We asked some Canadians what products they feel are vastly superior from home compared to the United States and these answers kept popping up over and over.
Chocolate
Everyday chocolate bars sold in Canada, like Cadbury Dairy Milk or KitKat, are creamier and much richer. This is because American chocolate manufacturers alter the milk to produce butyric acid.
This helps extend the shelf life of their chocolate but adds a tangy zip to it. Most Canadians find American chocolate slightly chalky or sour-tasting when compared to Canadian high-fat-content recipes.
Froot Loops
The differences in this cereal can be attributed to regulations on food dye coloring. In the United States, neon bright synthetic colors such as Red 40 and Yellow 6 are used. Canada has very strict restrictions on synthetic dyes, so this cereal is made with natural colors derived from fruit juices and sweet potatoes. This results in more muted colors and a more natural fruit taste.
KD
It’s sold everywhere in Canada as KD, short for “Kraft Dinner,” but it’s different to the taste of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese you find in the United States. The cheese sauce used in Canada is sharper, more powerful, with real cheese flavour (cheddar), and contains less sugar. The US version is much sweeter and milder.
Smarties
Canadian Smarties have no resemblance whatsoever to the chalky, sour candies Americans know by that name (which go by the name Rockets up here). Smarties are candy-coated chocolates in the shape of flat discs. They are bigger than M&Ms, have a thicker, crunchier shell, and utilize better quality milk chocolate and natural plant dyes. Simply put, they taste better than their American counterpart.
Snacks
Many Canadians agreed that they have better snacks than Americans. Favorites include Ketchup chips and All Dressed chips, essentially a blend of barbecue, sour cream and onion, salt and vinegar, and ketchup. Most US chip aisles have their basic barbecue or mild/plain sour cream, but you get massive flavor with every bite from Canadian chips.
Ginger ale
Dry Ginger ale in Canada tastes crisper and more refreshing. The Canadian version includes more real ginger extract and real liquid sugar rather than the syrupy high-fructose corn syrup of the American version. This allows the biting spicy flavor of ginger to come through.
Cheerios
Trying one bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios in Canada will forever change your life. It’s made with real, natural almond flavouring and less sugary coating, so you can actually taste the natural whole oats and honey instead of opening an American box and having so much sugar coating melt in your mouth you can’t talk.
Milk
Because of stringent Canadian food regulations, dairy cows up North are never treated with artificial growth hormones to increase milk production, which is unfortunately still legal in the U.S. Canadian dairy is also processed through a rigorous quality program that ensures the taste stays pure and the same throughout Canada.
Shredded wheat
Some Canadian’s believe that shredded wheat tastes superior in Canada because it remains crispy for longer and is lighter. US shredded wheat often becomes dense and soggy almost immediately when put in milk. The Canadian version has lighter layers and a more fulfilling crunch. They also find that it has a less processed taste, which allows the flavour of the wheat to come through.
Syrup
Real maple syrup can be bought in the US. However, most syrup stocked by grocery stores is pancake syrup, which is essentially corn syrup with artificial maple flavoring added. Maple syrup, on the other hand, is a point of pride for Canadians and there are government-enforced quality controls. Pure Maple syrup from the tree is the affordable standard in almost every Canadian home.
Tarts
America may have pecan pie, but Canada has the butter tart. This Canadian delicacy consists of a pastry shell filled with butter, sugar and egg. American pecan pies do taste good, but they tend to be thick, heavy, and way too sweet with corn syrup. A proper butter tart has a gooey centre that squishes out slightly when you take a bite.