Uniquely Canadian things to send my penpal?
November 5, 2015 1:51 AM Subscribe
I wish to send my dear Finnish penpal a bunch of cool things you can only buy in Canada (and maybe also stuff that may be sold elsewhere but is only really popular in Canada). What to send, MeFi?
So far I've got a hold of packets of St. Hubert's poutine mix, Coffee Crisp bars and Thrills gum. I think I've done well so far, but I want to go a bit nuts and send maybe a total of $50—sans shipping—worth of stuff. I'm also forced to send Kraft Dinner as they requested that I send it to them. They wish to see why Canadians make such a fuss over it . . . !
I'm not limited to just food. Non-edible Canada-exclusive shit is OK too.
So far I've got a hold of packets of St. Hubert's poutine mix, Coffee Crisp bars and Thrills gum. I think I've done well so far, but I want to go a bit nuts and send maybe a total of $50—sans shipping—worth of stuff. I'm also forced to send Kraft Dinner as they requested that I send it to them. They wish to see why Canadians make such a fuss over it . . . !
I'm not limited to just food. Non-edible Canada-exclusive shit is OK too.
Ketchup potato chips, ice wine, Cheezies, maple crap, and a toonie
posted by tangaroo at 2:20 AM on November 5, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by tangaroo at 2:20 AM on November 5, 2015 [3 favorites]
Maple butter.
I believe the Finns also have ketchup potato chips.
posted by sebastienbailard at 2:23 AM on November 5, 2015
I believe the Finns also have ketchup potato chips.
posted by sebastienbailard at 2:23 AM on November 5, 2015
Dill pickle chips.
posted by mythical anthropomorphic amphibian at 2:25 AM on November 5, 2015
posted by mythical anthropomorphic amphibian at 2:25 AM on November 5, 2015
Been there, done that, got a shoebox full of postal receipts.
Food: KD, maple syrup, maple candies or mints*, ketchup or dill pickle or all-dressed potato chips, Sen Sen candies, Smarties (very different than US or UK ones), almost any breakfast cereal (get the tiny travel size ones) such as Shreddies, etc.
Not food: Iconic Hudson's Bay striped anything (scarves or mittens are cheap and nice for Finland), art or music CDs or books by under-appreciated Canadians (use next week's AskMe for a list), airplane-sized Seagrams or CC or Crown Royal, a Leafs or Habs or Canucks hat or patch (pick your region), anything moose- or Mountie-related, tiny Inukshuk or soapstone tchotchkes**, a loonie and a toonie (because backstory).
Not sensible: chocolate, generally (Finland's is better), polar bears (duh).
I love the old-timey heritage stuff such as that from Red Canoe, which has the benefit of being actually made in Canada, but it's probably out of your budget and maybe too hipster.
* Roots sells tiny tins of these that people seem to love. For that matter, anything from Roots.
** Not an authentic Inuit word.
posted by rokusan at 2:55 AM on November 5, 2015 [3 favorites]
Food: KD, maple syrup, maple candies or mints*, ketchup or dill pickle or all-dressed potato chips, Sen Sen candies, Smarties (very different than US or UK ones), almost any breakfast cereal (get the tiny travel size ones) such as Shreddies, etc.
Not food: Iconic Hudson's Bay striped anything (scarves or mittens are cheap and nice for Finland), art or music CDs or books by under-appreciated Canadians (use next week's AskMe for a list), airplane-sized Seagrams or CC or Crown Royal, a Leafs or Habs or Canucks hat or patch (pick your region), anything moose- or Mountie-related, tiny Inukshuk or soapstone tchotchkes**, a loonie and a toonie (because backstory).
Not sensible: chocolate, generally (Finland's is better), polar bears (duh).
I love the old-timey heritage stuff such as that from Red Canoe, which has the benefit of being actually made in Canada, but it's probably out of your budget and maybe too hipster.
* Roots sells tiny tins of these that people seem to love. For that matter, anything from Roots.
