Traditional Canadian Foods You Need to Try and Where to Find Them

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Every country in the world has its own unique style of cooking by using herbs, spices, veggies, meats and dairy to create lip smacking dishes. These are generally suited to the local palates, gown and bred vegetables and animals and the weather. Well, Canada is no different! Canada has been breeding ground to some of the most mouthwatering food in the whole world. Though having accepted world cuisine with open arms, it has still maintained its originality in the way of cooking, something that is loved and respected by one and all. As an ode to all the deliciousness it offers, we have curated a list of the absolute MUST HAVES traditional Canadian foods for which you can thank us later!

Bannock

A variety of cooked round flat bread, this grain bread was originally made of barley or oatmeal and was a staple in the diets of aboriginal people. Several modern takes on the bannock bread have been taken which include the fried crispy versions, the dense baked versions and other more fluffier versions. One of the best parts about bannock can easily be the toppings. From fresh spinach, arugula to crispy bacon, everything works flawlessly with the bread.

It can easily be found in any traditional Canadian food bakery and café. Enjoy one with a warm cup of cocoa on a chilly day!

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Butter Tarts, Amongst Must Try Canadian Foods

Butter Tarts can be so easy to make but they’re so so delicious. This flaky tart makes an important part of cuisine of Canada and the most sort after treat for all functions, big or small. This succulent tart is filled with a mixture of beaten egg, sugar syrup and butter and baked to perfection to bring to light a semi solid pastry. If you have a sweet tooth, you do not want to miss these bites of heaven on your trip.

The Sweet Oven, The Pie Hole, Duchess Bake Shop, St Anne’s Spa and Pure bread are some of our top pics in Canada for Butter Tarts.

Saskatoon Berry Pie

As the name suggests, the Saskatoon Berry Pie’s main ingredient is the Saskatoon berry. They impart a nutty almond flavor with a generous dash of sweetness. Pick a pie with a generous filling to allow you to dig into the deliciousness and taste every berry you bite into. To cut through the sweet and sour taste, this crunchy pie is served with a scoop of fresh vanilla ice cream that has proved to be a perfect companion for this pie.

The Berry Barn is one of the best places to visit in Canada to be able to take dreamy

Montreal Style Smoked Meat

Montreal style smoked meat is a result of a beef brisket, heavily salted, spiced and cooked over a week before finally being smoked to perfection. This mouth melting beef is generally served inside a rye bread as a stuffing with yellow mustard sauce.

The meat from Schwartz Deli is known all over the world for its meat and is said to be one of the best restaurants in Canada.

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Beavertails

Beavertails are basically huge slabs of dough that has been deep fried and heavily quoted with different toppings like Nutella, peanut butter, reeses, snickers, bananas, strawberries, sprinkles and a lot more. What’s not to like! Even though it is not your quintessential Canadian dish, your trip to Canada cannot be complete without it.

The Beavertails pastries are available at their self-owned stands all over Canada and you are sure to spot one no matter which part of Canada you are visiting.

Split Pea Soup

This soup has truly been created to warm your soul. With split peas, pork and home-grown herbs blended together into delicious mushiness, it is the perfect bowl to satiate you and make your heart happy on a chilly winter afternoon. This soup with its rich Quebecois origin is surely for keeps.

Toronto is home to some of the best split pea soup serving restaurants in Canada.

Tire d’érable sur la neige

Tire d’érable sur la neige is as Canadian as it can get when it comes to food! This mouth melting taffy is made on the spot by pouring hot caramelly maple syrup on a bed of crushed ice which hardens up immediately. It is then rolled into a popsicle and served to be enjoyed immediately.

Nanaimo Bars

These Canadian dessert bars are named after the city of Nanaimo, British Columbia, on Vancouver Island, in fact, they even have a museum describing its’ history and origination. These no bake chocolate custard treats are built up with three layers; a wafer, nut and coconut crumb base, fluffy custard in the middle and gooey chocolate ganache on top. They are then set in the fridge and cut into block size pieces to be enjoyed with some tea, coffee or warm milk. Whether you love chocolate or no, rest assured that you will happily guzzle down dozens of these bars while in Canada.

Naturally the best of these are available in Nanaimo, in a café called Bocca Café which hands down serve the best Nanaimo bars in the world.

Game Meat

The kind of variety you can get in Canada for game meat is huge. Depending on which part of Canada you visit, game meat can some what vary in taste but does not so completely. The main meats used in these are caribou, venison and moose. There are even moose tacos which you can experiment with!

‘Splendido’ located in Toronto is definitely at the top of its game when it comes to game meat.

Poutine, Must Try Traditional Canadian Foods

Crispy Potato fries, deeply flavored gravies and melt in the mouth cheese, this Canadian dish is gift from French Canadians to mankind! The classic version of the dish definitely steals the show but there are a lot of other varieties and modifications that can be experimented with by foodies.

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Head over to the Thomas Cook website to book a trip to this gorgeous country and appease the foody inside you by gorging on some greasy yummy Canadian food.