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Beverages

Beverages in Canada

Clean environment, plentiful natural resources and strict quality regulations are among the factors that contribute to the production of a great variety of beverages both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. The increasing success of Canadian wine industry as well as truly successful beer industry can be readily attributed to the presence of high-quality raw material, water in particular. The same can be said about the soft drinks industry, which includes production of fruit flavoured beverages, colas, ginger ales, ginger beers, root beers, iced tea, iced coffee, soda waters, tonic waters and many others. Latest innovations and research contribute to the high quality of beverages produced in Canada as well. Food products section at FOOD.ca will help you find out more about Canadian alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. In addition you can find the listings of beverage suppliers in Canada here.

Soft drinks

Brands and products within the Canadian soft drinks industry are perhaps not as widely known outside Canada as wine and beer. The industry serves mostly the Canadian market with only several firms turning to the export market. The soft drinks industry produces a great variety of non-alcoholic beverages such as colas, ginger ales, iced tea, iced coffee, soda waters, tonic waters as well as fruit juices, fruit drinks, spots drinks and energy drinks. Generally, soft drinks are the ones that contain more than one percent of flavours.

Nowadays soft drinks industries in many developed, including Canada, are going through a though period. Trend of soft drinks consumption are changing dramatically. For example, due the desire of people to maintain a healthy life style, the consumption of soft drinks is declining, while the consumption of bottled water is steadily increasing. Carbonated soft drinks are becoming less and less popular. Due to these changes manufacturers have to seek new solution and come up with new ways to capitalize the market. They have to offer their consumers much more than mere satiation of thirst. Instead, they offer extra energy, essential vitamins and much more. In order to stay on the market, the producers have to come up with more and more new products with the assortment of flavours, forms, functions and prices.

Beer

Canada is a country with a long brewing history. Beer was brought to Canada by European settlers. The very first commercial brewery was opened in Quebec in 1668. For a while a number of commercial breweries thrived, but very few of them survived the Prohibition. The new breweries began to appear only in the late 20th century. Nowadays Canadian beer industry is undergoing significant changes. Recession, environmental issues, free trade and decreasing consumption do play their part. Due to the fact that Canadian beer industry played a truly important role in the Canadian culture, arts and sports, it is hard to foresee what these changes might bring. However, despite all the difficulties Canadian brewing industry still retains its excellent reputation around the world. The country has clean and natural environment, excellent raw ingredients and purest fresh water to make its beer valued and prized well beyond the Canadian boundaries for its quality and taste.

Despite all the changes occurring in brewing industry, beer remains the most popular alcoholic beverage in Canada. More that 40% of the dollar value of alcoholic beverages sold in Canada is claimed by beer. This compares to 29% for wine.

Canada's beer landscape is growing

(NC)�The beer landscape in Canada is constantly expanding, with new brands and flavours arriving to give Canadian beer drinkers more options. This spring, one of the celebrated arrivals is Molson M, the world's only microcarbonated lager, and a beer that won the gold in the North American Style Premium Lager category at the 2010 Canadian Brewing Awards. �We've been planning to make Molson M available across Canada since its successful launch in Quebec last year, but the timing seems perfect following the big award win,� says Francois David, senior brand manager for Molson M. �The 2010 awards featured 390 entries submitted for judging with 76 Canadian breweries participating, making it the largest brewing competition ever held in Canada. That experts chose Molson M best in class is something our Molson brewmasters are quite proud of.�

Wine

The cool climate of Canada does not create the best conditions for growing many varieties of grapes. However, southern parts of British Columbia and Ontario with their sunny summers and warm lingering autumns create ideal conditions for the growing of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Riesling. Canada also grows several unique varieties including Baco Noir, Seyval Noir and Vidal. Currently a few wineries are also operating in Quebec and Nova Scotia and although they account for only a small part of total production, the number is growing slowly but quite steadily. Nowadays Canadian wines are experiencing success both at home and abroad. In fact, the total wine production and shipment has increased considerably in the past 10-15 years.

Canadian success in the production of high quality wines did not come from nowhere though. Wine has been produced here for over two centuries, but initially the industry was not particularly successful. European settlers brought some grape varieties native to Europe and tried to cultivate them here, but their vines were affected by diseases induced by the specificities of Canadian climate. It took another hundred or so years to create the crosses between the European varieties and the native varieties, which grew freely along the streams and among the trees but were unsuitable for winemaking.

Beverages in Canada

Soft drinks

Beer

Canada's beer landscape is growing

Wine