Have you ever thought about which maple syrup grade tastes the best? Maybe you already have a preference, or maybe you are like many consumers who are content with the knowledge that the syrup is ‘real’ maple syrup and not a manufactured substitute.
Maple Syrup Capital
of Ontario
If you’re looking for maple syrup experts, look no further than Lanark County, the “Maple Syrup Capital of Ontario”. This is where you’ll find the true maple connoisseurs. Most of these long-time maple farmers can easily identify the four different grades of syrup, and they may even be able to tell you whether it was produced by old traditional methods, or modern technology.
The 4 Grades of Maple Syrup:
- Golden Color and Delicate Flavor
- Amber Color and Rich Flavor
- Dark Color and Robust Flavor
- Very Dark and Strong Flavor
In today’s modern grading, an instrument is used that measures the amount of light that passes through the maple syrup. The lightest grade, ‘Golden’, has the greatest amount of light (75%) passing through it. As the grades become darker, less light passes through them when they are measured. Below is the system used in Canada to determine the grade of maple syrup.
Usually, as the maple season progresses, the colour of the syrup becomes darker. Maple syrup harvested at the beginning is normally lighter in colour. By the end of the season, the maple syrup becomes darker, and the maple flavour is far more intense.
Golden Maple Syrup
Golden Maple Syrup, light in colour, delicate in flavour, is often preferred by those who like mild cheeses, and milk chocolate. Golden Maple Syrup can be drizzled on yogurt, or vanilla ice cream, or added to smoothies.
Maple Syrup Smoothie
1 frozen banana (freeze your extra ripe bananas)
1 Tbs Golden Maple Syrup
1/2 cup yogurt plain or vanilla
1/4 cup almond milk
1 cup of crushed ice
Add ingredients into a blender and mix until smooth
Drizzle Golden Maple Syrup on top if desired
Amber Maple Syrup
Amber Maple Syrup is said to have the ‘quintessential maple flavour’, and is the one most commonly used as a table syrup, and in pancake restaurants. Amber has a more pronounced flavour than golden, and is mild enough to suit most people’s tastes.
Ray Fortune’s Waffles for Two
(Ray Fortune, of Fortune Farms Maple)
1 c bread flour
1 egg
2 Tbsp sunflower oil
2 tsp baking powder
Add “just enough milk to make batter – but not runny”
Heat waffle iron
(iron should be hot and well-seasoned)
Serve with lots of maple syrup and butter
Leftover waffles may be frozen
Dark Maple Syrup
Maple experts describe Dark Maple Syrup as having a ‘robust’ maple flavour. This is the grade of syrup that many use for baking.
Maple Cake & Maple Icing
2 ½ c flour
2 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
¾ c Dark maple syrup
1 c softened butter
½ c brown sugar
2 eggs
8 ounces of plain yogurt
Icing:
½ c Dark maple sugar
¼ c softened butter
2 Tbsp milk
1 c icing sugar
Method:
Mix flour, baking powder, salt and soda
Mix butter, sugar and maple syrup, add eggs, yogurt then add flour mixture
Bake in a 9- inch square pan at 350 for 45 minutes
Icing – Melt butter in a saucepan, add maple sugar and heat until melted
Add the milk, bring to a boil, then remove from heat
Add icing sugar, beat, and spread onto cool cake
Very Dark Maple Syrup
Some people say that true maple connoisseurs prefer the taste of Very Dark Maple Syrup because of its deep, strong, true maple flavour. For those who like strong cheese and dark roasted coffee, the Very Dark Maple Syrup may suit those tastes best. This maple syrup is harvested at the end of the season, which gives it the deep unmistakable maple characteristics.
Very Dark Maple Syrup is ideal for recipes that require the maple flavour to carry through the cooking process, and is popular as a glaze for beef, pork, and chicken.
Maple Glazed Pork Chops
Ingredients
4 boneless pork chops
2 Tbsp cooking oil for browning
¼ c Very Dark maple syrup
3 Tbsp ketchup
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1 ½ tsp minced garlic
¼ tsp ground ginger (if desired)
Method
Add oil to large skilled, place pork chops in pan, and cook on medium 4-5 minutes, then flip over until both sides are cooked.
Combine maple sauce ingredients into a small bowl and mix together with a whisk.
Spoon maple sauce over port chops, cook well, turn, and coat the other side, until pork is done and glaze begins to thicken and caramelize.
Serve with potatoes, or rice, and fresh vegetables (if desired)
Which is Best?
So, once again, we’re back to our original question – Which of the four grades of maple syrup is best?
The answer to that question is a matter of your personal choice!
Are you the type who likes mild and quiet flavours, something delicate and soft?
Do you prefer strong, bold, flavours – the bigger, the better?
Like our preferences when it comes to cheese, or wine, we all have our favourites that suit us best.
Recipe for Ray Fortune’s Waffles for Two
photo: Ray Fortune, his wife, Ruth, Sherry Holt, and Jamie Fortune – photo: Fortune Farms website
The Fortune family has been producing maple syrup in Eastern Ontario for over six generations, since 1840.
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Arlene Stafford-Wilson
Honorary Life Member, Lanark County Genealogical Society
Member, Association of Professional Genealogists
Author of : “Lanark County Christmas”, “Lanark County Comfort”, “Lanark County Collection”, “Lanark County Calling”, “Lanark County Classics”, “Lanark County Connections”, “Lanark County Calendar”, “Lanark County Chronicle”, “Lanark County Kid”, & “Recipes & Recollections”
arlene stafford wilson 
Thank you for your recipes. Just love the article. But then I do need sweetnes between seasons Noreen