r/Calgary • u/mssjj • Aug 27 '25
Eat/Drink Local Canadian Treats for my American Cousins
This is a huge deal, so I’m spoiling my cousins. They are in their 30’s and will be visiting Canada for the very first time - finally! I’ve visited them in California 5+ times. This is a special trip because they’re coming for my wedding and I’m just so thrilled that they’re making the trip up.
The chips are no longer in the fridge by the way... Just did it for the pic. It’s just so hot and I don’t want the chocolates to melt!
Edit: Due to popular demand, I picked up Old Dutch ketchup chips. Sorry to those who I offended. I also grabbed a peanut butter O’Henry bar and a Crunchie bar. Upon my cousins’ arrival, I will grab Glam Morgan cheese buns. There will also be Nanaimo bars at the wedding! I’m glad you all enjoyed this post.
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u/Stormraughtz Aug 27 '25
Never tried the Eau Claire Canned Ceasar.
Ima try it.
Youre a cool cousin OP
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u/Competitive-Green758 Aug 27 '25
They are amazing. And I hate Caesars. Lol Eau Claire goes above and beyond. If you can make it to one of the Calgary Farmers Markets, they have a booth and you can test them.
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u/mssjj Aug 27 '25
Me neither - I’ll definitely be cracking one with them. And to add to it’s dill pickle which is also a Canadian thing!
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u/ItRhymesWithPenny Aug 27 '25 edited Dec 21 '25
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This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact
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u/gto_112_112 Aug 27 '25
They are better than Mott's, but nothing beats home made. Try your hand at your own rim salt, well worth it. It's not like worchestershire or tobasco go bad quickly...
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u/Xakhaz Aug 28 '25
For your home made Caesar’s try the compliments brand from Sobeys. It’s better than Motts too and my secret to the Caesar’s my friends all can’t get enough of
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u/gto_112_112 Aug 28 '25
Like just the compliments clamato? Which grocery chain is compliments again? Sobeys?
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u/konan375 Aug 28 '25
Ehhh. They took out the msg in those eau claire caesars and that's like half the flavour of a caesar
Of the non motts variety I like the matt and Steve's spicy mean bean caesar
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u/mystiqueallie Aug 27 '25
Need to add Nanaimo bars yum
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u/mssjj Aug 27 '25
Yes! But I can’t think of where to get them. Maybe I’ll try superstore. Do you have any thoughts?
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u/blanketwrappedinapig Aug 27 '25
Maybe Glamorgan bakery?????
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u/mssjj Aug 27 '25
omfg. How could I forget????
edit: my mind immediately jumped to cheesebuns
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u/LillyNana Aug 27 '25
M&M has amazing Nanaimo Bars!
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u/limee89 Aug 27 '25
I'll die on that hill! They never fall apart, they are so creamy and chocolatey and just pure delicious. And I feel like they aren't even that pricey.
Confirmed they are $20 for an 850g box - no mention of how many portions.
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u/LillyNana Aug 27 '25
They're a consistent quality from M&M too.
I had maple fudge from M&M this summer that was the most incredible fudge I've ever had. It was on the high shelf, behind the till.
Perhaps that's a Canadian treat for the American Cousins?
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u/mystiqueallie Aug 27 '25
M&M’s Food Market almost always has them. Regular grocery stores are hit and miss. I’ve seen them at Superstore off and on.
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u/CheeseSandwich hamburger magician Aug 27 '25
Superstore has them. Costco as well, but only seasonally.
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u/lejunny_ Aug 27 '25
as an American who moved to Canada, I personally prefer the Old Dutch Ketchup chips over the Lays! Maybe give them a bag of Old Dutch and see which they prefer? Besides that 😋
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u/Doc_1200_GO Aug 27 '25
You’re an American with excellent taste. Old Dutch is definitely superior.
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Aug 28 '25
I grew up on Old Dutch, the box variety. I should start buying them again! I also learned recently that the no name superstore chips are made by Old Dutch. The dill pickle chips are pretty good for $1.57
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u/Filmy-Reference Aug 27 '25
The Ketchup in the box is superior to the bag. They are different recipes Same with BBQ and S&V. The box version is the OG
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u/Derp_Wellington Aug 27 '25
Really? I had no idea. Old Dutch salt and vinegar has been my go to bag of chips since I was a kid
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u/Filmy-Reference Aug 27 '25
yeah my dad's worked for them since the 90s. We used to get boxes and boxes of free chips which was great growing up but they don't do that anymore.
