A Look into the Maple Syrup Grades
A natural sweetener, a great substitute to sugar and a storehouse of essential nutrients, maple syrup have made its way into every home. However, not many are aware of the grading system of maple syrup that is done on the basis of flavor and color. You may simply get confused looking at the various maple syrup grades not knowing which one to go for. So let us take a look at the classification of maple syrup into grades. It may be mentioned at the onset that there are widely two grading system that is followed. The system followed in USA is done as per the Federal USDA regulations and the system followed in Canada is done as per the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The legal system for each of the grades remains the same.
The Maple Syrup Grades classification:
• As per the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, maple syrup is graded into three classes: No.1, No.2, and No.3. No.1 includes maple of extra light, light and medium color. No.2 includes Amber color and No.3 contains dark and other ungraded category.
• As per the United States grading system, this natural sweetener is divided into two classes: Grade A and B. Grade A contains maple syrup that is largely used for eating and hence classified as the premiere type. It is further divided into three subgrades: Light, Medium and Dark Amber.
• In addition we have the grading system as followed by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food and Markets that is similar to the grading system of United States. They use such letters as “AA”, “A” and the standard of product density is slightly higher than in US.
The main features of each maple syrup grades:
• Grade A Light Amber: They are mild and delicately flavored and are the lightest of all. They are harvested at the onset of the season when the weather is comparatively colder. This grade is considered best for making maple cream and maple candy.
• Grade A: Medium Amber: As the name suggests, it is darker and a little deeply flavored. This is widely used as a natural sweetener and table syrup in household. This grade is harvested during mid-season.
• Grade A: Dark Amber: Darker in color compare to the others above, it has a strong flavor and is usually harvested later in the season.
• Grade B: The Grade B maple syrup is largely used for cooking, flavoring and baking. Gathered late in the season, the grade B maple syrup is the darkest in color and strongest in flavor.
Which maple syrup grades are considered to be the best?
The goodness of maple syrup cannot and should not be identified by its grade. All types of maple syrup are good irrespective of its grades. It may be mentioned here that the classification of maple syrup grades is done based on the color and flavor and based on the time they are harvested. As far as the nutritional benefits are concerned all types of maple syrup, be it of any grades, are packed with the essential nutrients. Remember to stay away from the artificial sweetener. There can be nothing better than a natural sweetener like maple syrup.
All maple syrup grades have unique characteristic features and can be easily availed. As a natural sweetener maple syrup have come to replace the sugar container in many households.
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