Get the the pancakes, French toast or waffles ready for National Maple Syrup Day, December 17th! Top them off with delicious and nutritious maple syrup!
Even though pancake syrup and maple syrup reside side-by-side next to each other on grocery shelves, they are not the same thing. Maple syrup is a pure product and contains no additives or preservatives. The maple syrup we find in containers begins it’s life as sugar in the leaves of maple trees, produced by the process of photosynthesis. The sugars are transported into the wood for winter storage in the form of carbohydrates. In the spring they are converted to sucrose and dissolved in the sap to flow through the tree. After that sap is collected it is boiled down to reduce the water content and concentrate the sugars. Those sugars caramelize giving us the characteristic color and flavor of maple syrup. It takes about 43 gallons of sap boiled down to make a gallon of maple syrup.
Pancake syrup is a highly processed product. It is made from corn syrup or high-fructose corn syrup. Pancake syrup also has coloring, flavoring, and preservatives added to it.
Maple syrup is rich in manganese, a mineral and also has antioxidants that may offer health benefits. But like pancake syrup, it has a high high sugar content which can lead to tooth decay and raise blood sugar. further health problems for people with diabetes.
In March 2015, the United States Department of Agriculture implemented changes in the labeling system for syrup so it matches up with international standards. All maple syrup is now Grade A, followed by a color/flavor description. The changes are as follows:
Grade A Light Amber is now Grade A Golden Color/Delicate Taste
Grade A Medium Amber is now Grade A Amber Color/Rich Taste
Grade A Dark Amber is now Grade A Dark Color/Robust Taste
Grade B is now Grade A Very Dark Color/Strong Taste
Once maple syrup has been opened, it should be stored in the refrigerator where it will last six months to a year. You can also freeze maple syrup which will keep it safe indefinitely. If you are going to freeze it, put it in an airtight container and leave a half inch of headspace to allow for the maple syrup to expand. Maple syrup that develops an off odor, flavor, or appearance or molds should be discarded.
Reviewed and updated, 5/2024, mg.