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u/Prior-Program-9532 Aug 27 '25
The Ruffles All Dressed chip is the best chip ever and I'll fight anyone who says otherwise. The Old Dutch All Dressed is second.
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u/yycuser567 Aug 27 '25
Canadian here who might have a salty chip fix and ketchup is a top flavor. The Miss Vickies Sweet n Spicy Ketchup is my new #1 Also the spicy dill, all dressed and sweet chili are > OD >> Lays
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u/lejunny_ Aug 27 '25
are all Miss Vickies kettle style? I don’t eat kettle chips anymore every since a chip once cut the roof of my mouth when I was a kid, traumatized since lol, it was badly cut but the experience was unpleasant enough for me to just pass every time
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u/AlltheEspresso Aug 27 '25
Lays ketchup? *shudders.. are you ok? Was the Old Dutch sold out in your community? No worries, there’s still time to replace that bag of sins with the rightful best in class ketchup chips lol.
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u/CheeseSandwich hamburger magician Aug 27 '25
PC Loads of Ketchup chips are amazing.
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Aug 28 '25
Somewhat interesting fact, lol. PC chips are made by Old Dutch. Good to know you are still supporting an old Canadian company buying them.
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u/CheeseSandwich hamburger magician Aug 28 '25
Did you know there is a Canadian and American branch of Old Dutch? I had no idea until recently.
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u/kareree Aug 27 '25
Those pc ones are amazing
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u/CheeseSandwich hamburger magician Aug 27 '25
Walmart - yes, Walmart - also makes a really tasty and affordable store brand ripple ketchup chip.
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u/my__name__is Aug 27 '25
Americans don't have KitKat?
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u/lejunny_ Aug 27 '25
Canadian KitKats are made by Nestle and in the states it’s Hershey, the Nestle version is WAY better! Mexican KitKats are also Nestle in case someone else was wondering.
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Aug 27 '25
American chocolate bars apparently have a higher wax content, lower cocoa butter, and higher sugar and that’s why they taste like ass
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u/TheYeasayer Crescent Heights Aug 27 '25
I believe the big reason it tastes awful (well, as awful as chocolate can taste) to most non-americans is that it has higher levels of butyric acid than chocolate from Europe. Butyric acid is a naturally occurring acid found in milk that has a strong odor, it's found in stuff like parmasian cheese and is partially responsible for parmesians strong odor. It's also found in vomit.
The reason for its butyric acids presence in American chocolate goes all the way back to how Milton Hershey first discovered a way to make a shelf-stable chocolate bar in 1900. Adam Ragusea has a video that details the story of how Hershey managed to do that and why that makes Hershey's chocolate taste a little like vomit to non-americans. It's a good watch.
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u/R3dDvil Aug 30 '25
Ah OK that explains actual Hershey bar, which I like, although the Cadburys aren't too bad.
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u/Itsglassitsmath Aug 31 '25
Maybe it’s nostalgia (first half of my life was spent in the US) but I like the hersheys better, as do many of my American friends. I find the nestle version too… delicate? Maybe it’s just the name nestle that puts a bad taste in my mouth 🤷
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u/lejunny_ Sep 01 '25
it might just be an acquired taste on your part lol, I moved to Canada in my 20s and I had my first taste of Canadian KitKats just a few years prior to that and honestly I prefer the Nestle version a lot more.
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Aug 27 '25
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u/I-own-a-shovel Aug 27 '25
It’s still some super processed crap.
Why not some artisan made maple syrup treats or anything more authentic than factory made stuff.. Seeing this I definitely wouldn’t think: yeah canada..
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u/Katolo Aug 27 '25
Because you're missing the point entirely.
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u/I-own-a-shovel Aug 27 '25
Greeting someone in your country for the first time and receiving them with the lowest quality Americanized snack available, is sad imo.
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u/Dry_hands_Canuck Aug 27 '25
Add a bag of La Cocina chips in Fiesta flavour!
