RESTAURANTS IN THE Canadian city of Winnipeg has taken a novel approach to quenching the thirst of their customers.

A number of eateries across the city have begun a trend in olive oil and balsamic vinegar tasting.

In a recent piece for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, restaurateurs in the Manitoba city spoke about the craze.

Lise Belanger opened the city’s first tasting bar back in June and says that the city’s food scene is “exploding”.

“People are indulging and [olive oil and vinegar] is a pretty inexpensive indulgence,” Belanger told CBC. Despite that, bottles in her Frescolio store can reach up to CA$28.

However, the nearby city of Steinbach can claim Manitoba’s first olive oil tasting bar. There, Bev Penner owns Prairie Oils &Vinegar Tasting Rooms and is unequivocal about what she offers.

“I’m not a retail store, I’m an experience,” she says.

Belanger says that tasting olive oil is like tasting wine and her store features flavours such as Blood Orange, Lemon, Red Apple and Roasted Almond.

There are now over 500 tasting shops across the US and Canada.

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