cocktails that aren't highballs, basic sours, or extruded from a slushy machine.

[*Deborah*]

Many items named above are not Canadian, but rather have come to us with Commonwealth or what have you...licorice allsorts, e.g.

I think Smarties are available in the UK as well (which is also home of the craziest potato chip flavours ever, like roast chicken; but I don't know that I've ever seen ketchup there...they do have prawn and cocktail sauce flavour though, which is delish, in a scary, vinegary way)

I have to say that the Jos. Louis and the Mae West are among Quebec's finest contributions to the sweets of the world! I always get my friends to bring me back Mae Wests from Montreal. That chemical-laden yellow cream...it's not a Moon Pie, not at all, but a Moon Pie is about the only thing I've ever had that can compare in utter sweetness and desirability.

And someone took poutine off their list? don't tell me they have them in France?! It's actually just as well I don't live within delivery distance of a decent poutine any more. And the poutine italienne--oh boy.

Murchie's teas, those are Canadian.

[ludja]

Clamato has been around for a long time. I know (good) bartenders who make their Bloody Marys with it and just don't tell their customers why the drink is so good. And clam juice is available everywhere -- look on the shelf above the canned tuna, in close proximity to the smoked oysters.

As for the blank stare, these days you can invoke that by asking for any number of cocktails that aren't highballs, basic sours, or extruded from a slushy machine.

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Good comments that I agree with. After reading the following quote, I can also see making the case for it (the Bloody Caesar--rather than Clamato itself) being a Canadian specialty, even if Bloody Mary's are sometimes made w/Clamato here.

...

Mott´s Clamato is the integral ingredient in the Bloody Caesar Cocktail a Canadian invention. It was developed in Calgary, Alberta in 1969 when to mark the opening of a new restaurant -Marco´s -the owners commissioned Walter Chell to develop an original cocktail. After three months of exploring different recipes. Chell discovered a spicy drink made of Clamato juice, vodka, salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce and a dash of oregano.

The Bloody Caesar remains Canada's #1 selling cocktail to this day. In fact, more than 200 million Mott´s Clamato Caesars are sold every year.

...

click

edited to add: I was wondering if we had any threads on Clamato and found this old one on Bloody Caesars... click

Edited June 28, 2005 by ludja (log)

[Paradasia]

I left Canada in 1987, and ever since I have difficulty to get authentic Canadian Versions of:

Cinnamon buns

Cinnamon/sugar toast

Bran Muffins

There are several Canadian Chains developing Cinnamon Buns in Foreign lands, but I find them to be not the same as I was used to (like the ones at the UBC Coffee Shop in the 70’s).

Also, I observe that in most countries Atlantic Lobster is generally recognized as a Canadian product; even though I think in some cases it may actually be coming from the US.

[gus_tatory]

in the Xmas-time candy category:

--those pink + brown candied 'chicken bones' from Ganong

--'barley toys' lollipops, aka 'clear toys'

[peppyre]

And I've been wanting to forget "Baby Duck"... "baby Canadian champagne".   

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Hey, I have a bottle of Baby Duck in my wine rack that my grandma bought for my Christening. Hmmm...anyone think it's aged well

[Marlene]

I got very very drunk on Baby Duck for my 18th birthday. That was just before Ontario switched it's drinking age to 19. It cured me of ever wanting to drink the stuff again.

[*Deborah*]

Don't they make Baby Duck in upstate New York?

(trying desperately to share the blame for that one)

Edited June 28, 2005 by *Deborah* (log)

[Jenny McClure]

Aero, crunchies, liquorise allsorts cadburys fruit & nut and smaties are all found in Britain in Ireland.

Chips & vinegar also.

[maggiethecat]

Cheap readily-available hard cider. I had an experience similar to Marlene's with a couple of bouteilles se St. Antoine Abbaye.