** Not an authentic Inuit word.
posted by rokusan at 2:55 AM on November 5, 2015 [3 favorites]
A friend sent me a keychain of a maple leaf that doubled as a bottle opener.
posted by tilde at 3:17 AM on November 5, 2015
posted by tilde at 3:17 AM on November 5, 2015
I was recently in Canada, and fell in love with Hickory Sticks.
posted by Fig at 3:22 AM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Fig at 3:22 AM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
Those chocolate turtles
posted by KateViolet at 4:40 AM on November 5, 2015
posted by KateViolet at 4:40 AM on November 5, 2015
A boot.
(Fill it with souvenir knick-knacks from Canadian historic/tourist sites - keychains, letter openers, snow globes, etc. Put a little Mountie hat on it and they'll be all aboot it.)
posted by robocop is bleeding at 4:45 AM on November 5, 2015 [2 favorites]
(Fill it with souvenir knick-knacks from Canadian historic/tourist sites - keychains, letter openers, snow globes, etc. Put a little Mountie hat on it and they'll be all aboot it.)
posted by robocop is bleeding at 4:45 AM on November 5, 2015 [2 favorites]
All dressed rice cakes. And Nanaimo bars.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 5:38 AM on November 5, 2015
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 5:38 AM on November 5, 2015
Dare Maple Cookies. They're our go-to "We're Canadian" gift. They mail quite well, too.
Since you're sending this to Finland, land of excruciating candies, send them Thrills Gum. It's utterly vile, but those Finns will probably love it.
posted by scruss at 5:46 AM on November 5, 2015
Since you're sending this to Finland, land of excruciating candies, send them Thrills Gum. It's utterly vile, but those Finns will probably love it.
posted by scruss at 5:46 AM on November 5, 2015
I'd find an old baseball cap for some local rec-league hockey team at a second hand shop. I'd also include this mug. A branded bottle opener like this one (also findable at any second hand store). Some sort of Montreal Expos paraphenalia (to celebrate the absurdity of a booming industry making new merchandise supporting a sports team that has been defunct for more than 10 years).
And yes, dill pickle chips.
posted by 256 at 5:49 AM on November 5, 2015
And yes, dill pickle chips.
posted by 256 at 5:49 AM on November 5, 2015
256, funnily enough: I have three Chee Chee prints hanging in my (USA) office. So, yeah, seconding that any of his work makes for a good 'serious' option.
posted by rokusan at 7:01 AM on November 5, 2015
posted by rokusan at 7:01 AM on November 5, 2015
What about some of the iconic, if not terribly good, Canadian TV shows on DVD? If you ask your MP/MPP's office, they often have swag (pins, mini-flags) that can be fun, especially if your friend has kids. Anything from Canadian Aviation history. A miniature CN tower. To go with your Poutine mix, Swiss Chalet Sauce package (dry mix)....my American friends were fascinated by Swiss Chalet. Good Luck!
posted by Northbysomewhatcrazy at 7:52 AM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Northbysomewhatcrazy at 7:52 AM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
Coffee Crisp.
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 7:57 AM on November 5, 2015
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 7:57 AM on November 5, 2015
Oh, and a pack of Tim's coffee, and maybe a pair of bear claws salad servers, too!
posted by angiep at 8:45 AM on November 5, 2015
posted by angiep at 8:45 AM on November 5, 2015
The most under-appreciated Canadian TV series ever: Due South. It's a fantastic show, and Paul Gross (producer and lead actor) made a point of using Canadian sources for music, actors, sets and sensibility.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 6:12 PM on November 5, 2015
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 6:12 PM on November 5, 2015
Send them some of your extra flavor of Doritos! (The only cheese flavor I've ever seen in the US is Nacho Cheese, or briefly, "Nacho Cheesier". Canada, y'all have been holding out on me.)
posted by capricorn at 8:40 PM on November 5, 2015
posted by capricorn at 8:40 PM on November 5, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by neushoorn at 2:16 AM on November 5, 2015 [5 favorites]