I'm a Brit living in Toronto - here are the FIVE things that confused me about Canada

A British woman living in Toronto has revealed all the things she found confusing about the cold north.

Priya from London said there were plenty of positives about living in Canada - especially the food and drink. 

Posting to TikTok, she explained how she was blown away by the large portions of KFC popcorn chicken and their extensive range of delicious coffee creamers.

From the cream percentages to unusual cooking terms, the content creator shared the reality of living in Canada.

From different cooking terms to specialist liquor stores, Priya (pictured) from London has revealed the five things about Canadian life that has left her head in a spin

1. 12-hour clocks 

In the UK we use both 24 hour and 12 hour clocks, however this is not the case in Canada, according to Priya.

The content creator claimed that whilst some may know how to use the 24-hour clock, it is 'rarely' used. 

'I've shown people the time and most had to really think about what 18 meant rather than just knowing it means six,' she said.

'I'm sure a lot of Canadians do know it but I just don't think it's the standard way of telling the time.'

2. Their temperature terms  

Another aspect of Canadian living that left Priya stumped, was the use of 'broil' and 'grill.

According to the Cambridge dictionary both terms mean the same thing - to cook a food item under a very hot surface in a stove.

However, in the UK we typically call this cooking method 'grilling' while in other parts of the world - Canada included - dub it 'broiling. 

'I literally just didn't grill anything for about a year because I thought there was no grill setting on my oven,' Priya said.

The expat was also left confused by the interchangeable use of Fahrenheit and Celsius in Canada, 

'Cooking temperature is in Fahrenheit but outside temperature is in Celsius,' she quipped.

3. Cream Percentages  

Priya was also left baffled by the categorisation of milk in the chilly North American country. 

In the UK, we typically class our milk by using different colour lids, such as green for semi-skimmed, red for blank and blue for full-fat.

But across the Atlantic it is different, as Canadians use cream percentages to separate the different types of milk. 

She said: 'Milk and cream percentages confuse me which one is green and which one is double cream? 

'And milk bags - what's that about do you pour the whole bag into a judge does it go bad quickly do you keep it in the bag, is it cheaper to buy bag milk?'

It wasn't only the different types of milk that left her feeling middled, the lack of squash and cordial in the country also took her aback. 

But having these tiny concentrate version are so convenient for putting in your bag,' she added.

4. Alcohol Specific Shops 

In Canada, beer, wine and spirits are usually sold in liquor stores - a stark difference to the UK where you can pick up a bottle of wine at your local supermarket.

Only being able to buy booze in specific stores was another culture shock to the former Londoner. 

'You can only buy alcohol in a few specific shops and they don't sell mixers. So you need to go to two different shops,' Priya said.

Although slightly inconvenient, the ex-pat noted the choice of beers, seltzer were better in Canadian liquor stores.

She added: 'You can literally get any flavour you want.'

5. Tax Is Added When You Pay

When you walk into a British clothing shop or supermarket, the tax of the item you wish to purchase is included in the price.

However, Priya was shocked to learn that in Canada tax is added at the till, therefore your desired item will cost more than you initially thought. 

'Thinking something is going to cost a certain amount and then it being more is so jarring,' she shared. 

'I mean I'm used to it now but I don't understand the reason why its not just shown in the price already. 

She added: 'If Canada could clear that up that would be great because it's always confused me.'

Canadians flooded her comment section, mainly disgruntled by Priya highlighting they rarely use a 24 hour clock.

Among the many things she missed from the UK was squash, revealing Canada has tiny concentrate drinks instead

Canadians flocked to the comment section, mainly disgruntled by Priya highlighting they rarely use a 24 hour clock

One penned: '"Rather than just knowing it means six” — if you, I [and] everyone else knows that it means six then just USE six. Why would you use 18 when you want to say/mean eight?'

'The funny thing about 24-hour time. People still report the time as 12 hour time, excepting things like the military lol,' a second chimed.

'Us using F for the oven and C for the weather is like you guys using KMs on everything but measure driving distances in miles and mph,' another quipped.

A fourth added: 'LOL yeah, Canada is a weird mix of metric and imperial because of American influence. I had no idea you guys use miles in the UK, though'