There are so many Canadian snacks and foods that I have never tried before, so after 10 years of living in Toronto and only ever trying poutine and BeaverTails, I decided it was time to get caught up on what I've missed.
Some Canadian dishes are easier to find at grocery stores than others, so I'll have to save tourtiere and bannock for another time. Still, I managed to find five of the best Canadian snacks available at my local grocery store and ranked them from worst to best.
Some of the best treats I tried during the taste test are things you can't find anywhere else and the rest of the world is seriously missing out on some of these Canadian foods.
Canadian foods.Mira Nabulsi | Narcity
I bought butter tarts, Nanaimo bars, Pillsbury Pizza Pops, Dr. Oetker garlic fingers and Coffee Crisp from Loblaws and while some are not the best, I will say that one gives KitKat a run for its money.
Here's how the taste test went.
Garlic Fingers
Giuseppe Garlic Fingers
When I first realized that Canada has a food called "garlic fingers," I knew I had to try it because, as an Arab, we love everything with garlic on it. (If you've never tried garlic sauce with your shawarma, what are you doing?)
Garlic fingers originated in Halifax in the 1960s, but on the East Coast, Canadians dip these bread sticks into Donnair sauce, which I wish I had access to at Loblaws because it probably would've made the snack better. Unfortunately, there was no sauce available to save these garlic fingers.
To be honest, I was pretty disappointed at the Dr. Oetker Giuseppe Garlic Fingers because they weren't garlicky or cheesy like the image on the box suggested. Instead, it felt like baked pizza dough with salt.
I don't think I'd grab these again, but I can see the appeal.
Price: $4.99
Score: 2/10
Butter Tarts
Butter tarts from Loblaws.
Butter tarts are a nationwide favourite, but I'm told these pastries can be hit or miss. For me, it was really a miss because they just didn't live up to the hype.
Some people say butter tarts are too sweet, but I say they aren't sweet enough.
The pastries from Loblaws were quite crumbly and soft on the outside. I hoped it would be a bit crunchier and harder, similar to a pie. Also, the middle stuffing just felt Jello-y and more like pure gelatin.
After reading that butter tarts' filling consists of butter, sugar, syrup, and egg, I would've expected to bite into something so sweet my teeth would hurt, but that wasn't the case. These tasted less like something sweet and more like something people should serve with turkey.
I wish I had a different first experience, but for now, it's a no for me.
Price: $9.49
Score: 4/10
Pizza Pops
Pizza Pops.
Pizza Pops are a grocery store product not found anywhere else in the world, and they look so cute and delicious. I'd also say they make the perfect afternoon snack.
The dough on the Pillsbury Pizza Pops reminds me of a Jamaican patty but less flaky. The outer layer was sweet and savoury, which makes for a perfect combination, but the stuffing is what makes this snack so good.
I got the three-cheese Pizza Pop flavour and the cheese to tomato sauce ratio was delicious. It tasted like an Italian calzone, but the snack size made this Canadian food so convenient.
There are so many different flavours to explore too, so if you're someone who likes a lazy Sunday "girl dinner" like myself, then these Canadian Pizza Pops won't disappoint.
Price: $4.29
Score: 7/10
Coffee Crisp
Coffee Crisp.
I have always seen people eat Coffee Crisp on TikTok and talk about just how great it is, but I honestly didn't think it'd be this good.
Coffee Crisp is a wafer chocolate bar, and even though it doesn't have a strong coffee flavour, it does feel like a better version of a KitKat.
Coffee Crisp consists of layers of vanilla wafer and a coffee-flavoured cream covered with a milk chocolate outer layer. The thick chocolate, which isn't made for sharing because it's not cut into two, is so good, and I feel like I wasted so many years of my life not eating it more often.
Coffee Crisp is not available in any other country and is just as Canadian as Lay's Ketchup Chips.
Even though this chocolate bar looks heavy and thick, it's actually quite airy and light and would make for the perfect snack at any time of day.
Price: $1.79
Score: 9.5/10
Nanaimo Bar
Nanaimo bars from Loblaws
If you've never tried a Nanaimo Bar before, don't wait around like I did because it is, shockingly, one of the best desserts I've ever had.
As the name suggests, Nanaimo bars originated in Nanaimo, British Columbia, and they were originally called "Chocolate Squares" in 1952, according to the Food Network.
Even though they are simple to make at home, bakeries will often take the Nanaimo bar to the next level and people will travel long distances just to try them from certain spots. You can even go on a Nanaimo Bar Trail and try a whole bunch of different kinds.
Analyzing the bar when I first got my hands on it, I thought the base was like a cheesecake crust and the middle was vanilla, but I was so wrong.
The bottom is a soft and flavourful layer made of wafer, nut and coconut crumb, while the centre is a custard and the top layer is chocolate ganache.
The base layer was the star of the show. I was obsessed with the hints of coconut in the wafer, which made for an excellent experience.
The custard wasn't too sweet and didn't overpower any other flavours, and the chocolate ganache made for a great aftertaste.
The Nanaimo bar shocked me the most out of all the other Canadian snacks and I regret not pairing it with my coffee every day during my student days.
Price: $7.49
Score: 10/10
Even though I might not lean in and buy a butter tart anytime soon, I will definitely be replacing my BeaverTail craving with a Nanaimo Bar.
Also, just when I thought my love for KitKat would be unmatched, Coffee Crisp has not taken my top spot and might be the best chocolate bar in Canada.
Enjoy snacking, Canada!
Ryan Reynolds holding a Coffee Crisp with the words "Whoever handed out the Coffee Crisp on Halloween, this Canadian thanks you."