5 Common Canadian Foods: Halloween Edition
– B2 (intermediate) –
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Like any other country, Canada has its own selection of recipes and products that line the shelves of local grocery stores and residents’ pantries. While much is enjoyed from the many cuisines from around the world, these local varieties are equally consumed and, in the context of Halloween, even more popularly handed out.
KETCHUP CHIPS
Strangely controversial, at least according to our neighbours to the south, ketchup chips are a defining flavour of Canada, as they combine two staple ingredients for the nation: potatoes and vinegar. But this vinegar is not so simple; it is sweet and salty, and it imitates that of many Canadian’s favourite accompaniment to a French fry: ketchup.
ALL-DRESSED CHIPS
Another popular food in Canada that seems to confuse non-Canadians is All-Dressed chips. This flavour seasons not only our fried potatoes, but also sometimes our popcorn, nuts, and various other dried snacks. It is a distinct and nostalgic combination of flavours for many: ketchup, barbecue sauce, sour cream, onion, vinegar, and salt. It’s called All-Dressed because it is dressed with all the flavours, and, thanks to Quebec, Canadians have been loving it since the ‘70s.
COFFEE CRISP
Stepping away from potatoes, Canada also loves a good chocolate bar with a cup of coffee. Or, rather, a good chocolate bar that tastes like a cup of coffee. For nearly 100 years, Coffee Crisp has been just that–a coffee-flavoured chocolate. Or, more precisely: layers of wafers, each sandwiched by an aromatic coffee cream, enrobed in milk chocolate, providing both children and adults alike with a satisfying crunch and a comforting hint of home-brewed coffee.
MOLASSES KISSES
Not quite chocolate, though it does contain cocoa, this chewy candy has been filling Canadian children’s trick-or-treat bags and buckets since the second World War. Year after year, Molasses Kisses continue to be a holiday staple in Canada, with such a unique flavour that no other candy can compare: a seeming combination of fruit, cocoa, vanilla, ginger, butter, and molasses.
Photo courtesy of Kerr’s.
THRILLS
Speaking of unique flavours, Thrills is a purple chewing gum whose staple presence in the Canadian candy market may trump even that of Molasses Kisses. Its flavour is described by its official slogan: “It still tastes like soap!” While soap is not a typical flavour of one’s food palette, it has been a sought-out taste in Canada for decades, particularly at Halloween. My personal assessment of this quirk is that people are intrigued by its novelty and find it funny to watch others try it for the first time. Think a baby trying a lemon; the expression at first taste is priceless.
Image courtesy of Snackcrate.
Have you tried any of these common Canadian Halloween foods? What are some unique foods from where you are from? Practice your English by sharing your experiences with me in the comments below.
