You know summer has arrived when you see Canadians across the country clutching their frosty, creamy Tim Horton’s iced caps, a blend of Tim’s signature coffee, cream (or milk), and ice.

 

A whole wheat pastry is flattened to resemble a beaver tail (how patriotic!) and is cooked by “floating” on top of hot oil. Then they remove it, slather it with butter, and add your favourite toppings (the classic is sweet cinnamon sugar).

 

Tourtiere, which is a Christmas dinner staple on the tables’ of Quebeckers, is a meat pie often made with ground pork, veal or beef.

 

It may seem strange to have a beer on a top 10 Canadian foods’ list, but when suds are their own food group in a country, you can’t deny acknowledging Canada’s favourite local brew.

 

Sure, maple syrup may be in pantries across the globe, but this yummy concoction was first discovered and used by Native Americans in north-eastern North America, so Canadians will gladly take credit for making maple syrup a sweet staple.

 

The Canadian version of the Twinkie, a May West consists of a round cake with a creamy center enrobed in chocolate. Can’t get much better than that!

Americans eat ranch, in England they snack on roasted chicken flavoured chips, and Canadians love their tangy home-grown dill pickle chips.

 

Named after the city in BC, Nanaimo bars have layers upon layers of sugary goodness – first a thick crumb crust, then a layer of vanilla frosting or custard, and then it’s topped with melted chocolate.

 

Smoked meat originated in Jewish delis in Montreal, and it became so popular that the city became known for its coveted smoked meat sandwiches (served warm, on rye bread, with a bit of mustard and a dill pickle on the side).

 

A list of the top 10 Canadian foods wouldn’t be complete without acknowledging the most popular, and possibly the least nutritious, Canadian dish out there – poutine, a Quebec staple that’s a melange of greasy thick-cut fries, squeaky cheese curds and warm peppery gravy. Tres bien!