Tuesday, 4 April 2017

C is for Canola, Coffee Crisp, Crispy Crunch, and Canada Dry

In celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday, my theme for the 2017 Blogging From A to ZChallenge, is CANADA. 

Join me throughout April (every day except Sundays) to learn more about the inventions, the people, and the cultures that make up one of the greatest countries in the world—O CANADA!


Canola, Coffee Crisp, Crispy Crunch and Canada Dry


Most of you know that those pale, yellow flowers you see growing in fields across the prairies is canola—and if you’re a regular to my blog (or have read any of the Superman Duffy graphic novels), you know that my grandparents are canola farmers. But did you know that canola is a 100% Canadian crop?

Yep. Known as the “Fathers of Canola,” Dr. Keith Downey and Dr. Baldur Stefansson, two scientists at the University of Manitoba, used traditional plant breeding methods to transform rapeseed—a crop that was a member of the same family as broccoli, kale and mustard—into a vibrant crop that produces healthy vegetable oil, nutritional meal for animals, and is used by people from around the globe. Canola is actually the combination of the two words: Canadian and oil. You can't get much more Canadian than that! There’s an interesting video about canola here.

But canola isn’t the only Canadian “C” invention to do with food. The Coffee Crisp chocolate bar was invented at the Nestle plant in 1939, and the Crispy Crunch—an amazing chocolate bar—was created in 1912 by 14-year-old Harold Oswin. Harold was a candy roller at the William Nielson plant and entered his chocolate bar concept into a contest. He won $5, which was probably a lot of money back then. Which chocolate bar do you prefer?

And, finally, Canada Dry—aka: ginger ale—was developed in 1904 by Canadian John James McLaughlin, a fountain drink manufacturer from Toronto. I’ve tried other ginger ale drinks before, but Canada Dry is the best. Of course. <grin>

Okay, I’ve gotta jet! These A to Z blog posts sure do keep me on my toes. Tomorrow I’ll be back with an interesting “D” post. Hope to see you here!

~ Chase Superman Duffy


P.S. Don’t forget to comment! I love to hear from readers. 

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