The national dessert of Canada?

 Canada is having a bit of an identity crisis. When you try to pin down something that is Canadian, it’s never an easy task. There are lots of reasons that this might be true, including our multiculturalism or our modesty. We have a few things we consider to be national icons, like beavers, maple syrup and saying sorry too often. Honestly these are all great things, I would happily put any of these on a flag and wave it high (with the maple syrup we kind of do that already). The part that always frustrates me as a Canadian food writer is trying to nail down our national foods.

It’s funny because while I’m frustrated, I’m also really happy about this problem. This is where the multiculturalism really kicks in, as I have a hard time finding a food that’s really Canadian, and instead when I’m home I constantly find amazing foods from all over the world.

On a recent trip to Canada I decided to really look for the ultimate Canadian dessert. I wanted to find a dessert that I would feel comfortable calling it our national dessert. A few things I was looking for was history, originality and exclusivity. In other words I wanted it to be a dessert that was invented in Canada, has been around for a while and to some might be a hidden Canadian gem. I also wanted something that was known and maybe popular all over the country. Canada is a big place and we have some local delicacies that fit these requirements, but they might be very local and not really something that represents the whole country.

After giving it much thought, and many tastes, I think I may have come across my choice. Feel free to argue with me if you want, because I love eating and exploring Canadian desserts. Right now however I’m pointing to the butter tart as my choice as Canada’s national dessert.

As far as I know, butter tarts have been around for a very long time. My grandfather loved them and felt nostalgia for them, so did my father and so do I. I assume they’ve been around for a very long time, maybe as long as Canada has been a country. As far as I know, butter tarts where invented in Canada as well, again I haven’t done a great deal of research on the subject.

Most importantly I believe that butter tarts are very exclusive to Canada as well. I’m willing to guess that there are even several of you who have never heard of this amazing dessert and are booking your flights to the great white north right now so you can taste one. 

I’m pretty sure that butter tarts are not the most popular dessert in Canada. I’m even betting that they’re not the most well known Canadian dessert (I think that title goes to BeaverTails). However I think a butter tart is really the most Canadian dessert we have to offer. The fact that they’re not popular makes them even a more Canadian treat, because we are a fairly humble country.