What are the items from India you may not easily find in Canada?

What are the things from India I should carry while moving to Canada? I get this question asked a lot on our social media and blog posts.

I wrote a detailed post here about the essential things you should carry from India to Canada. But many people ask me if there are items from India that they won’t find in Canada. Well, the answer is a yes and no.

Although, there is absolutely nothing that you wouldn’t find in Canada it may be out of reach depending on your location. For instance, when we were in Brampton, finding a lot of the items listed in this post wasn’t a problem. We could even see items like small Thumbs Up bottles and Indian soap brands (remember Imperial Leather?) that are not even easily available in India!

However, later when we moved to Islington, we had a tough time finding these items. Even getting turmeric powder at Walmart for sometimes tough. Stores like Walmart and No Frills have an Indian section but it is limited.

Of course, eventually, you’d find Indian stores supplying all things you need (you may find less variety and pay high prices for some but you will find the items or versions of it).

This list of items will come in handy if you’re in an area with no quick access to Indian stores when you move to Toronto. These may not be essential items but good-to-have things you may want to carry.

Also read: List of essential items to carry from India to Canada

Cardamom

I wouldn’t have imagined that finding cardamom would be tough. We checked every possible store within the vicinity of our apartment but couldn’t find it. I finally found it online at some store at an exorbitant CAD 20 (approx Rs 1100) for 100 gms! So I recommend taking a big pack to satiate those elaichi tea cravings in cold Canadian winter.

Curry Leaves

In India, we never bought curry leaves as the fresh ones were always there in our backyard. We carried a couple of packs of dried curry leaves since my husband and I love the flavour. Finding it in Brampton stores wasn’t a problem at all. But we couldn’t find it anywhere in the stores in Islington.

Tulsi leaves

Again, an item you wouldn’t bother buying in India but maybe something you’ll look for in Canada. Tulsi leaves have several health benefits — the biggest one being that it acts as a natural immunity booster. Trust me, it is extremely beneficial, especially in this Covid era. Do carry it with you.

Specific Indian spices

You will be able to find Indian spices easily at stores like Walmart, Metro, and No Frills. However, you will find the flavour distinct from what you’re used to in India. If there are some specific spices you are used to, I recommend carrying a few packets of those till the time you get used to the new flavors. (Don’t bother if you aren’t that finicky about flavors ;))

Indian Jewellery

Ladies, you wouldn’t want to spend big Canadian dollars on ethnic jewelry, right? You might think you wouldn’t feel like wearing ethnic clothes or jewelry in Canada but trust me you would (particularly during Indian festivals)! I love my collection of oxidized silver earrings and rings. These are much appreciated by my Canadian colleagues here. Such trinkets also make for good gifting items.

Indian Wear

A couple of Indian colleagues in my office didn’t bother getting any Indian attire thinking they wouldn’t want to wear those in Canada. Come Diwali and each one of them was regretting the decision. Do not make that mistake. Ladies, I recommend getting a couple of readymade blouses that will go along with multiple sarees and skirts!

Books (available in Indian subcontinent only)

Non-readers might probably laugh at this one. But bookworms like me will be disappointed to see that books are relatively quite expensive in Canada. I am still old school so I like the hard copy so it’s quite an expensive hobby till the time you get a library card. The public libraries here are pieces of heaven for booklovers. Yet I couldn’t find some titles I wanted to read. For instance, books by Devdutt Pattnaik. I usually request a friend or cousin to get books available in the Indian subcontinent only. You might want to pack a few if you share my obsession with physical books.

Do have have any questions regarding moving from India to Canada? Feel free to write to us. We will be happy to assist to the best of our knowledge.