Canadians believe that maple syrup is Canada’s most iconic food or drink.

  • Six in ten Canadians indicate that if one food or drink could represent Canada, it would be maple syrup.

December 14, 2021

As part of our most recent survey conducted in partnership with the Logit Group, we sought to find out if one food or drink could represent Canada, what would it be? By far, maple syrup is most often identified as the one food item that best represents Canada, selected by six in ten residents (58%). Poutine ranks a distant second, named by just under two in ten (17%). Other mentions, each identified by a small proportion of residents include beer (4%), salmon (4%), Caesars (3%), and Nanaimo bars (3%), among many others.

While maple syrup is the top mention across all regions of the country, it is perhaps not surprising to see that mentions of maple syrup are highest in Quebec (69%). Also of note, poutine is most likely to be mentioned in the Prairies (21%) and Ontario (20%), but less likely in Quebec (13%) or Atlantic Canada (11%).

Mentions of maple syrup increase with age, while younger residents are more likely to mention poutine.


Results are from an online survey conducted November 15-17, 2021, with 2,000 Canadians 18 years of age or older from the Logit Group’s Canadian Omnibus. Fielding every month, the Logit Group’s Omnibus surveys Canadians to ask their opinions and behaviours related to topical issues. Results were analyzed by Narrative Research. Data was weighted based on the 2016 Census, by gender, age, and region to reflect population characteristics. As a non-probability sample (i.e., a panel sample where residents have joined a panel to share their opinions), and in accordance with CRIC Public Opinion Research Standards, a margin of error is not applied.

The question included in this press release was the following:

If one food or drink could represent the country of Canada, which would it be?


For more information, contact:

Margaret Brigley, CEO, Narrative Research – 902.493.3830, mbrigley@narrativeresearch.ca

Margaret Chapman, COO, Narrative Research – 902.493.3834, mchapman@narrativeresearch.ca

Sam Pisani, Managing Partner, Logit Group – 416.629.4116, sam.pisani@logitgroup.com

Narrative Research (www.narrativeresearch.ca), is a leading public opinion and market research company headquartered in Canada. The company was recently certified as a WBE (Women Business Enterprise). As a non-partisan, 100% Canadian-owned research company, Narrative Research is dedicated to providing clients with state-of-the-art research and strategic consulting services. 

The Logit Group (https://logitgroup.com/) is a leading North American data collection and market research execution company headquartered in Toronto, conducting large-scale projects for a variety of well-known research agencies and brands. Logit employs industry-best technologies across an array of methodologies, and is independent, experienced and quality-oriented. 

Follow us on Twitter at @EveryNarrative and @LogitGroup

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