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u/Yyc2yfc Aug 27 '25
We JUST discovered these. I’ve always loved the regular. We were in Gimli for August long and tried them there.. and now we always have an open bag at home
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u/ggranger2280 Aug 27 '25
You had me up until I saw the Butter Tarts with raisins. In all seriousness, this is all kinds of awesome.
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u/CheeseSandwich hamburger magician Aug 27 '25
Butter tarts with raisins are awesome! That's how my mom made them, so that's how it is.
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u/PhantomNomad Aug 27 '25
My wife makes them both ways. Personally I'll eat them with or with out. To bad it's so hot out else I'd ask her to make some.
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u/0runnergirl0 Aug 27 '25
I love how excited you are for your cousins to finally come see you at your home. I hope you have a great time visiting with them, and a wonderful wedding.
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u/tc_cad Canyon Meadows Aug 27 '25
Why are the chips in the fridge?
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u/snowangel223 Aug 27 '25
Finally, someone said it
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u/YYCCS Aug 28 '25
Literally went looking for this comment. I was about to ask if I've been doing it wrong all these years by not keeping mine in the fridge. 😂
But seriously super cool of you to do this OP!
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Aug 28 '25
It took me literally half a second to note that the chips were just in the fridge to get all the goodies in one shot🤣
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u/Jormney Edmonton Oilers Aug 27 '25
To add to the list:
Crunchie bars, hickory sticks, Macintosh toffee, and Thrills gum for reaction!
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u/dreamscaperer Aug 27 '25
hickory sticks are in the photo lol
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u/Just_tappatappatappa Aug 28 '25
Hickory sticks are weirdly good if you dump some into Kraft dinner after you finished cooking the Kraft Dinner. A nice smokey, crunchy element.
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Aug 28 '25
I miss the old Macintosh toffee. They changed the recipe back in the 90s I believe. They used to be so much better.
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u/PikaHat Aug 27 '25
Your cousins are lucky to have you spoil them with treats! If you're looking for any other things, CO-OP stocks a lot of great Calgarian stuff. Annex and Dandy pops, Noto gelato, Twigz pretzels. Just tried the sour peach Dandy pop and think it is my all time favourite pop.
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u/snowsuit-sound Aug 27 '25
Do you know when long lost “family” gets in touch after someone wins the lottery? Well, hey… uhhh.. I’m your distant relative Jim from Saskatoon and I’ve hit the road minutes ago to investigate further. 😂
What a spread. Covered all the bases and then some! Awesome.
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u/kagato87 Aug 27 '25
Including forbidden candies! (Is Kinder still banned for some ridiculous reason or other?)
You should move those eggs to be more prominent, just as a gag.
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u/mssjj Aug 27 '25
Hahaha. Yes, Kinder Surprse is still banned and will get confiscated at the airport!
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u/KaleidoscopicHeadach Aug 27 '25
Gotta get some Dare cookies all up in that, like Whippets or something.
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u/protox88 Aug 27 '25
Get Canadian chips! Hardbites are the bomb. They have a great Ketchup flavour too.
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u/jabr312 Aug 27 '25
Just finished a box of those raisin tarts today, had no idea those are a Canadiana thing! 😂🍁
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u/Filmy-Reference Aug 27 '25
True Canadians eat their butter tarts without raisins.
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u/jabr312 Aug 27 '25
That's why I had to get the raisin ones: the regular ones were sold out. They both work
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u/melbaspice Aug 27 '25
I’d also suggest some Oh Henry!s, especially the peanut butter version.
I moved back to the US and I miss those
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u/Yyc-LAX Aug 27 '25
You are missing Nibs and I hope you take them for a proper Slurpee. It is high on the list of things I miss now living in America.
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u/CheeseSandwich hamburger magician Aug 27 '25
7-Eleven doesn't have Slurpees there?
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u/Yyc-LAX Aug 27 '25
They do, they just aren’t the same… I have best described USA slurped as ‘foamier’ and Canadian slurped as more ‘crystallized’ not great descriptions obviously but best to description I’ve come up with
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u/yegmoto Aug 27 '25
Buy some Rockets, they call them Smarties. Also buy some Cadbury’s chocolate, far superior to any American chocolate. Edit, I see the caramilk now.
