Maple Syrup Grades:
If you have an interest in the quality of the food you eat (and we'll assume you do, or you wouldn't be reading this article!) you have probably come across reference to, and discussion about Grade A or B Maple Syrup.
Well, here's what its all about....
Back in 2015 the US and Canada agreed to play together nicely in the Maple Syrup playground and come to a unified grading system of Maple Syrups. Until then the two countries had completely different systems, which was very confusing for just about everybody.
Now, the only grade Maple Syrup for retail sale is Grade A. What used to be Grade B (in Canada) is now called Processing Grade.
Grade A is divided into several categories depending on the colour of the syrup. This is not an indication of its quality at all - it is mostly a reflection of when in the season the syrup was harvested. Sap harvest early in the season (as early as January) is lighter in colour.
The colour is also affected by:
- Sugar content of the sap - higher sugar sap tends to yield lighter syrup.
- Processing speed - faster processing leads to lighter syrup.
- Microbial activity - more bacteria in the sap produces darker syrup.
It is also worth noting that the darker syrups tend to have higher levels of minerals and nutrients. At Totally Nuts we always choose the Dark robust syrup (Certified Organic). It has great flavour and we like the extra minerals!
They are further qualified by descriptors such as "delicate", "robust" etc. Here is the summary:
Maple Syrup Nutrition:
Maple Syrup is - surprise surprise - a powerful source of sugar. As such it should be consumed in moderation. But if you're after a sweetener, Maple Syrup has a lot going for it:
- Manganese - a single serving gives you over 100% of the Recommended Daily Value (RDV).
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) - a single serving gives 81% of the RDV
- Zinc - a serving gives 11% of the RDV
- Also significant amounts of calcium, potassium and magnesium
- Antioxidants - darker syrups much higher than lighter.
So there you have it: everything you never knew you needed to know about Maple Syrup. Choose certified organic (always), go darker for more flavour and enjoy in moderation!