8 Weird Canadian Foods That Actually Don’t Exist Anywhere Else (2 of 5)

2. Hickory Sticks

Being the French fries’ distant cousin, Hickory Sticks are pretty much the emaciated versions of the original. These snacks look like a bunch of matchsticks, but if you don’t mind that smoky, hickory flavor, they’re actually pretty good. Their extra crunch comes from their size, which may be a turn-off for many non-Canadians. Texture is everything when it comes to Hickory Sticks. They are quite sharp at the ends, hard to dip, and somehow manage to get everywhere if you accidentally spill them. It’s a true classic for the Canadians, but a strange abomination for the outsiders.

3. Canadian Smarties

Unlike the powdery American candy with the same name, Canadian Smarties are actually small chocolate buttons coated in colorful shells. Doesn’t sound too bad, right? Well, it would all be fine if M&Ms didn’t exist. The big difference between the two is the quality. While the shell and the chocolate in M&Ms are top-notch, the Canadian Smarties feel like every ingredient in them came from TEMU. For many Canadians, Smarties are the taste of nostalgia. They may not win every international taste test, but trying to dismiss them casually is an easy way to spark a cross-border candy debate that will last for decades.