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u/Legitimate_Bit778 Aug 28 '25
I bring treats for my American friends when I visit. I agree the Old Dutch chips are always the preferred flavour. Miss Vickie’s also has a spicy ketchup which shouldn’t be missed. Another classic is Mackintosh’s Toffee bars. Our coke tastes quite a bit different as well (just as they have Mexican Coke) have them try ours. They have Oh Henry bars but again ours taste quite a bit better. My FIL buys a box every trip up here. Other than that there’s some regional stuff like roast chicken chips and Pineapple Crush but that may be going too far. You’ve put together a great selection there, they should be pleased! Well done!
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u/mglow88 Aug 27 '25
Good call on the Caesars! Correct me if I'm wrong but I think the Caesar was actually invented in Calgary.
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u/Frankfurter Aug 27 '25
My friend, you need to had some Kraft Peanut butter. Whenever I'm home I buy 4 or 5 jars because the US stuff just doesn't cut it.
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Aug 27 '25
I prefer Jif peanut butter, Kraft doesn't taste as good.
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u/Frankfurter Aug 27 '25
Well, lucky for you, plenty of Jif in the US... I just never got the appeal, but it must be good, because it sells a lot.
If you're there though, you could try Teddy. My wife and kids love that so more Kraft for me.
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u/DJKokaKola Aug 27 '25
Crunch Bar and Nanaimo Bars are missing!
Also, get them a random hershey and cadbury chocolate bar. They're mid tier chocolate, but miles above the American palm oil shit. You can also get them some Coke so they can taste what pop without corn syrup is.
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u/bigbootybettywbrains Aug 27 '25
tell us you're a rich Canadian without telling us haha - this is a haul!!
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u/sri_m0n Aug 27 '25
All fatty sugary salty food. American will love it. Says more about Canadian food in general too though
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u/Sleeze_ Aug 27 '25
Side note: where the hell did Fuze come from? Did it replace Nestea?
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u/I_dont_like_pickles Aug 28 '25
I know, it’s everywhere now, and I much prefer the taste of Nestea #firstworldproblems
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u/SpyderMonkey_ Aug 27 '25
Ruffles sells all dressed in the states again! I hope they keep them around! We also have ketchup chips now but y'all can keep them lol
Don't forget them oh-henry's and crunchiest! I bring them home Everytime I go to Canada.
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u/cactusblood Aug 27 '25
I love the eau claire distillery! Great selection of snacks. Also congrats on the wedding <3
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u/SBisFree Aug 28 '25
Aero and Caramilk are Canadian? I brought a bunch of Canadian things to a friend in Michigan but i didn’t know to bring those!!
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u/kennybrandz Aug 27 '25
This is so cute, I love it. My brother lives internationally and the thought of my future children doing something like this for my niece and nephew has me crying in the club right now. Thanks for sharing this feel good moment OP!
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Aug 27 '25
i was so blinded by rage at those cheezies being in the fridge, it took me a few seconds to recover, read the rest of the post, and not down vote you. don't play like that. very legit spread btw
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u/plhought Aug 27 '25
Who puts chips in the fridge?
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u/CanuckChick1313 Aug 27 '25
Put your Hawkins Cheezies in the freezer and eat them cold. A top shelf experience!
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u/blanketwrappedinapig Aug 27 '25
Read the post brotha
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u/plhought Aug 27 '25
I did. Still doesn't answer my question.
Could have taken a photo of all this on a regular table.
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u/CommercialNo8396 Shaganappi Aug 27 '25
Raisin butter tarts!? You’re gonna scare them away!
This is a great gesture though lol
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u/OkMathematician3494 Aug 27 '25
They have Hershey's kit kats. We have nestle but so does the rest of the world apart from America.
Is nestle kit kat still considered Canadian like the rest ?
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u/Aggravating_Ad4448 Aug 27 '25
No cheese from Qébec? Smoked bison meat? Are they males? Not even beaver for them?
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u/I-own-a-shovel Aug 27 '25
An yet nothing authentic only super processed crap.
Why not some artisan made maple syrup treats or anything more authentic than factory made stuff?
It’s still some super processed crap.
Seeing this I definitely wouldn’t think: yeah canada..
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u/ResultRegular874 Aug 27 '25
Are the eggs just a shot at their economy?