Queer Eye’s resident Canadian — and food and wine expert — Antoni Porowski took to Instagram last week to praise his homeland for several things: “Universal healthcare, sensible gun laws and all-dressed Crispers: oh Canada,” read the caption. Nearly 1,000 comments followed.
With the swelling music of “O Canada” playing in the background, the video shows the TV personality devouring a purple bag of said chips, with another bag of Miss Vickie’s salt and vinegar chips and Ruffles All Dressed chips placed on his lap.
Many in the comments urged him not to forget other uniquely Canadian chip flavours, like Lays Ketchup, Hawkins Cheezies and Hickory Sticks.
Porowski’s video is just one example of the fervour and enthusiasm around Canada’s unique chip selection, which continues to gain traction on social media thanks to reaction videos on platforms like Instagram, YouTube and TikTok. Snack fanatics like to film themselves trying flavours of chips only found in Canada. Even the stars of Netflix’s mega-hit series Bridgerton got in on the action. Star Nicola Coughlan was underwhelmed by Hickory Sticks, but was surprised by just how much she loved Lays Ketchup chips.
Canadian food expert explains history of our distinct flavours
Janis Thiessen is a history professor at the University of Winnipeg and author of Snacks: A Canadian Food History. She says one possible explanation why our favourite flavours don’t exist South of the border could be a result of different immigration patterns and trends between the two countries.
“You have folks from Eastern Europe, like Ukrainians, settling in large numbers in Western Canada,” she tells Yahoo Canada. “In the mid-West of the United States it’s more Scandinavia countries. The taste preferences result in more vinegar-based flavours here in Canada — ketchup, salt and vinegar. South of the border it’s creamier tastes like sour cream.”
She explains that the first potato chips produced for larger consumption were flavoured only with salt.
As for the appeal of ketchup flavour in Canada — where it’s not unheard of to add the condiment to dishes like grilled cheese or mac and — Thiessen says that’s likely thanks to our ties to the U.K.
“There’s a long history of French fries — known as chips — coming from Britain and those connections Canada has and has maintained for much of its history, but the States does not have by virtue of their revolution,” she says.
It could also explain why vinegar and vinegar-based flavours are so popular in Canada.
“British fish and chips are served with malt vinegar, and then it’s carried over to a colony like Canada and doesn’t exist as much south of the border,” she says. “Those vinegar-based flavours, those associations between potatoes and ketchup, are stronger here than they are in the States.”
In recent years, some Canadian chip companies have experimented with international flavours in an effort to appeal to different markets. Loblaws’s President’s Choice brand touts Filipino Adobe Chicken and Korean Barbeque flavours, while Lay’s Canada introduced Magic Masala flavour, for example.
Thiessen says this is likely a natural consequence of changes to immigration laws, dating back to the 1960s.
“We’re not favouring white Europeans as much, so there’s more of a diverse population,” she says. “Some flavours from other nations get popular … there’s a larger market for those tastes.”
Regional snacks make a cheap souvenir
The popularity around Canadian flavours can be traced to the rise in interest online, thanks to reaction videos. Thiessen says buying local snacks is an easy and cheap way to document different cultures.
“The easiest way to have a souvenir of your travels is to have cheap, local food,” she says. “Your personal individual reaction to a very common, cheap snack food is something everyone can participate in and relate to. It can show your experience of travel and a different culture.”
Canadians trying snacks from different countries is also a known trend found on social media. In
Kallmekris‘ video titled “Canadians try Australians Snacks,” for example, the popular social media personality samples popular snacks foods in Australia like Tam Tam, Milo bars and Vegemite on toast, which she then rates.
Why some snacks are only available in Canada
Some snacks only available in Canada include Coffee Crisp chocolate bars, Mackintosh’s toffee and Hawkins Cheezies. In the chip aisle, don’t expect to see Ruffles All Dressed, Lays Ketchup or Hickory Sticks anywhere but here.
Thiessen says some Canadian snack companies don’t want to market beyond Canada since they couldn’t compete with similar products in the U.S. Hawkins Cheezies have an enthusiastic following in Canada, but they are the only product the Belleville, Ont.-based company makes.
“They’re one tiny company with one tiny factory, whatever they make, they can already sell,” she says. “If they had to compete in the States, they’d have to ramp up production, build another factory and change the way they do things. I think that’s the case with flavours that aren’t produced by multi-nationals, which can do whatever they want because they have factories all over the globe.”
Reddit thread debates greatest Canadian snack: ‘I committed a crime’
A recent Reddit thread posted to Canada’s subreddit by a visiting American tourist highlights Canadian snacks’ popularity worldwide. The user, falafel_larry, posted a photo of their Canadian snack haul which includes Ruffles All Dressed chips, Maynard wine gums, Coffee Crisp, Smarties, amongst other sweet and savoury snacks.
Others in the post — which amassed more than 4,000 comments in two weeks — lamented their selection for excluding ketchup chips.
“I hate ketchup and tomatoes but ketchup chips are so good,” No_Oil9752 wrote.
“I always find it funny non Canadians are hesitant to try ketchup chips as if ketchup and deep fried potato is some crazy insane pairing,” agomuffinkevin wrote.
The original poster went back to add that they will pick some up on their next visit.
“Okay I realize now I committed a crime,” they wrote. “I will get extra Ketchup Chips next time I visit. Sorry and please forgive my ignorance.”
Source Agencies
