The Nut Merchant is a Vancouver treat tucked away near the seaside, courtyard entrance of the Granville Island Public Market. You can stop by here and sample a wide variety of locally made flavoured nuts.
They have both savoury and sweet nuts flavoured with ingredients you’ll recognize (meaning there’s nothing unpronounceable).
I didn’t sample the savoury on my visit because I accidentally started on the sweet end. However, I can tell you the sweet nuts are worth a try. The taste is subtler than some sweet nuts you’ll find in the grocery store, which probably means they use less sugar. Other flavourings are natural – cocoa, vanilla bean, maple syrup, cinnamon and even chia seeds. They are vegan and gluten-free. The staff was friendly and offered samples without being asked.
A subtle flavouring, is not necessarily a bad thing, as you’ll be able to pair these nuts with more things, like coffee, tea, chocolate, salads or wine and cheese. Or just eat them straight up when you get the munchies.
Some flavourings are stronger than others. The raspberry is unmistakably raspberry and the cinnamon maple has a decadent chocolate twist thanks to the cocoa powder. Try them all and pick your favourites.
The nuts come in a cone-shaped cellophane package tied with a burgundy ribbon. These will look great as stocking stuffers or under the tree at Christmas. (They also have larger bags.) The cones are 130 grams.The savoury nuts have unique flavour combinations, that you will probably not find in the grocery store, such as lemon tarragon, lime chipotle and garlic pepper.
According to the website, the booth is a relative newcomer to the bustling Granville Island Market. The company started in 2009 and opened its booth seven years later. It’s a unique addition, that would make a great stop on a self-directed foodie tour of the market.
Check out the Nut Merchant the next time you’re at Granville Island and pick up some healthy snacks. Follow on social media
