These products are usually only available in Canada

Hockey, maple syrup, and bitterly cold winters are three of Canada’s most well-known exports. However, you can bet your backside that Canadians also appreciate several unique goods that are exclusively sold in the country’s northern neighbour, many of which are completely unknown to its southern neighbours, at least outside of specialised importers. Here is a tribute to some of the goods that are often exclusively found in Canada

1. Canadian milk chocolate

Regardless of their names or textures, candy bars like Crispy Crunch, Smarties (the Canadian variety), Aero, Wunderbar, and Caramilk all have a distinct “Canadian” chocolate flavour. It seems that Canadians prefer a sweeter, creamier milk chocolate than the bitter, grittier flavour of American chocolate. In order to create a chocolate that is “distinct to Canadian chocolate,” The Hershey Company modified its recipe in 2013. According to a 2009 Food Network survey, even the Canadian equivalents of well-known American chocolate bars like Kit Kat and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups taste entirely different.

2. Kraft dinner (not to be confused with kraft macaroni and cheese)

The unofficial national dish of Canada is Kraft Dinner, or “KD,” as it’s popularly (and now formally) known there. Yes, you may purchase dishes using pasta and powdered cheese in the US, but you won’t find the “KD” package there. In Canada, there are several flavours as well, such as poutine, butter chicken, and (somehow) cotton candy.

3. Butter Tarts

Pastry pie shells stuffed with maple or corn syrup, sugar, butter, and raisins are a delicious dessert that is uniquely Canadian. Some pieces can be traced back to early 1900s pioneer cookbooks that were published. They may, however, have originated around the mid-1600s with the entrance of the filles de marier, or imported brides, from France, according to a 2007 Toronto Star story. Whatever the case, these sweets are a seasonal must-have at the Christmas snack table in Canada. And while some tiny American bakeries might sell butter tarts, most convenience stores in Canada sell processed, pre-packaged varieties.

4. Milk in bags

Yes, there is such a thing. When it comes to pouring, milk in a bag may seem to defy the laws of physics, but the bags are cleverly arranged in a pitcher container, and the corner is cut at an angle to facilitate pouring. Although they are no longer widely used in other parts of Canada, milk bags are still popular in Ontario, Quebec, and Eastern Canada. Although several American states have toyed with the concept of making packaged milk widely available, the trend doesn’t seem to be taking off.

5. Swiss Chalet

Any Canadian will quickly associate “Swiss Chalet” with the phrase “Quarter Chicken Dinner.” The eatery is well-known for its chicken, ribs, and distinctive dipping sauce. A bonus point will be awarded to anyone who can recalls the corny Swiss Chalet television advertisements from the 1980s that featured the famous imagery of those juicy, delicious chickens twirling on skewers.

6. Laura Secord Chocolates

A recipe for national chocolate-making success can be made by taking the name of a Canadian war hero and adding cocoa, sugar, and butter. During the War of 1812, Laura Secord, an American-born pioneer woman in Upper Canada (the predecessor to Ontario), successfully alerted the Canadian and British forces to an approaching Yankee onslaught. Many sugar-toothed Canadians were happy to learn that her legacy continued. On Toronto’s Yonge Street in 1913, Frank P. O’Connor established the first Laura Secord confectionery store. In Canada now, there are over 100 Laura Secord stores, and while the chain ships to the United States, there are none located south of the border.

7. Ceasers

The Canadian version of the Bloody Mary is the Bloody Caesar, which is the American equivalent of the Bloody Mary. The ingredients are similar to those in a Bloody Mary and usually include 1 to 2 ounces of vodka, 2 dashes of hot sauce (Tabasco is a popular choice), 4 dashes of Worcestershire sauce, and 4 to 6 ounces of Clamato juice. Don’t forget to season the rim with celery salt and pepper! The cherry on top are any celery, olive, lime, or other foliage stalks that may be present. Enjoy after serving over ice.