Canadian foods international students in Canada must try at least once

Feel Good

06 Aug 2020

International students in Canada – it’s time to tantalise your tastebuds with Canadian foods.

The country is known for its multicultural identity and nothing reflects that more than its cuisine. As a result, some dishes may not necessarily be uniquely Canadian but reflect the country’s culturally diverse DNA.

For instance, the French influence in Canada can be seen from its francophone communities to its food, especially in locations such as Quebec and Montreal.

Depending on the province where you’re currently studying, you can find sizable communities of people with origins from Korea, Hong Kong, China and India, in addition to authentic food from these cultures in Chinatowns, Koreatowns and Little Indias peppered across major cities in the country.

Here are some must-try foods and snacks that international students in Canada should try at least once during their stay in the country:

Poutine

Dig into some authentic Canadian poutine. Source: Shutterstock

French fries, cheese curds and brown gravy make for a heavenly combination, which is what poutine (pronounced poo-teen) is all about.

Tuck into this calorie-laden snack to experience dizzying heights of yumminess (trust us on this). Poutine also serves as a great late-night snack when out with friends and a balm for hangovers too.

Maple syrup

You can put it on your pancakes, on toast, or even sweeten your drinks. Source: Shutterstock

The maple leaf is Canada’s national emblem while the country is also the world’s largest producer of maple syrup, making it blasphemous for international students not to try it while there.

Go to any supermarket and you can also find maple syrup-inspired goods, including biscuits with maple syrup cream, maple syrup flavoured ice-cream as well as maple butter.

Nanaimo bars

This BC day, why not enjoy a truly local treat – Nanaimo Bars! Chef Dez walks you through our version of this British Columbian-born treat on our recipe page. And summer bonus: there’s no baking involved! Happy BC day long weekend everyone – enjoy! pic.twitter.com/cWXFURpON2

— BC EGG (@bceggs) August 2, 2020

This popular Canadian confection is named after the city of Nanaimo in British Columbia.

This no-bake bar consists of three layers: a cracker crumb and chocolate base, a custard-flavoured middle and a chocolatey top.

Bakeries and cafe usually sell them, but if you’re feeling adventurous, you can also make them.

Split pea soup

Comfort food for the soul. Source: Shutterstock

Split pea soup is a popular French-Canadian dish that’s perfect for lunch or dinner. It’s made of yellow split peas, ham hock, vegetables and thyme, according to Ottawa Chef Marc Miron via the food network.

This hearty soup is usually served with bread and is best enjoyed during the Canadian winters.

Beaver tails

#beaverstails #ottawa delicatessen with #chocolate and banana or cinnamon pple #miam @Ottawa_Tourism #ExploreCanada pic.twitter.com/uBeAp4KfwJ

— Emilyz (@travelandfilm) September 10, 2014

Not to be confused with an actual beaver’s tail, this deep-fried dessert is shaped to look like a beaver’s tail.

The dough is deep-fried and smothered with a topping of your choice, with popular favourites such as Nutella and bananas, peanut butter, and cinnamon and sugar, to name a few.

Tourtière

Tourtiere, anyone? This is another Quebec delicacy. It’s a meat pie. Just a big pie fulla ground meat. So good. pic.twitter.com/4zmjy2LlYD

— Ian Fortey: Soul Spelunker (@IanFortey) July 27, 2020

Another French-Canadian dish makes the list. This time, it’s a savoury meat pie with a flaky crust that is usually eaten during the holidays. Pork, veal, beef and game are among the popular choices of meat to fill the pie.