I believe that this fourth collection of American snacks brings me to the end of my 2012 United States-based travel tales. However, lest you think my indefatigable quest to try all things weird and wonderful (of the edible and packaged variety, that is) has come to an end, fear not! I didn’t use the word “indefatigable” for nothing, and Canada contains just as many novelty snacks as its neighbour to the south.

Plus, if all goes to plan, I’ll be back in the US by mid-2013. Dear Earth Café Raw Cheesecakes: I’m comin’ for you.

Look, ma! Raspberries! And kale! Told you I wouldn’t get scurvy!

Some of the above items have already been reviewed, so I’ll instead draw your attention to that which turned out to be one of the most horrific things I’ve ever put in my mouth. (Including the time my brother and I tried the canned cat food we were feeding to the neighbour’s cat. Also the time we tried the dry dog kibble we were feeding to our puppy [it was not like Puppy Chow].)

See in the top left there, the Simply 7 White Cheddar Pomegranate Chips? I bought them because they sounded insane. They tasted not so much insane as truly, truly awful. Musty, tangy, vaguely-but-not-really-cheese-y, like cordial mixed with rancid milk. Insert Taylor Swift lyric here about never, ever getting back together. Like, ever.

Could Healthy Natural Power-Fu’s Eggless Vegetarian Hawaiian-Taste Salad (Spicy) save the day? Or at least distract me from the evils of pomegranate cheese chips? Not really. I found this to be bland and squidgy. Pass.

Luckily, Sweet Scoops Limited Edition Pumpkin Frozen Yoghurt came in like a knight in shining armour, lighting up my life with the taste of creamy light tangy pumpkin pie-spiced fluffy frozen deliciousness.

Simply 7 somewhat redeemed itself with its Spicy Chilli Pepper Hummus Chips. However, I now know for sure that I’d rather eat plain chickpeas out of a can than “hummus chips” any day.

Annie’s Cinnamon Bunny Grahams were fine in a boringly sweet way, but they didn’t make me soar (until I used them to scoop up Peanut Butter and Co’s White Chocolate Peanut Butter. Then they they became more appealing).

Didi’s raw vegan Nori Nosh was utterly fabulous. Made of nothing more than sesame seeds, dates, nori, nama shoyu, and vanilla, these were like a delicious mix between sesame snaps, halva, and, um, seaweed. I want more of these forever.

After visiting Hannah in Connecticut, I was sent back to New York under strict orders to try Macro Vegetarian’s vegan Peking Duck with Shiitake Mushroom as soon as possible. Flavoured with cinnamon, anise, tamari, sesame oil, and licorice, these yuba- and mushroom-based slices of “duck” were a delicious and fascinating novelty.

And, of course, we end with something sweet. Despite not being a coconut devotee, I found So Delicious’ coconut milk-based mint ice cream flecked with shards of rich dark chocolate to be scrumptious. The cooling minty-freshness was lovely against the plentiful dark chocolate shards and underlying hint of coconut.

See that tiny serving in the bowl there? After that was done, I went back for the pint, grabbed a spoon, snuggled into the couch with an episode of Treme, and that. was. that.

I miss you, America. ‘Til we meet again.