A Canadian Snack Guide From Coast to Coast

More time at home means more devouring of classic tomes and nightly binge watching of those gripping Netflix productions. And that also means more snacking! Whether it’s sweet, salty, chewy, crunchy, or savoury, we’ve got you covered with our curated selection of the best Canadian snacks from eight provinces. Luckily, most are available for online ordering, meaning you won’t have to give up that comfy spot on the sofa. Or couch. Or davenport.

Ayoub’s, British Columbia

Step aside trail mix. The king of B.C. snacking is Ayoub’s Raw Yalda Mix. And it should come with a warning—you’re likely to eat the whole stash in one sitting. It includes shelled pistachios, almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, walnuts, green raisins, mulberries, apricots and even Persian-style Turkish delight. Order some milk chocolate cherries while you’re at it—you won’t be disappointed.

Longview Jerky Shop, Alberta

Take your pick from mandarin ginger, habanero heat, dill pickle, and 30 other flavours of premium jerky from Longview’s favourite specialty shop. But it doesn’t stop with beef. There are also treats made from bison, elk, pork, turkey, and chicken. They’ve been at it since 1978 and are obviously doing something right.

Three Farmers, Saskatchewan

Move aside chips and dip, there’s a new snack in town. Balsamic and cracked pepper roasted chickpeas are salty, peppery, and offer a little kick thanks to the vinegar. Or sea salt and lime are more your speed, perhaps? Maple cinnamon? Three Farmers also offers Pea Pops and Crunchy Little Lentils, and they’re all great as salad toppers, too.

Utoffeea, Manitoba

Roasted cashews, buttery toffee, rich chocolate. Put them together and you have Utoffeea, the utterly addictive treat made in small batches in Winnipeg. The 300-gram pack is intended for sharing, but there’s little likelihood of that happening. The newly launched gourmet popcorn is also a hit.

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Hawkins Cheezies, Ontario

Who knew that deep-fried cornmeal could taste so good? The iconic Canadian snack, generously coated in aged cheddar, has made its home in Belleville for more than 60 years. When you’re craving a really cheesy Cheezie, Hawkins is the only answer.

Rochelle Fondante, Quebec

Brien Maple Sweet’s signature candy is likely where the phrase “melt-in-your-mouth” came from. Made from pure Quebec maple syrup, there’s really nothing more Canadian than this treat—if the maple leaf shape didn’t give it away.

Chicken Bones, New Brunswick

You either love ’em or hate ’em, but the satiny, spicy, cinnamony, pink hard candy with the bittersweet chocolate centre has been delighting fans since 1885. Ganong candymaker Frank Sparhawk invented the treat in St. Stephen, New Brunswick, where it’s still made today. Why they are called chicken bones remains a mystery.

Row House Bars, Newfoundland

The charm of Newfoundland’s row houses finds its way onto the wrappings of these quality bars. The dark wildberry, toasted coconut, and toffee crunch are always hits. Needless to say, they make great Canadian gifts.

We are passionate about snacking. For those interested in the history of Canadian snacking, you can read an article about Janis Thiessen’s Snacks: A Canadian Food History here.

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