20 replies to this topic

[merstar]

Which brands do you like, and do you prefer A or B? I was using Spring Tree from Canada for years and years, but it's no longer available in my local stores, and hard to find online.
(NOTE: I don't have a TJ's nearby *!$&%*@(*_&!^)

[Kerry Beal]

If you have a Costco - I find the B grade from there is not horrible.

[vimaladevi]

I use Now's

[SylviaLovegren]

I much prefer the darker Grade B syrup -- has a much richer maple flavor, which is the point, isn't it? Why not try whatever brand is available to you and see how it is? Are there any bad real maple syrups?

[merstar]

Are there any bad real maple syrups?

Yes, as in anything else. There's good, bad, and in between.

[Jaymes]

A few years back, when my daughter and her husband moved to New Hampshire for a while, and I drove up through Vermont to visit them, I passed by a small country store selling, among other things, a nice selection of maple syrup, including this sampler: http://www.vermontco..._Bottles)/56749

Because I really love maple syrup, I figured I'd be buying a lot, so decided to buy the sampler and decide which grade I prefer.

For me, it turns out that the darker and more flavorful the better.

You might order the sampler and do a little taste testing yourself.

[merstar]

A few years back, when my daughter and her husband moved to New Hampshire for a while, and I drove up through Vermont to visit them, I passed by a small country store selling, among other things, a nice selection of maple syrup, including this sampler: http://www.vermontco..._Bottles)/56749

Because I really love maple syrup, I figured I'd be buying a lot, so decided to buy the sampler and decide which grade I prefer.

For me, it turns out that the darker and more flavorful the better.

You might order the sampler and do a little taste testing yourself.

Thanks so much Jaymes! I checked out their website, and ordered their catalog. I'm probably going to go with the Grade B, since I've already tried Grade A Dark Amber, and really like it, so I think I'd like something even darker and bolder. Thanks again for the recommendation and link.

[Katie Meadow]

For the price I haven't had anything better than Trader Joe's. It's very basic, and I use it for all recipes calling for maple syrup, such as barbecue sauce, home made ketchup, etc. For all I know it's grade C. It's pretty dark. I love really high quality maple syrup, but the Trader Joe's is fine for my morning oatmeal. In 1979 on a driving jaunt through leaf country in Vermont we came upon The Maple Syrup Museum. There were several bowls and spoons and, believe it or not, NO ONE standing guard. The Grade A fancy, which was the lightest, was heavenly, but so delicate it would be pointless to use it on anything except ethereal pancakes. We came back with a large can from some small farm and doled it out for as long as we could. Never to be repeated.

[DougOLis]

I'm thinking about aging some maple syrup in a small bourbon barrel that I've been aging some white whiskey (originally anyway) in. What Grade of maple do you think I should use for this purpose? Any brands in particular?

[kaszeta]

There were several bowls and spoons and, believe it or not, NO ONE standing guard. The Grade A fancy, which was the lightest, was heavenly, but so delicate it would be pointless to use it on anything except ethereal pancakes. We came back with a large can from some small farm and doled it out for as long as we could. Never to be repeated.

If you find yourself in NH or VT during March ("Mud Season"), consider checking out the open houses that both states' maple producers put on. You can visit the various sugarhouses, sample syrup, and watch the boil.



(Disclaimer: I'm an NH maple producer....)

[Kent Wang]

This looks amazing. Is the smell as heavenly as I imagine?

[tim]

Aldi has really inexpensive maple syrup. I don't know the quality.

[kaszeta]

This looks amazing. Is the smell as heavenly as I imagine?

Yes. Although you get kinda weary from it after a while.

[janeer]

This looks amazing. Is the smell as heavenly as I imagine?

Yes. Although you get kinda weary from it after a while.

You sound like a jaded New Englander. I never tired of that annual trip to the sugarhouse for doughnuts, pickles, sugar-on-snow--and my stash of syrup for the year.

As for my preference: I buy all grades, for different purposes.It is not as easy to find Grade A extra fancy anymore, as the preference (and economics) seems to favor B.
and I have to disagree with merstar: In 40 years, I'm not sure I've ever had a "bad" pure maple syrup. Different from state to state, year to year. but never bad.

[Shel_B]

I've never heard of "aging" maple syrup. What does that do to the product? Wouldn't the whiskey in the barrel "taint" the flavor of the syrup?

[DougOLis]

I've never heard of "aging" maple syrup. What does that do to the product? Wouldn't the whiskey in the barrel "taint" the flavor of the syrup?

It changes the flavor sure but I wouldn't say "taint." I've bought bottles of BLiS' Bourbon Barrel Syrup (looks like they use Grade A) many times and it is damn good. Mikuni makes one too that's supposed to be good as well.

[merstar]

...and I have to disagree with merstar: In 40 years, I'm not sure I've ever had a "bad" pure maple syrup. Different from state to state, year to year. but never bad.

You're lucky. I've definitely had some bad maple syrup - very bland.

Edited by merstar, 01 November 2012 - 06:46 PM.

[andiesenji]

Another vote here for Trader Joe's Grade B which is reasonably priced and the flavor is excellent.

For cooking, I order the grade B in half-gallon jugs from Welch's - New York state - at 48.00 per gallon, it is priced right for me.
After opening, put some in a smaller container and put the jug in the freezer. It takes a full day to defrost at room temp...

I also order their granulated maple sugar - in the bulk bag, which I split with friends. If you check other vendors, this place has the best price and the stuff keeps forever.

[Katie Meadow]

So yesterday I'm at T.J.'s and instead of routinely grabbing the Grade B in the bottle, which I've used for years, I tried something else: a 32 oz jug of Trader Joe's 100% Vermont maple syrup, grade A Dark Amber. It's very good, a little bit more delicate (and a little bit thinner) than the bottled Grade B, and quite yummy. It is possible that my memory of Maple Syrup from Vermont is completely unreliable (it's only been about 30 years), but from the samples at the museum, I would call TJ's B more like a grade C, and this A Dark Amber more like my recollection of a grade B. There must be some standards, no? The TJ's grade B is from Canada, I think, right? I tossed my empty bottle so I don't really know for sure. Anyway, TJ's seems like a good source for a variety of grades.

[FrogPrincesse]

Another vote for Trader Joe's. I use the grade B in the glass bottle which is indeed from Canada.

[GlowingGhoul]

So yesterday I'm at T.J.'s and instead of routinely grabbing the Grade B in the bottle, which I've used for years, I tried something else: a 32 oz jug of Trader Joe's 100% Vermont maple syrup, grade A Dark Amber. It's very good, a little bit more delicate (and a little bit thinner) than the bottled Grade B, and quite yummy. It is possible that my memory of Maple Syrup from Vermont is completely unreliable (it's only been about 30 years), but from the samples at the museum, I would call TJ's B more like a grade C, and this A Dark Amber more like my recollection of a grade B. There must be some standards, no? The TJ's grade B is from Canada, I think, right? I tossed my empty bottle so I don't really know for sure. Anyway, TJ's seems like a good source for a variety of grades.

A few years ago, grading changed from A,B and C to A-Light Amber, A-Dark Amber, and B.

The maple marketing boards wanted to be able to refer to both A and B grades as "A", so it wouldn't turn off uneducated consumers. So, What we now refer to as B grade is the same as C grade prior to the change.