Understanding Maple Syrup Grades | Coombs Family Farms (2024)

FAQs

Which grade of maple syrup is the best for you? ›

What grade maple syrup is healthiest? Whether it's for use in a master cleanse or as a topping for your pancakes, Grade A Dark will be better for you. It has more antioxidants and mineral content than the lighter colors.

Having it all conform to one system helps everyone understand what they prefer and how to ask for it! Another reason maple grading was changed was that consumers perceived or assumed that grade B was an inferior quality syrup. In turn, many would seek out grade A dark when there was no such thing.

Maple syrup grades A, B and C

The grade of maple syrup indicates when the maple sap was harvested. While grade A is usually obtained in the first two weeks of the harvest period, has a very mild aroma and is amber in color, grades B and C maple syrups impress with a strong taste and intense caramel notes .

Pure Vermont Maple Syrup must meet strict quality standards and is graded on four characteristics: color, clarity, density, and flavor. Maple syrup is measured by hydrometer or refractometer to ensure that the density, or measure of sugar content, is within a narrow band of 66.9° and 68.9° Brix.

Costco only sells Grade A amber syrup. Buyers looking for a light or robust taste will not find Grade A golden or dark at a Costco. Costco maple syrup also has maple syrup as its sole ingredient – making it 100% organic.

Description. Once pierced, century-old maple trees drip sap referred to as liquid gold. It will take roughly 50 gallons of these drops to make one 1 gallon of 100% pure Grade A maple syrup. Farms in the Hudson Valley, New York State, can sell that gallon for over $200, almost 29 times more than popular imitation syrup.

Previously Called: Medium Amber or Grade A: Dark Amber

This is usually the most appreciated grade for those seeking a traditional maple syrup flavour. We recommend this maple syrup on anything sweet. From pancakes to sweet desserts, you will find that Grade A amber maple syrup is just the right intensity.

It is healthier to stick to organic and pure maple syrup – or “real maple syrup” as it is sometimes called.

Maple syrup should be kept in the refrigerator once it's opened so as to discourage mold from growing on the syrup. Should mold grow on maple syrup, it's safe and easy to remove. Just scoop the mold off the top of the syrup with a spoon and discard the mold.

Now, all pure Vermont Maple Syrup which meets the strict quality standards and is packed for the consumer market is labeled as Pure Vermont Grade A Maple Syrup with the addition of a color and flavor descriptor.

Should I bake with Grade A or B maple syrup? ›

If you are using it as a sweetener, using it with pancakes or in your baking as a sugar substitute, and you don't want the maple flavor to come through in your food, then grade A is probably the best choice for you.

For a lot of maple syrup connoisseurs, grade B was always the go-to syrup. It's dark, caramelly, rich, complex. But unfortunately, you can't get it anymore. To understand why, we have to look at the science behind the whole process, from sap to syrup.

Medium Amber (Grade A) is, according to the grower, the most popular of all the grades because it's so versatile. Darker than the fancy, medium amber syrup is light enough to enjoy on your pancakes and waffles, but strong enough to add a nice maple flavor to your favorite oatmeal cookie recipe.

No matter if it is light and delicate or dark and robust, 100% pure maple syrup is the healthy all-natural choice.

A common misconception is that darker grades of maple syrup, such Dark Robust Taste, contain more nutritional value compared to lighter grades, but there is no scientific evidence supporting this belief.

Yes, pure maple syrup is not only high in antioxidants, but every spoonful offers nutrients like riboflavin, zinc, magnesium, calcium and potassium. According to Helen Thomas of the New York State Maple Association, maple syrup has a higher concentration of minerals and antioxidants, yet fewer calories than honey.

One nutritional advantage that honey has over maple syrup is that honey has no fat. That said, maple syrup's fat is very minimal, just 0.1 gram of fat per tablespoon. Another advantage of honey over maple syrup is that honey offers more vitamins — B-6 and C — while maple syrup lacks this vitamin profile.